McKnight Lowlander--Final Pictures!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fn...A=w576-h768-no...and so begins the accumulation of the next sawdust pile in the McKnight Guitars workshop!
Hello AGFers, Tim began just a day or two ago, and I received the first batch of pictures, so I thought I'd get a thread started to share the details of this unique build. There are a number of McKnight builds in the AGF archives, but I don't believe there's been a build thread of a McKnight Lowlander before, so that'll be something new for you McKnight fans! So first, what exactly is this Lowlander model? Well, it's shape is based on the general contours of an 000. The Lowlander, however, is larger than an 000 in every dimension, I'd say it's roughly halfway between the size of an 000 and a slope dreadnaught, in fact. I chose this model because it's body dimensions and 12 fret configuration seem like a perfect size for a modern fingerstyle guitar, but at the same time, it's "vintage" body shape would allow me to give it some matching vintage details that I might not otherwise want to include on a more "modern"-shaped body. I had the good fortune to visit Tim and Mary on a rainy Tuesday (I think it was a Tuesday, I was so jetlagged, I can't remember) in late August where, after a marathon-length day of talking, tapping, chatting, and other related activities, I made a tentative choice of the woods and model for this guitar. By Thanksgiving, we had pretty much settled on all the details, except a last-minute change of fretwire dimensions. So on to the details of the Lowlander model: Body dimensions: Lower Bout: 15.375" Waist: 9.265" Upper Bout: 11.25" Body Length: 20.25 Depth at the Tail: 4.5" (this is my spec, Tim is willing to adjust body depth to your preference) Scale length: 25.4" Nut width: 1 13/16" Bridge spacing: 2 5/16" Tonewoods: Pretty much every piece of wood on this guitar was selected first for tone, not appearance--lightweight, unrivaled tap tone, stiffness, low-dampening, etc. Soundboard: McKnight-certified "Tone King" Grade German Spruce That's my designation, anyways--selected strictly for stiffness and tap tone--I was able to see it and hear it for myself, as well as directly compare it to other very fine spruce tone wood sets from Tim's diverse and carefully-curated collection. Along with Tim's personal recommendation, it was an obvious choice. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wy...=w1024-h768-no Back/Sides: Brazilian Pernambuco --Quartersawn, very beautiful, high quality set. Unfortunately, there aren't many sets of this quality-or ANY quality--to be had now, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to get an instrument with this prized wood, built by someone of Tim's skill and reputation. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/T_...M=w576-h768-no Additional Specs: Honduran Mahogany neck Pernambuco body binding with Ebony and African Blackwood purflings African Blackwood fretboard (originally Pernambuco, but changed later!) Pernambuco Pyramid bridge Slotted headstock with Gabon Ebony veneer Rodgers tuning machines Florentine cutaway Luckenbooth soundport EVO gold jumbo frets with hemispherical fret end treatment AST Titanium bridge pins |
Ok, obviously I don't know how to post pictures here anymore! I tried flickr, but they didn't load. I'll get it figured out later and edit the previous post to include pictures....:confused:
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I hope that's 2 5/16 saddle!!:D
You're going to love the experience of the build with two of my favorite people |
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Yes, I flubbed that detail! Correction made...bridge spacing is 2 5/16"
Still working on the photos...hopefully tomorrow... |
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I figured out the picture posting , so a few pictures are now included in the first post. Thanks for the instructions, Tim! |
Cutting and bending the Florentine cutaway
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Bending the sides
Double sides of Pernambuco and Cherry wood
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h2...=w1024-h768-no Sides are spritzed with water and ready to go... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dE...=w1024-h768-no [IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Xo...=w1024-h768-no[/IMG] |
Looks like some killer woods on this one!
Looking forward to following along... |
Well what the heck? Another McKnight build when the other guitar barely had strings put on it? Don't tell me, you quit your day job? ;)
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My goal was to give it a "19th century meets 21st century" aesthetic, so that's the direction it's headed as the build unfolds. I love the vintage details of the old gut string classical and parlor guitars of the 19th century, and their somewhat Victorian more formal appearance. I took a lot of inspiration from researching pictures of instruments from this time period. Overall, I think it will be quite understated, but quite unique, nonetheless. Certainly no one will mistake this guitar for a vintage instrument, considering it will have a Florentine cutaway and a soundport, among other things. Here is a picture of a Lowlander model from the McKnight Guitars website: http://www.mcknightguitars.com/wp-co...Lander-top.jpg ...and here is a rough computer sketch Tim made a while ago that will give some idea of what we have planned: http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL89.../414117121.jpg |
This looks to be quite a special build. I'm intrigued.
Congrats and thanks for sharing the build with us. |
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Florentine Cutaway double sides being glued together
Spreading the glue to adhere the inner and outer sides
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4E...o=w876-h657-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/80...M=w876-h657-no adding a piece of foam to each side and placing the cutaway back in the mold. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...A=w493-h657-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PX...g=w876-h657-no Finished. Sort of. |
German Spruce soundboard traced for body shape.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LM...s=w876-h657-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CU...Y=w876-h657-no Check out those heavy winter growth grain lines. |
What is THIS?! Shouldn't be too hard to figure out...
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Mary - if you're following, I hope this doesn't inspire you to make a custom flyswatter. We're just trying to spread the "buzz." Quote:
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Gonna be a treat to watch a Lowlander in process. Haven't been many built, in my recollection, over the years, and certainly not with an AGF build thread (tho I do recall playing one up in the loft). Cool-looking guitar body! So glad you had the chance to visit with Tim and Mary and enter the mystical wood room to tap your German spruce. That alone is worth a "flight" to Morral! And, if you don't mind me piling on Todd and Neil (football scrum!), the McKnights are also two of my favorite people. |
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If yours is completed in time you should consider the McJam this summer. It would be fun to see this guitar in person.
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McJammers will gather at the shop on June 21 and 22 to share fun, food and fellowship.
I'll send emails later this week. |
Thanks for the update, Mary. I hope I can make it!
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Neil, I'm glad the dates work out for you. I sent emails today to McJammers. If anyone else wants added I can send details to them. Private Loft reservation list has your name on it. The Lone Cone has antenna TV - but no AC.
Regulars know the details, but can always get a copy of the file of common sense rules. |
Florentine Cutaway continued--putting the sides and cutaway together
Marking the proper side lengths so the two pieces meet at the center, then cut to size.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/J0...0=w876-h657-no Sanding the two sidepieces and cutaway piece on the inner sides (Cherry wood) before gluing them together. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rb...E=w876-h657-no Neck block is glued to the non-cutaway side piece. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OY...g=w876-h657-no The triangular piece that provides a foundation for the side piece and cutaway piece's connection. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7k...U=w876-h657-no Tail block is glued and set. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cl...4=w876-h657-no After glue has set, checking that it fits properly within the mold. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yd...E=w876-h657-no Gluing in the kerfing and clamping it down to set. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...I=w876-h657-no Side 1 is finished and Side 2 has begun. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u1...8=w876-h657-no |
This looks like such a cool model ... I'll be watching this one for sure!
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What Dave said. All of your builds and threads are outstanding. Always learn something good. Russ
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Time to make the purflings...
I think Pernambuco is a beautiful wood. It's not the most photogenic wood, but if you see a finished piece in real life, it is incredibly warm, vibrant and nuanced in color. Another thing about Pernambuco is that it doesn't play well with other woods! Pretty much nothing seems to pair well for bindings, purflings, etc., in my opinion. So we decided to stick with "black" as the contrasting color throughout the instrument.
I asked Tim to make some 5-ply purflings for the body, to complement the Pernambuco bindings. The purflings consist of Ebony/Pernambuco/African Blackwood/Pernambuco/Ebony. The ABW is the center of the purflings and is noticeably wider than the other purfling lines. Tim chose ABW over Ebony for this wider purfling line because it bends easier than Ebony. Here are the five layers ready to be glued together. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Gw...Y=w876-h657-no Glued and clamped. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JD...M=w876-h657-no Cutting the purfling sheet into purfling strips. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fL...0=w876-h657-no 5-ply purfling strips. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/S3...k=w876-h657-no |
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