Kevin Kopp

Kopp Acoustic Guitars — Montana Built, Gibson Schooled, Entirely His Own

Kevin Kopp's path to independent lutherie ran straight through the most storied acoustic guitar facility in America. After years working as a luthier and in music retail in New York, he moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1992 to join Gibson's acoustic operation. His talents moved him quickly into the Custom Shop, where he spent a decade working alongside luthiers John Walker and master builder Ren Ferguson, creating one-of-a-kind instruments that were referred to internally as Ginches. By the time he left to strike out on his own, he had built a vocabulary in wood and tone that very few independent builders can match.

He spent the years that followed as an authorized repairman for every major brand, restoring and studying high-end vintage instruments from players across North America and Japan, seeing dozens of pre-war Gibsons and Martins literally from the inside out. That diagnostic intimacy with the greatest acoustic guitars ever made gave him a second education as valuable as the first. He launched Kopp Guitars in 1999 from his workshop in Bozeman, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from the first instrument to the five hundredth, a 20th Anniversary AJ in old-growth Adirondack spruce and master grade Brazilian rosewood that stands as a milestone few individual luthiers ever reach.

Internationally known guitarist Leo Kottke owns and regularly plays two Kopp guitars. The instruments have also been carried by Dream Guitars, Eddie's Guitars, Acoustic Music Works, and other respected boutique dealers who know the difference between a guitar that looks impressive and one that actually delivers.

Old World Gibson Soul, Built New

Kevin's aesthetic is rooted in the golden era of Gibson acoustic design, the slope-shoulder dreadnoughts, nick Lucas models, advanced jumbos, and OM-style instruments of the 1930s through 1950s that remain the most coveted acoustic guitars in the world. His instruments honor that lineage without being slaves to it, incorporating modern structural refinements, dual carbon fiber neck reinforcement, and carefully engineered bracing while preserving the hot hide glue construction, light builds, and fundamentally warm, woody, resonant character of the originals.

Montana's extreme climate shapes the building calendar, with Kevin shipping two runs per year timed to the most stable humidity conditions. Every guitar is a one-man operation from first cut to final setup, and that singularity of intention is audible from the first chord.

The Models

K-35 — Kevin's flagship model and the one most closely associated with his name. A slope-shoulder dreadnought in the spirit of the great pre-war J-35s, built with Adirondack spruce tops over a range of back and side options including mahogany, Madagascar rosewood, and Brazilian rosewood. Rich, warm, powerful, and immediately alive from the first note.

NL (Nick Lucas) — An homage to the legendary Nick Lucas model, one of the most historically significant Gibson designs ever produced. The NL has appeared with Tunnel Redwood, Sitka spruce, and Lutz spruce tops over figured maple, Madagascar rosewood, and Brazilian rosewood back and sides, each one a distinct sonic and visual statement.

AJ (Advanced Jumbo) — Kevin's interpretation of the large-body advanced jumbo format, delivering maximum acoustic volume, sustain, and tonal complexity. The 20th Anniversary AJ in old-growth Adirondack spruce and master grade Brazilian rosewood stands as the most celebrated single instrument in the Kopp catalog, and a testament to what twenty-five years of relentless pursuit of tone produces.

OM — A balanced, versatile Orchestra Model with the warm midrange and clear, singing treble response that the format has always delivered in the hands of a skilled builder. Available with French polish and sunburst finish options for players who want every visual and tonal detail to reflect the vintage instruments that inspired it.

A Lifetime Warranty, Because It Means Something

Every Kopp guitar carries a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser against defects in materials and workmanship for the working lifetime of the luthier. That is not a marketing statement. It is the commitment of a builder who stands behind every instrument he has ever made and expects to keep doing so.

Browse our available Kopp inventory, and reach out to discuss a custom commission with Kevin directly.