Another typical Steve Klein guitar, in that there is nothing typical about this guitar. In fact, this is a prototype from 1998 for the M-43 model, featuring an access panel below the neck heel and all-wood braces in the typical arcing Klein fashion. Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, and a Brazilian Rosewood bridge with added mass and surface area on the bass side. Here you’ll find a one-piece bone saddle, which is an interesting departure from other Kleins, and the 1 3/4″ pearl nut is integrated into the headstock veneer and capped with a zero fret. A 25.4” scale extends over nicely crowned frets and terminates at the saddle with 2 1/8” string spacing. The Rosewood neck is smoothly contoured in a C shape that’s slim enough to pass for an electric, and the lack of a traditional heel enables the left hand to easily access the upper frets.
This Prototype M-43 is great for both fingers and picks, but really shines as an explosive strummer. Flatpicked tunes ring out beautifully in the clear, punchy attack that defines the voice. The focused upper and mid registers are balanced by a thunderclap bass response that manages to be enveloping and articulate at the same time. Explorations into dropped tuning territory yielded excellent results; the play feel remained crisp and the bass actually mellowed so as to further improve the balance across the registers. Wrapped up in a custom-fit (thankfully!) Calton flight case, this ’98 M-43 is a unique glimpse into the evolution of Steve Klein’s lutherie genius.
I loved putting this one in open tunings. There's lots of color in the voice, and the slim neck feels great. 
This is probably the best-sounding Klein I've heard. It has a more traditional style saddle than many of them and I believe that helps with the overall sustain and clarity. | Scale Length | 25.44 in |
|---|---|
| Nut Width | 1.75 in |
| String Spacing | 2.13 in |
| Woods | Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Indian |
Another typical Steve Klein guitar, in that there is nothing typical about this guitar. In fact, this is a prototype from 1998 for the M-43 model, featuring an access panel below the neck heel and all-wood braces in the typical arcing Klein fashion
I loved putting this one in open tunings. There's lots of color in the voice, and the slim neck feels great.
This is probably the best-sounding Klein I've heard. It has a more traditional style saddle than many of them and I believe that helps with the overall sustain and clarity. 