Oh Tom, that sounds marvelous (pun intented)!

Pretty funny! Thanks Kevin.

Very nice of you to say Michael! I don't think a streaming broadcast would do very well (too many mistakes live) but I will put something up on YouTube for this one.

I love it! "I Kinnairdly wait to seeing the finished product." Hope you don't mind if I abuse that one some myself.

You Texas guys deserve the high praise ... but now you're just making me blush, Ryan! :)

Thanks Mau! Glad you like it. :D

That rosette is the product of much back and forth! I really enjoyed the interaction. Steve and Ryan can be downright hilarious at times!

Thanks all for the kind remarks.
And yes, the Fourth is strong with this one.

Steve

Wow beautiful ! I'm impressed by all the craftsmanship I've seen over the last year or so here ! Amazing ! Eould love to hear this guitar in action ;)

Artful, ingenious and downright beautiful work fellas!!

A very nice collaboration indeed! Can't wait to see more.

Thanks everyone ...
 

Steve, I have to say, I agree with the sentiment here. You Kinnaird guys are knocking it out of the park here. Thanks for all you do! :)

Thanks for joining us Riakstonic! Appreciate the kind words. I heard from TomB'sox and he is loving the tone of his new Kinnaird DB OM. I'm kind of anxious to hear this puppy myself!

Thanks nootis! Glad to have you following along. Lot's of interesting thing still in store on this one!

Boxed up ...
 

Here the sides are sanded and prepared for routing next week. I imagine Ryan got quite the shot of aromatic cinnamony goodness while doing this job.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4172/...2f497e_o_d.jpg

Here is the first glimpse of the box. Love the shape of the Kinnaird florentine cutaway. And the unique way the rosette fits in with the overall look. "Kinnairdly wait" (haha) to see it under finish.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4180/...cd5018_o_d.jpg

Thanks mucho for that, Dennis. We tapped and rapped on the closed box yesterday and were impressed with the loud "report".

Steve

This is a stunning guitar Dennis - you're going to be a real happy man.

How do you keep yourself occupied and control your anticipation of moment you finally get this in your hands, string it up and listen to this new creation?
Is it sometimes difficult to sleep at night?

I'm thinking maybe one of those little flourishes on the heel cap - - -
(thought about maybe a matching license plate holder for your car?)

Purflings and Bevels and End wedge and such ...
 

Appreciate your checking in Nic! Have to say, I'm pretty excited about this guitar. Sleeping hasn't been a problem but I do get the feeling of butterflies when I think of playing this little sweetheart!

Awesome pictures! Thank you Ryan! :)

Today we start with routing the top for the purfling and binding.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4164/...3e58e6_o_d.jpg

After cleaning up the channels, Steve draws out the bevel limits. Love the way the rosette looks in the background.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4192/...8f2023_o_d.jpg

Then after rasping the bevel in at 45 degrees, a little sanding to smooth the cut.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4159/...e306ea_o_d.jpg

There is no easy way except to hand file the top purfling channel.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4171/...83d84b_o_d.jpg

And at the lower side of the bevel, Steve hand files the binding channel as well.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4158/...d3afd9_o_d.jpg

Space for the end wedge is routed out. The wedge is installed first in preparation for mitering with the Ebony binding material.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4156/...7d1910_o_d.jpg

Gluing in the Ebony wedge with band clamps.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4155/...717182_o_d.jpg

And here the end wedge is installed and ready to be mitered into the binding.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4174/...b62450_o_d.jpg

Really coming along!

True craftsmen! If I were responsible for any of these intricate operations, I would soil myself in fear of making a mistake.

There are so many cool things to watch during a build, but even though I did not get a bevel on my latest Kinnaird, I think watching the way they do theirs is one of my favorite parts of the build. They start out with this huge rasp to start the contour and end up with a finger nail file, I mean really....

It is really starting to get pretty now Dennis. I am loving it.

T

Beautiful. Really want to try a Kinnaird some day.

You really should, it is good for the soul!

Thanks for the supportive comments, guys!

And thanks, ukejon, come to the Woodstock show in October and you can do just that.

Steve

The horn ...
 

They are indeed true craftsmen! It has always astounded me to look at such perfect fit and finish and realize so much of that is accomplished freehand! :)

I'm getting giddy now!!!!!

Turn about is fair play ... you got me started on Hatcher!

So I guess that means I won't be visiting your shop in October! But maybe run into you at Woodstock?

Every part is expertly honed to accept the binding and purfling. Wonder who will draw the short straw on top purfling next week! :eek: :eek:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4160/...17bd4d_o_d.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4192/...b5ef14_o_d.jpg

Why not both? We'd love to give you a tour of our shop. But also, we expect to see you at Woodstock!

That will be me. But you know, I find this step relaxing, even therapeutic.
It is fun, even fitting the wee tiles of Lignum. Go figure....

Thanks,

Steve

Wow, Dennis--this is really looking fabulous and is so much fun to watch come together.

Just looking at the beauty of the side wood at the cutaway gets me excited. This is going to look (and sound) so awesome when complete!

Purfling and Binding are the order of the day ...
 

Thanks Kevin. Appreciate your comments. I'm psyched!

Now begins some tedious work. In this first pic, installation of the bwb purfling with a teflon spacer which will be replaced with Lignum Vitae to match the outer rings of the rosette.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4176/...e6826a_o_d.jpg

Here the same purfling is carefully mitered at the horn of the Florentine cutaway. A little easier to see the Lignum Vitae in the rosette which will surround the top.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4162/...e6826a_o_d.jpg

Here you can see the purfling stands proud of the point where it will meet the Ebony bevel.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4174/...ffe273_o_d.jpg

The top purfling is in!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4170/...046514_o_d.jpg

The bwb purfling going on the back before the Ebony binding.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4180/...d1513f_o_d.jpg

And we decided on an Ebony blank for the bridge that shows a bit of tan streaking which should tie in nicely with the tan in the rosette.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4159/...2c99c0_o_d.jpg

Step by step, getting ever closer ... WahHoo!

Really, really nice!

I never asked Steve why they do the purfling this way, ie. using the teflon spacer. I have seen a number of builds where the entire purfling is installed in one step ie. the wood core is there instead of the teflon. I am sure it is just preference with the way you are used to doing something or whether the wood core is one piece or in my last build, mulitple smaller pieces, but I post this wondering if there may be more to it?

OH looking great BTW, everytime that back shows up, I am in awe!

It's probably a matter of comfort level. This is the most comfortable way for us to do this step. It is not the only way, but it is a fairly standard way to install abalone purfling. The Lignum Vitae will be installed the same way, cutting the 1/16" strips into 3/4" long pieces, not unlike abalone strips. The Teflon insures a uniform channel which--once established--lets us worry about the fit of each little piece of purfling. I hope that makes sense.

Steve

Purfling, Binding and Bridge ...
 

Thanks Paul!

Thanks Tom! A good question. Appreciate Steve's answer as well. I've often wondered the same thing.

Things are humming along in Texas with progress on leveling purfling, adding binding on the back and the bridge is taking shape.

In the first pic Steve is leveling the bwb on the top purfling and binding. Looks like a dirty job. Just glad Steve is a pro at cleaning it up.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4246/...e630da_o_d.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4182/...a6e788_o_d.jpg

Cleaned up and prime for adding the tiles of Lignum Vitae. I'm so glad these guys convinced me to use the Ebony binding. It looks so nice against the Madi.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4189/...5422af_o_d.jpg

And the back is receiving its binding.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4170/...16f178_o_d.jpg

Here the bridge blank is sanded to the signature Kinnaird bridge shape.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4221/...be36ff_o_d.jpg

Then the bridge pin holes drilled. Love the curve for the pins. Always makes me think the guitar is smiling at me.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4198/...8f4eb3_o_d.jpg

It IS smiling at you, Dennis! Or at least it was when we snapped this pic.
We've told your new baby grand stories of her future home near the nation's capital. She still is willing to go there as long as she gets to stay with you.
Getting to play for some important people from time to time would be an added bonus, but no promises were made. ;)

Steve

Yum
 

My goodness this is a beauty!

Once again I must agree with Tom! That back... wow

I love the Kinnaird west bridge shape,and asked John if I could have one, but he was reluctant to say the least. Thought you guys might like to know...

What a magnificent axe! Dennis you must be over the moon!

Only a couple weeks more for me and mine! Good thing I have way too many guitars, plus a couple of Steve's hahahahahahahahahahahahahahha

Cheers

Paul

Dennis, It's just a beauty brother! I enjoy seeing the progress this guitar is making. Can't think of anything I'd do differently. The rosette still just jumps off the page. What a gorgeous design. :up:

Paul, Mike, I appreciate the continued support and the kind words.
Got the last of the binding done today (sorry no pic) and now we're on to the finishing touches for that arm bevel.
And then, 10,000 LV tiles to cut and install. Ahh...the life of a luthier!
:D

Steve

You got something special there. Good fortune for the future!

Binding, Bevel and Neck ...
 

Can't wait to hear your personal impressions of that all Hog goodness when it makes it to your place. Exciting times! Thanks for following along here Paul. :)

Thanks Mike. Have to say, your Black & White Ebony piece is looking pretty darn awesome! How lucky we are to have such talent brought to bear on our instruments!

A tough life. But I'm certainly happy to have you and Ryan working so hard for me. :)

Hey Pete! Glad to have you following along. Thanks for the well wishes!

The binding is wrapping up. Here Steve is placing the bwb purfling just before adding the binding at the top of the cutaway.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4270/...879aa8_o_d.jpg

And here some binding sanding on the horn.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4250/...01faa3_o_d.jpg

On to the arm bevel where Steve is leveling before the Ebony tiles are placed.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4201/...f75372_o_d.jpg

Placement of the first Ebony tile on the bevel.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4228/...f50e4c_o_d.jpg

And in this pic, Ryan is drilling for an internal dowel in the heel. This helps lock the inserts into place and provides some extra stiffness.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4275/...d573c3_o_d.jpg

This is great fun! Thanks for sharing your journey with us Dennis. I am sure all of us here share in your excitement.