Stephen Kinnaird - 2017 Shop Work #2

nacluth · #1 09-19-2017, 11:01 AM

Once upon a time we had a thread here that was kind of a master list for AGF featured work, but after the Photobucket picture apocalypse, that thread with its many photos is now defunct. I thought I would update a new thread that takes a look at some of the stuff we've done and how we plan to finish off the year. Of course with Woodstock coming up next month, there are some show guitars to exhibit plus a couple more special projects to finish out 2017. Thanks for all the support the AGF gives to the custom builder community.

Here's some of the projects we've worked on this year.

BC Sitka/Quilted Maple OM (Audio Clips)
Lefty BC Sitka/Amazon RW OM
Lutz/SE Asian RW OM (Audio Clips)
Sitka/Spanish Cedar OO
Italian/Madrose OM (Audio Clips)
Sitka/Red Eucalyptus OM - AGF Voted! (Audio Clips)
Colorado Blue Spruce/Indonesian RW OO (TuckerRE thread)
Sitka/Guatemalan RW SJ - 2017 Woodstock (Final Pics)
Italian/Primavera OM - 2017 Woodstock (Final Pics)
BC Sitka/Spanish Cedar OO
BC Sitka/Ebony FS
Cedar/Calico Padauk OM

We've been having a lot of fun building the amazing creations our customers think up. We hope you follow along as we keep plugging away. (Pictures next...)

Nemoman · #2 09-19-2017, 11:10 AM

You guys have done some awesome creations thus far this year!

Looking forward to seeing the cedar/padauk OM as well as the Woodstock guitars.

Kudos and keep them coming!

nacluth · #3 09-19-2017, 11:17 AM

Bearclaw Sitka/Quilted Maple OM:

Left handed Bearclaw Sitka/Amazon RW OM:

Lutz Spruce/SE Asian RW OM:

nacluth · #4 09-19-2017, 11:59 AM

Sitka/Spanish Cedar 00 prototype:

Italian/Madagascar Rosewood OM:

Sitka/Red Eucalyptus OM:

nacluth · #5 09-19-2017, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemoman

You guys have done some awesome creations thus far this year!

Looking forward to seeing the cedar/padauk OM as well as the Woodstock guitars.

Kudos and keep them coming!

Thanks Kevin! About that Padauk guitar....

I wish this was some kind of staged shot, but this is actual work product. In my decade plus of working here, we've never had what I would call a critical failure in our building process, and to be fair, we could have repaired an issue we had with the rim assembly of this guitar. But quality control would not let us send out a patched up guitar as new.

We happened to have an extra set of sides for this instrument (which is very rare), and we decided after the box was closed to cut the top and back off and make some perfect sides. Originally this was a Woodstock instrument, but now it will come later this year with all quality control agents appeased.

TomB'sox · #6 09-19-2017, 02:01 PM

That is NOT a pleasant looking picture. Care to say what happened? It looks like something at the upper bout treble side, but I can't be sure?

nacluth · #7 09-19-2017, 02:27 PM

It's too painful to retell now...maybe in my memoirs.

What you're seeing in the upper bout is where I have already routed around the brace pockets to free the top. In fact, the whole top is loose in this picture except for at the heel block. Soon enough the work was done (or undone), but like the goddess Tiamat whose divided body was used to make the world, these sundered parts will soon make a new creation.

TomB'sox · #8 09-19-2017, 05:44 PM

Not the best, but it will do in a pinch....front of the Southeast Asian/Lutz Deep Bodied OM as requested.

CE Sobel · #9 09-19-2017, 05:55 PM

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for posting all this. I love all of them but the Amazon RW caught my eye. I realize it's hard to make generalizations since there are a lot of variables, but how do you like building with the Amazon?

I have a fair number of sets but have yet to pull the trigger on a build. It seems about the same density as Honduran but not quite as glassy.

Cheers,

Chris

nacluth · #10 09-19-2017, 06:59 PM

Tom, thanks. I found all your pics on my backup, so I put a full length shot up.

Chris, Steve might chime in too, but your instinct is pretty close to what I would say. Both Honduran and Amazon are pretty dense with Honduran typically having a slightly glassier tap - though the difference can be marginal. They are pretty good analogues for each other.

Steve Kinnaird · #11 09-19-2017, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CE Sobel

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for posting all this. I love all of them but the Amazon RW caught my eye. I realize it's hard to make generalizations since there are a lot of variables, but how do you like building with the Amazon?

I have a fair number of sets but have yet to pull the trigger on a build. It seems about the same density as Honduran but not quite as glassy.

Cheers,

Chris

Hey Chris, thanks for the kind word. Go ahead and start using some of that Amazon, you'll like it. It bends well, and seems stable. I say that last statement because we just helped rescue a friend's wood stash that hurricane Harvey had sent floating. Dried it out, and after a few days it looked great.
Odd testimonial perhaps, but it helps me trust it a wee bit more.
Sonically you'll be hard pressed to tell it from the other rosewoods. Well, at least I am. It is a fine wood.

Steve

nacluth · #12 09-20-2017, 12:19 PM

Well as the above picture of the Padauk guitar showed, we needed another guitar for Woodstock. We decided to do something new for us...well several somethings new. And since we virtually had no time to spare to finish the instrument, it seemed like now was the time to try new things.

First thing new was the wood. We knew we wanted an OM on the table and as we had already had two Rosewood guitars going, we thought that a softer wood might bring variety. When going through potentials, we came across this set of Primavera, and we knew it was the right time to use it.

We've paired it with some dark Honduran Rosewood trim and Macassar Ebony accents. I hope you like it. Can you see what else we're giving a test run too?

Thanks for checking our stuff out.

TomB'sox · #13 09-20-2017, 01:28 PM

Is a removable bridge with screwdriver bits thrown in for good luck???? Steve already owes me a T-shirt for another contest so I will keep my second guess close to the vest as they say....

Nemoman · #14 09-20-2017, 02:16 PM

OK--I'll take a shot and say it's the headstock design--looks pretty cool with that macassar backplate!

What kind of tone do you expect to get from the primavera? Love the look with the rosewood binding!

nacluth · #15 09-20-2017, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemoman

OK--I'll take a shot and say it's the headstock design--looks pretty cool with that macassar backplate!

What kind of tone do you expect to get from the primavera? Love the look with the rosewood binding!

Of course you got it right! We expect Primavera to sound a lot like Mahogany. We've had some really great sounding Mahogany OM's, and we're hoping that this will be in line with those.