Another McKnight Build

[Tim McKnight]

Hi Neil,
I do tap on the top as well as hmmmm into the sound hole to find the top and sound box's resonant frequencies. I tune my backs so they are a few semi-tones from the top so tapping on the back and then the top allows me to hear the difference between the two plates. If the two plates are tuned to the same frequency they will cancel each other.

[cotten]

He's just teasing. He's tapping to see if the good notes that he put in there are still awake and ready to go. A sleepy guitar takes longer to open up. Everybody knows that!

cotten

[Mary]

Originally Posted by Neil Gardiner

Hey Tim
When I have a box together I always tap the top and "sing" into the hole to get an idea of the sound. Neil

If Tim decides to "sing" into your guitar, it might never play on tune.

This is part of the reason we accept, "Make a joyful noise" as our motto.

Huh, Tim?

[bk314159]

Hi John - It's nice to have someone who truly knows what Tim and Mary do to their/our guitars!

Today's first post has Tim putting on the back strap to the peg head ...

First the excess is cut away:



The top is ebony (perfectly cut):



Tim positions of the Ziricote back strap:







Tim clamps everything together:



I'll end this post and ...

[bk314159]

... continued here where Tim works on the bridge:



Mary captures how fast Tim can sand by hand:



The box looks on waiting for its bridge:



As Mary says "The binding awaits the box."



"The fretboard awaits the purfling."



"The purfling and the binding are going onto the fretboard."



"They are glued into place and will set over night."



And that's it for this session. Thanks for looking.

BK

[Mary]

Happy birthday to you, Bruce!!!!

You deserve to enjoy your day and take a break from your McGit build moments.

[bk314159]

Thanks Mary for the birthday wish. Mary and Tim's best present was more photos. Today's photos are of the fretboard and the peghead.

Tim plans the binding of the fretboard:



I love the look of the Ebony and the purfling/binding:



Rounding off the peg head end:



That looks great:



Now to cut the peg head to shape:



It just needs some sanding:



The former math teacher in me loves this photo. "When am I ever going to use geometry?" Try right here:



Mary writes "Tracing each diamond for good measure."



Routing away the diamond negative:



I don't think the McKnight household has your typical condiments!



That's 10 photos for this post. 10 more to come.

[bk314159]

Mary writes "... a nice clean criss cut.:



A rough fit of the purfling/binding is good:



Wood glue is added to attach the curved corners and taped:



This is my favorite shot! I think the fretboard is gorgeous. Thanks Tim! Great photo Mary!



Trimming the curved portion:





This shot shows the black, rust, red purfling going to the Cocobolo binding:



Wood glue is added:



There are so many steps to building a guitar:



And it's all taped until it's dry:



What a great birthday present! And thanks to all of you for following this thread.

BK

[rlouie]

threads like this amaze me!!!!! I don't know how you builders do it!!!! you are a different breed that's for sure!!!!!!! amazing work Tim & Mary!!!

[Joel Stehr]

Looks amazing! I love seeing Tim in action. Fun thread!

[bk314159]

rlouie - I totally agree - luthiers are amazing.

Joel - your new site is great!

More picture from Mary arrived. The first post will feature the holes being drilled for the tuners and the second post will feature the front and back inlays.

Mary writes: "The peg head back is marked for the tuners.":









Now the other side:



Nice and clean:



Next - the inlays ...

[bk314159]

The knight head is traced and ready to cut:



A steady hand and an eagle eye:



Insert the knight head:



Spread some more ebony dust over the knight head:



Preparing to trace the name on the back:







Insert the name:



Mary continues :"Where's the dot for the "i"?":



Now it's in place:



I look forward to seeing what both sides look like after Tim sands them. They have to dry tonight. Thanks for looking.

BK

[Mary]

I received a question:

Why is the name is on the back and the knight head is on the front with both not being on the front?

Answer:

Because the customer wants it that way.

We aim to please.

[bk314159]

Here are the latest photos from Mary and Tim -

Sanding the peghead:



The front looks amazing:



... as does the back:



Tim checks the pre-fit of the truss rod:



Mary writes "This is a double check procedure to be sure the neck will be centered with the fretboard.":



Again Mary writes "Yes, rounding the edge will mirror the peg head. A butter dish lid works fine for this." Tricks of the trade.





I'm blown away how the red purfling of the fretboard matches up with the red purfling in the rosette. Incredible Tim!



More photos in the next post ...

[bk314159]

I left out the photos of Tim mixing a two part epoxy. I believe that's Mary holding the heating element while Tim spreads the epoxy:



Tim spreads all the glue back and forth so it squeezes into the cracks:



Mary continues: "the red spacer assures Tim that all will fit like a glove.'



The fretboard is put on top (Blue tape protects the work he did previously)



Tim clamps the fretboard to the neck and it will set over night in the humidity controlled room:



I'm continually blown away at all the steps a luthier must master. Thanks Mary and Tim!