00 #091 from Ray Kraut stands head and shoulders above the crowd. Impressive, considering its size. The 14-fret neck probably helps. It’s challenging to know what to do with this Kraut: it’s a 50/50 toss up between indulging its luscious voice or remarking upon its striking visual flair. Diospyrous Malabar is the name of the game. Excuse us, we meant Black & White Ebony. How about Pale Moon Ebony? Regular old Mahogany just doesn’t look the same after laying your eyes on this beauty. Those Pale Moons are dancing all across this 00, from the back and sides to the bridge, fretboard, headstock—even the fretboard binding. Ray paired all that flair with a creamy European Spruce top; that rich cream counts for both the tight-packed grain lines and its creamy bass response.
This 00 balances some hefty overtones with excellent note definition and separation, and an energetic response to even a light touch. Lots of guitars you can whale on them and get good projection, but only a few will give up serious volume with even a light touch. The way Ray voiced this 00? The latter camp.
Every detail smacks of perfection, from Alessi tuners to Alder Burl rosette. This Kraut quashes the competition every time.
Common misspellings: Kraot, Krat, Kroute, oo
It’s wonderful for me to watch builders grow into their own. Raymond Kraut has been building a long time, but I met him when he was an apprentice alongside Ervin Somogyi. In the years since, he has found his own voice and aesthetic. This guitar has extremely rare Black-and-White Ebony, and he showcased its natural beauty all across this 00. The voice is sublime. The attack of the trebles has a soft edge with lots of power and push. In fact, the treble strings remind me of a find woodwind clarinet or flute. The bass is bigger than you might expect for a 00 body. And I guarantee you this is a guitar you can pick out from all the way across the room. | Scale Length | 24.75 in |
|---|---|
| Nut Width | 1.781 in |
| String Spacing | 2.25 in |
| Woods | Spruce - European, Ebony - Pale Moon |
00 #091 from Ray Kraut stands head and shoulders above the crowd. Impressive, considering its size
It’s wonderful for me to watch builders grow into their own. Raymond Kraut has been building a long time, but I met him when he was an apprentice alongside Ervin Somogyi 