The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation honored me with a commission to build two replicas of Buddy's 1943 Gibson J-45, the guitar on which he composed most of his hits. TBHEF places these guitars with distinguished artists who will play them at fundraising events in support of its mission, to promote musical education for young players. The guitars are named after Buddy's songs. This pair is named the "Not Fade Away" guitars. They have been appropriately placed with two musicians whose band's first hit record was a cover of that song. I am pleased to announce that these two Klepper guitars have been accepted by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
MAGAZINE FEATURES
"This guitar wouldn't look out of place in a modern art gallery . . . It is frankly the most extraordinary acoustic guitar I've ever seen."
The curators of fine art museums have discovered the artistry of contemporary guitar making. My work has been invited to shows produced by the DeVos Art Museum in Marquette, Michigan; the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, and the Oakland Museum of California.
My guitars have appeared by invitation in three recently published books. These range from coffee table art to the new definitive text on guitar design by a master builder.