Another McKnight Build

bk314159 · #1 10-06-2011, 05:44 PM

After happening upon the AGF, I was drawn to the custom builds of Tim and Mary McKnight. Having moved to the west coast going to the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival to try one of their guitars seemed like it would be fun and the wise thing to do before possibly ordering one. I found Tim and Mary first thing Friday morning. After playing John's Osage Orange Mini Mac (thanks John) I was hooked and 15 minutes after the festival started I had placed my order.

Two years later it's now my turn. Mary and Tim have been very patient - more so than I would have been. I believe I changed all my initial choices but they have always been nothing but gracious and helpful throughout the selection process.

So here are the specs:

Mini Mac
1950 Redwood Top
Ziricote Back & Sides
Manzer Wedge
Venetian Cutaway
Cocobolo Bindings
Luckenbooth Sound Port

But let's get to the photos:

First the Ziricote back:

Mary is holding my purfling choice next to half of the 1950 Redwood top:

Tim builds all his guitars with double sides. Here are the Ziricote sides flanked by the inner Walnut Tim chose:

Here's the maestro checking the top's tap tone:

Here's Tim making a side sandwich:

Tim sanding away the remainder of the glue from the sides:

There are always more decisions to make. Pick a rosette orientation:

The start of my rosette:

Tim does his magic. The pearl inlay happens tonight:

Tim placing the lining:

That's it for now. Mary sent a zillion more photos. In fact I'm ending this now so I can look at the very latest batch.

riorider · #2 10-06-2011, 05:54 PM

Very nice, bk -- will be watching this one with serious interest! Nice set of zir...

Phil

fitness1 · #3 10-06-2011, 06:38 PM

it will certainly be worth the wait......

redcloud · #4 10-06-2011, 07:43 PM

Love that Ziricote, and seeing Tim hard at work.

bubbaprime · #5 10-06-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcloud

Love that Ziricote, and seeing Tim hard at work.

+1

...very nice wood set

Mary · #6 10-06-2011, 08:20 PM

The rosette is under glue as we speak. I hope to show you what it looks like later tomorrow.

Joel Stehr · #7 10-06-2011, 08:20 PM

Congrats! This is sure to be an amazing guitar. I'll be watching this thread closely!

cotten · #8 10-06-2011, 10:02 PM

bk, you are in for a thrilling ride with your McKnight build! Not only does Tim work his magic out in the shop, Mary does a tremendous job of assisting with the choice of appointments, plus keeping the communications flowing. Her pictures document each step of your guitar's gestation period, and if you're like me, they add a great deal to the enjoyment of having a custom guitar built.

Love your choices, particularly the zircote. That's what I chose for mine, and I never cease to marvel at it's visual beauty. (Mine had a Brazilian inner back, so that's the wood that contributes to the guitar's tone, more than the zircote, which is damped by being somewhat in contact with chest and tummy.)

Not trying to hijack your thread, but as an encouragement, here's how the back of my McKnight turned out. LOVE it!

cotten

taz2822 · #9 10-07-2011, 03:40 AM

wow nice

kwakatak · #10 10-07-2011, 06:20 AM

Congratulations! I'm sure you will love what Tim and Mary create for you and that they have already made you feel like part of their family!

bk314159 · #11 10-07-2011, 07:09 AM

Hi Phil - Thanks. I take it you have an order with the McKnights or are thinking of one.

Hi Todd - I know you're right. I know you love yours. So will you own 1.25 or 2.25 McKnights?

Thanks Scott - me too to both your comments.

Thanks Jeff!

I look forward to Mary's comments. It's amazing how much time she spends dealing with us lucky customers. Thank you!

Hi Joel - I look forward to our time.

Cotten - I can only hope that the back of my guitar is as sweet as your's is. That's simply gorgeous. It's an honor having you comment.

Thanks taz

Hi Neil - You're absolutely correct about the McKnights. I love being part of their extended guitar family.

I'm going to post some pictures of the rosette in a little bit.

Thanks everyone,
BK

bk314159 · #12 10-07-2011, 07:31 AM

Last night Mary sent me photos of Tim doing the pain-staking work of inlaying pearl in the center of my rosette.

First a channel was routed from the center of my rosette:

I doubt many prospective luthiers think about this part of the job. "Oh yeah, I need to buy dental tools ..." I'm amazed at the patience one must have for this part of the job. Thanks Tim!

I love this photo. The precision needed is obvious. I love the purfling. Great shot Mary!

I'm just blown away by the beauty of Tim's work. Bravo!

So what does Tim fill the rest of the channel with? Mary tells me it's a mixture of cocobolo sawdust with epoxy to make the paste dark.

Again, here's a shout out to Tim (and all other luthiers) - thank you for patience you have. This can't be fun.

Here's another view of an obviously yucky part of the job.

That's it for now. Thanks for giving a look.

BK

Taylorplayer · #13 10-07-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotten

bk, you are in for a thrilling ride with your McKnight build! Not only does Tim work his magic out in the shop, Mary does a tremendous job of assisting with the choice of appointments, plus keeping the communications flowing. Her pictures document each step of your guitar's gestation period, and if you're like me, they add a great deal to the enjoyment of having a custom guitar built.

Love your choices, particularly the zircote. That's what I chose for mine, and I never cease to marvel at it's visual beauty. (Mine had a Brazilian inner back, so that's the wood that contributes to the guitar's tone, more than the zircote, which is damped by being somewhat in contact with chest and tummy.)

Not trying to hijack your thread, but as an encouragement, here's how the back of my McKnight turned out. LOVE it!

cotten

Cotten:

The wood on that guitar is just amazing! It has a certain gem-like quality about it. Just beautiful.

OK, back to the OP's original thread....

kscobie8 · #14 10-07-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk314159

...

So what does Tim fill the rest of the channel with? Mary tells me it's a mixture of cocobolo sawdust with epoxy to make the paste dark.

...

BK

That's an allergic reaction waiting to happen! Huh Mary?

Bel isi,
-kyle

Tim McKnight · #15 10-07-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscobie8

That's an allergic reaction waiting to happen! Huh Mary?

Bel isi,
-kyle

Yep, Mary is extremely allergic to Coco so she has learned to keep her distance when it is being sanded. We had to totally rethink and revamp our vacuum system a few years ago after she came down with a severe rash and open sores. She was a mess. Once Coco is under sealer though there are no more risks for her.