Why Joe Knaggs Left PRS To Make Ground Breaking Guitars

[@Eddietherocker]

I have the SSC model and the neck in that thing is unreal, love my guitar.🎸

[@billyclub56]

I have a variety of quality guitars. But there is something about my old American Strat that I love

[@jascoplumbingsupply4224]

Love Knaggs. I have 3. And that’s my Severn you chose for the picture. The blue one

[@grayman7914]

These guys are so inspiring, not just in the music realm but just in terms of concept to creation.

[@carolinezipp4383]

Grrrrreat Video!!! It was a real treat to hear these two individuals speak.

[@WJHemenway]

I own 2 Knaggs with a 3rd on the way. Great guitars and love hearing Joe and Peter’s story. Also really appreciate Peter communicating and messaging directly with customers through Social media.

[@THEItchybruddah]

Larry Mitchell is the Knaggs guy in my world. ASTONISHING player.

[@karengayle9331]

Pride of craftsmanship.

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

I saw Steve Stevens doing a rig run down back stage at one of his gigs. He whips out a knaggs and boosted over how awesome it was. I’ve been curious about them ever sense.

[@BentTom]

I have a Knaggs SS model. It is a Les Paul killer.

[@L.Scott_Music]

The Snow white and blue semi-hollow Severn is my dream guitar.

[@Stephenmichaelsguitar]

Knaggs and Wolf are bright, articulate, headstrong and focused. In my opinion though, I’ve played a few Knaggs and walked away unimpressed for the obscene amount of money they want. Financially, I’m not their target customer. A tool , as they state, in my opinion, shouldn’t cost a mortgage. That said, if you’ve got the money go support an American company.

[@son0fsocal]

I agree, most working musicians are hard working stiffs like me and you, I too was not impressed with Knaggs, I think PRS are heads and shoulders above, I finally made the decision to get my DREAM guitar, and I chose PRS customer 24-08 10 top. It’s awesome

[@ikestoddard2458]

I watched the output of Knaggs as the models evolved over the past decade, and marveled. I knew as a retiree that I might not be able to ever afford one. But I always came down on the side of quality, and he always agreed. Truth is the best marketing tool. When it resonates with a customer, they will never leave. They may stray temporarily, but ALWAYS desire to return.

[@landguitar]

Nice you let them talk, well done! I have 2 Knaggs. Hadn’t heard of them until about 5 years ago. Wife and I were watching The Voice and Billy Idol is on with Steve Stevens, and Steve is playing his signature Kenai style with the leopard spots! Wife says - I Love her! - you need to get one of those! After finding out more about them and where I can get them locally, I decide I can’t rock the leopard spots, and I prefer the standard Kenai to Steve’s model configuration. Have had the Tier 2 Kenai, an amazing quilt top, for 4 years now and LOVE it. As an lifetime LP player, it’s a great guitar, plays amazing, sounds great, and coil tap actually sounds Strat-like with the Seth Lovers. A beautiful guitar that gets lots of compliments. I got it with a Bigsby; only downside is changing the dang strings! It’s probably my desert island guitar! I just recently got my Severn Tier 1, an even more beautiful - both are incredibly well crafted - guitar that is the closest I want to be to a Strat; I got the HSS configuration. What an amazing guitar to play! Thanks for doing this interview, I enjoyed getting to know these guys much better through you! I’d love to take a faculty tour!!!

[@russellzauner]

I am not trying to start controversy but until I watched this I didn't know that Knaggs/PRS had history. Everyone for the most part has been asking after Tremonti's one off odd custom PRS but I watched a Doug Rappoport video where he's playing a Knaggs Tuckahoe the other day and I was like "man, that looks a LOT like the base shape of Mark's concept guitar"... Not saying it's a copy or anyone is taking design points, but I am saying that when you work with master craftspeople for some period of time you're bound to be influenced/improved in ways beyond the obvious and obviously past the moment. That's why I try to work with the best people I can - I know my time is always limited so I focus on learning as much as I can while getting feedback on my own skillset. Thanks for taking the time to publish this for us.

[@BrianSGuitars]

Seriously can't wait for your review of your Kenai!

[@guitarz]

Love my knaggs Kenai and Kenai J. Perfectly balanced tone monsters

[@cbeeper]

I worked for a few days as a trial at PRS back in the 90's. Met Joe, they offered me a job but I couldn't support my family on the wage offered. After I left I call him and asked if he was interested in starting a company on the side. He wasn't open at the time. I wonder if he remembers...LOL

[@Distinctiveguitar]

Joe and Peter are such great guys. Creative design and innovation doesn't always translate to make a better guitar, but Knaggs are completely amazing. Some of my favorite guitars!

[@johannwitt1854]

i have a Kenai, and I love it. you can find great deals on Knaggs second-hand since they don’t hold their value as well as better known brands.

[@marksaulnier2222]

I own 5 x Knaggs, they are absolutely amazing guitars. The community is fantastic. Thank you so much for doing this video.

[@peejay6930]

"The community is fantastic" Not many lefties in that community

[@ernieb3626]

what a great video and interview. I'm going back to the beginning right now. What a wonderful thing it must be to be part of this business. Thanks to all of you for a great experience.

[@hkguitar1984]

Thank You, this was fascinating. Love the ideas he's pulling from to imagine and than materialize his guitars.

[@twobarsfourstars]

Fascinating interview, thank you! Feels like a front seat to both the last 30 years of guitar building and the future of independent building. Kind of reminds me of craft breweries. Goose Island did a great job of encouraging its brewers to make their own businesses, and it made for a very successful and mutually beneficial industry that grew together. Hope the major guitar manufacturers have a similar interest in their builders and their industry at large.

[@gtr1952]

Wow. 100's of things are running through my head right now, but all I can say is... Wow. Well done Phil!! 8) --gary

[@blakeanderson7906]

Very interesting interview, beautiful guitars!

[@TheBloodude]

Awesome 👏 Best builder interview ever!

[@d.a.6608]

I’ve been eyeballing Knaggs guitars for a bit They look killer

[@foggyblues13]

Great interview Phil!!!

[@JoshuaC923]

Fascinating interview!

[@justinespinosa7878]

Holy cow man you’re crushing it

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

I took a Wood file to my 'affordable' SE24, because I couldn't get to the 23/24 Fret without an uncomfortable finger pile up! So I Took a 1/4 Off' the inside lower horn, and 1/3 off the top of the heel,and I tapered it to make sure it stayed symmetrical and factory looking' 100 percent comfortably playable now!🎼 😶👍

[@scottbrower9052]

They're poorly designed. Period.

[@alanpettibone]

That white and turquoise Kenai has been talking to me for a while now. I’m so glad you brought these guys on to talk about the company that built my favorite guitar in your arsenal.

[@michaelgallegos8811]

This is a great interview Phil I just discovered Knaggs guitars a few years ago listening to Eric Steckel a fierce blues rock guitarist the Knaggs guitars he was playing were wicked sounding they are awesome 🤘😈🎶🎶💥

[@RJ-Rocks]

Joe and Peter, you have a friend for life. I’ve owned many many guitars over the last 20 years. Many. Lol. And I have two of yours now in my collection and they will not leave. They are tools and they make my craft better. Much better. I can hear and feel the science and quality behind these. Thank you thank you thank you.

[@psutter5]

Never heard on Knaggs guitars. Very interesting. Going to look this guitar up now.

[@elevenAD]

this vid makes me want to try a Knaggs real bad!

[@mikelilly7285]

Love watching @EricSteckell wear out his Knaggs!!! Beautiful axes too!

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

I absolutely love Joe's passion. That's the kind of place I want to work!

[@The-11]

Nothing wrong with making the best quality instrument possible , Even if I can't afford one. I've always loved Alembic guitars and last summer they gave me a tour when I was there and all the skilled hand done work that goes into instruments on that level, you can understand why they cost that much. Motivated me to get one even more because of the quality.

[@The-11]

P.S. - Phil, I know who to talk to if you want an Alembic tour.....

[@GuitarGearGyan]

1st woohoo. My first ever live premier with one of Phil's videos. Really happy to have been here live. Love PRS but now would like to play a Knaggs.

[@ernieb3626]

Same!

[@cbeserra]

Cool!! Never heard of these guitars before. Awesome story.

[@Obiekb]

Great interview, Joe and Pete seem like a great guys.

[@HobbyFinn2]

My Knaggs Kenai is the one of my 20ish guitars I gravitate towards. Plain and simple, it is a Les Paul done right. 1) the quality, it is PRS quality 2) fixed all the well known design flaws of a Les Paul 3) has comfort cuts. That is a big deal. 4) weight, it is lighter than most Les Pauls 5) woods, designs and looks are on different level. 6) Price is great for a boutique / PRS Private Stock(ish) instrument

[@brownsfan7753]

I really enjoyed learning about this guitar company! I’ve noticed some really amazing players using them!!

[@riffmondo9733]

An old friend of mine is a Knaggs distributor. They are gorgeous axes

[@RokDAWG1]

I love my Knaggs & can’t wait to get more!

[@ernieb3626]

we need to tell the ph1 channel to check this out. its the best interview so far and they are all great

[@dav6rtt617]

Great to see people who are pushing guitar design forward.

[@stoneysdead689]

You know, even guitar players who are quite good often don't understand the radius of a fret board and how that affects how you play. When you bend a string, you're not just on top of it- your finger is sort of on top and underneath it, pushing it up- a radiused fret board makes it easier to get under that string- also makes vibrato easier to me because you're letting the string tension pull the string back down and then pushing it back up so- getting underneath it and getting a secure grip on it at the same time- can be tricky. Adding vibrato to bends took me several weeks to get ahold of playing on my ten inch radiused Epiphone- then I bought a Strat- 7.25 radius- way, way easier. That said- now if you bend over a full step past the 12th fret- the string frets out. I play a lot of Floyd so; this was something I noticed right away. The Silver Sky by PRS uses lower profile, skinnier frets to get around this and retain the 7.25 radius. I've never had a chance to play the 8.5 radius though- I would really be interested to see what that feels like. Where can I find their guitars?

[@robertverzi]

The Silver Sky SE, I believe is an 8.5.

[@stoneysdead689]

@@robertverzi According to the guy who owns the company- they're 7.25. I watched an interview where he talked about why he wanted that particular radius and how they had to use lower profile frets to keep it. They may have decided to change it in recent years though- I have no idea, but I know the originals were 7.25.

[@shredsix]

Hey Phillip, I owned that Knaggs Seafoam and Creme guitar you have hanging! It's a great guitar, I am sure you picked that up from the Music Zoo where I traded it in. It's one of the ones I regret getting rid of!

[@armchairzen]

Watching this, and hearing these guys talk about manufacturing, distribution, their vision of quality and the subject of pricing, Rickenbacker comes to mind. I don't have a Knaggs (yet), but I have two Rics. I have a lot of guitars, and these two are among the most expensive. Lucky me, I play a McCarty 594 (USA), Gibson 335 (Memphis), Gibson SG (USA), Carvin DC 127 (USA) ( to be honest, I have TWO 127's), Fender's Strat and Tele (USA), Ovation Viper (USA), and the list goes on, including a LAG Custom Shop Imperator (France), Ibanez Blazer 21 (Japan), Aria Pro II Inazuma (Japan), and so forth. The Rics stand right out, and settle at the top of the list, on a level with PRS and Carvin. Built in the USA. Practically play themselves. Flawless fretboards. When I pick any of these machines up and play them, I'm usually not thinking about their cost or value. Left to one, I'd need to flip a coin between the Ric and the Carvin. I'll be shopping for a Knaggs, and searching for a good used deal. But price won't be the primary factor. If you can afford to make it happen, a "perfect" guitar will pay unseen dividends.

[@wjewell63]

Thanks for letting them talk as not interrupting phillip.......👍

[@kasstudio2823]

Only a small percentage of people can afford a "Ferrari". The rest of us (in the millions) still want to play guitar so there's nothing wrong with an affordable, reliable, and decent-sounding instrument. I understand the "slave labor" issue raised by Peter. But I also saw a video tour of PRS in Indonesia and it didn't look like slave laborers were putting working on those guitars. I'm sure all of us, including Joe Knaggs and Peter Wolf, are walking around with iPhones so if you really care about slave labor...

[@Stoneitful]

US propaganda to make sanders of guitars in Maryland feel better

[@bsguitarsmore8377]

I purchased a used Knaggs Kenai last year. It's an incredible guitar and by it's condition, it was definitely someone's main guitar.

[@p.s8950]

Thanks for this. Right after this vid, i jumped on the web and started researching Knaggs

[@youKnowWho3311]

Great interview!

[@bolrak]

On the other hand Doug Pinnick says : "Cheap stuff makes you find yourself" :)) Knaggs guitars are good like Suhr or any other guitar company makes premium stuff for riches, but they are really expensive and they are not for poor musicians, that's for sure. I like their "tools" but I'm not sure they are made to last until I'm 80.

[@MrMont-ue8kh]

Thanks for doing that, Phil. It was interesting to hear their perspective and that it was a non-compete at PRS that spurred Joe to make his own guitars. By the way, Joe sounds Philly or South Jersey to me. Couldn't find a bio on him, though. Anyone know?

[@KnaggsGuitars]

Born in Washington DC, grew up in Bowie, MD

[@jamesmgreen15]

An awful lot of things spoken about that many of us choose to ignore when purchasing. Podcasts like this may make us think twice more often.

[@fanoboss]

i couldn't agree more but maybe for different reasons

[@Andluth]

I owe Joe a lot for giving me my first job in lutherie 34 years ago.

[@Auen73]

Outstanding interview Phillip. Intelligent relevant questions asked........A very interesting overview/explanation of Knaggs........I want a Severn or Kenai so bad

[@Vidar.m]

Was just on their website looking at the guitars, amazing...

[@lolipoable]

They seems to be good people.

[@lostreb]

I'm 100% sure there are tons who will "Love" these guitars. I guess I'm in the category of "too old" (over 3/4 of a Century here) to appreciate the offerings. I'm just not even remotely interested in "any" of their offerings. (Before you haters start in, reference the "qualifier" of I guess I'm too old to appreciate what they offer. They have nothing to offer that meets the style I play. There are tons that will "love" what they are offering. Just nothing meets the sound and style I like to play. I've lived long enough to realize that "anyone" that didn't start playing in 1962 will not understand why I am just not interested.) Having said that...There is nothing better than a "new" guitar brand for today's players!!! I think this is a "bonus" for those that are interested in their offerings.

[@stanknugget]

That sure is a lot of quotation marks. You’re pretty non-committal, Boomer.

[@LPCustom3]

Great stuff Joe! I hope. I can buy one, one day! Don Butler/ Toneman, Inc.

[@Hugh_Jaynus_00]

Man. Pretty cool cats.

[@richardnagamitsu1582]

The Knaggs really sticks out behind Phil.

[@keithowensmusic37]

The day I met PRS and tried to hold a conversation with him, was the day I knew I'd never own another of his guitars.

[@garettoverstreet]

You hit the nail on the head Keith.

[@joeydego2]

16:45 is my guitar lol

[@BladeDoomer86]

Man, I wish i could own a Honga, like the one played by Ben Mcleod.. But at 5k$, ouch... I could own 5+ guitars at that price!

[@robsthedon]

Love the ethos ❤

[@johnfrancis8586]

Great interview. I own 20 Knaggs guitars. Fantastic instruments!

[@joeydego2]

The pope!

[@TVoltG]

Peter and Joe are good guys. When I am done paying for my mother's cancer treatments every week and she beats cancer. I will buy a Knaggs. I want one of their tools.

[@Necca_UK]

Hello man I hope she is doing fine.

[@TVoltG]

@@Necca_UK thanks man. Long journey it has been.

[@Necca_UK]

@@TVoltG my mom also had it and I fought with her, I know how hard it is.

[@TVoltG]

@@Necca_UK I don't wish it on anyone. Terrible disease.

[@lordmortensen8344]

Knaggs are the best guitars I have ever played!

[@davidchavers1820]

Beautiful guitars!!

[@tasteapiana]

There are a couple PRS hollow body guitars I lusted after but didn't really care for after playing them. It's a strange thing how something can be both beautiful and perfectly executed, in a technical sense, and yet be so utterly bland and lifeless. That was a major let down when I look back over nearly 40 years of exploring the guitar world. Hopefully, Knaggs' experience with a Gibson ES will creep back into his consciousness and begin to haunt him so much that he decides to tackle that challenge of making a medium sized jazz box that isn't weird like Gibson's run of small 356, etc, or too ''electric'' like the PRS offerings (which just lean too far toward being a standard electric). That's when I would consider handing over the big bucks. If that doesn't happen then my eyes are still on a Yamaha SA-2200 - because I don't think they're about to offer a smaller 335 style model soon and no one else seems to be able or willing to do it properly. Must say, though, for a solid (or semi solid) Steve Stevens' gold topped Knaggs is a gorgeous beast and I don't doubt that it's built like a tank. Great interview.

[@johnkeast1392]

The head stocks look like a like Washburn's

[@ericgould435]

I want to work for these guys.

[@jroobz]

played a Knaggs Kenai T3 for a few years. great guitar with one of the best feeling necks I've ever played. it did have some fit and finish bugs but it was an early serial number. If you're looking for an independent USA builder, it really doesn't get much better than this. The thing that really put me off was their online community, which was a real shame and more my problem than the guitar.

[@Eddietherocker]

I have the Steve Stevens model. The Steckel looks amazing as well, I really like the neck on the SSC wonder if theres a big different between those two models neck wise, I dont really mind if its heavier.

[@peachmelba1000]

I like that, reportedly, their guitars are great to play and sound good, but the whole guitar as furniture thing makes zero difference to me. As a builder, I am conflicted that so many players care more (not just about the shape), but pretty wood, and I don't lol I mean, I'll build you anything but I find that focus kind of corny and anti-utilitarian.

[@hughjarrse]

30:54 maybe not quite large enough in my opinion.

[@johnpearson4899]

Thanks for this interview. From what little I've seen and heard, I really like Joe Knaggs. He seems intelligent and driven but, down to earth. Having said that; C'mon now Phil. He doesn't have to tell the world. Figuring out how they're getting two or more different colors of stain on a flame maple top without bleed over is not complicated. Anyone with any experience with stain should be able to look at the guitar and immediately see how it's done. It IS more work. Quite a bit more work unless you have CNC or automated capabilities. But, it's not at all complicated to figure out. As far as Parker guitars is concerned, they were wildly overpriced and I swore off those the very second I saw Joni Mitchell playing one. Lol. Last night a video showing PRS' new pedal line. First thing the next morning, Knagg's interview. Hmm.

[@stratmagic6893]

I am not a PRS fan . I have played a couple of Knaggs and they are special but I won't spend that kind of money on a guitar.

[@thepedalguy2932]

Owned Knaggs Kenai #25 and was a beautiful well made guitar , but I was hoping it would be closer to a PRS not so much like a Gibson , just didn't fit me. was still a great guitar.

[@davethefed]

Adding things from both Fender and Gibson. Where have I heard that before? Oh, yes, PRS!!

[@paulmitchell5349]

Designing a guitar during cancer. Respect.

[@hellsSG]

Great interview. I've been eyeing Knaggs for quite a while but they are unfortunately non existent in my country.

[@peejay6930]

They're non-existent in the universe if you're lefty, so it could be worse

[@mattgarcia440]

A non-compete clause was in a proposal made to me once upon a time. Joe, thanks for not making Harbor Freight guitars !!!

[@The_Rude_French_Canadian]

Ouff the Tuxedo guitar is 7000$ cad loll this is above my pay grade 😂 but what a beautiful guitar

[@TheNewRevolution]

If I has the chance to pick out any new guitar, I'd get a Knaggs. Sadly they're a little outside of my budget right now.

[@riverstone5994]

"I don't like slave labour made things", me neither man. Respect

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

What Peter Wolf said about slave labor is THE one thing that guitar players seldom - if ever - talk about, and shame on them. There is so much virtue signaling going on but if they can buy a guitar for $300 then all of that go's out of their social window... !

[@oqsy]

What does he mean about the upper harmonics? I’d love to hear that explained

[@johncavalcante6173]

I just looked up those guitars. Not really nice looking especially for the price point.

[@benjamindonovan8045]

So Phil.... Is there plans for a Know Your Gear - Knaggs factory tour? 😊

[@lobster4501]

Adrian Belew and Parker were a team

[@rudiyantohalim736]

If the builder is a guitar player, the outcome will be an advantage for the guitarist. The tier is more about cosmetics, not the quality. Love it

[@unfcknblvbl]

Okay

[@miserychannel69]

6:50 .. and .. they don't have v's or explorers 14:38