Kraut 00
 

Besides being a world class luthier and a great guy, Ray also loves animals as much as I do. He takes his dog Kees almost everywhere he goes, and Kees is a constant shop companion for Ray. Here are some photos I took of Kees during breaks from my build.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...227-01Kees.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...023_160441.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...213_160754.jpg

If all goes as expected, Ray, Kees and I should be heading to Phoenix on Sunday to pick up my guitar from finish.

Hope all goes well on Sunday and we get more photos on Monday!

Lol, love Kees...have a border collie myself, can't wait to see your 00 finished!!

Kraut 00
 

Thanks Dustin. I can't wait to see your new Beneteau finished!!!

Thanks Colin. There was a delay with the finisher, but all is going well otherwise. Ray should have the guitar back by Friday or so. I will post more photos as soon as possible.

Well as we all know, there's Sunday, and then there is "luthier Sunday" : )

Steve

Kraut 00
 

You got that one right Steve!!!

Kraut 00
 

I finally got to see the guitar after being pore-filled and sprayed with a thin layer(s) of nitrocellulose lacquer. It has been drying/curing for about a week-and-a-half now and has about the same time left to go. After that is sanding and buffing. Even with a rough finish on it, and all the pores still exposed, the guitar looks gorgeous. Ray certainly outdid the already high expectations I had!

Well, I know you all tuned in for the photos, so here goes:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...0317-01Top.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...02TopClose.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...317-03Back.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...06EndGraft.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...stockFront.jpg

I haven't posted a photo of the rear of the headstock before now, because the figure in the mahogany Ray used was hard to see before finish. It has darkened and really pops now:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...dstockBack.jpg

The same set of highly figured mahogany was used on the binding of this guitar as well as the heel cap.

That's all the photos I have for now. Needless to say, I cannot wait to see and play this guitar once it is completed. Thanks for following along.

WOW!!! John, that is one special guitar coming together. Love the headstock, all the aesthetics (that tie together beautifully), and goodness that back Brazilian wood is so symmetrically matched...just beautiful. Even the back of the headstock looks sharp!

Cannot wait to see it when the finish work is complete. This will be an amazing guitar!!! :up:

The more I see that rosette/headstock/end graft combo the more I like it!
And the mahogany is a great choice too.

Almost there John!

Kraut 00
 

Thanks so much for the support Carmel Cedar. Ray certainly does amazing work. The awesome part is that his guitars sound every bit as good as they look!

Thanks for following along Colin. Yeah, the wait is killing me.

I can't wait to play this guitar along with your Claxton Malabar the next time you visit!!!

Kraut 00
 

Colin expressed interest in the other guitars that Ray is currently building. So, when I was at Ray's shop a week ago, I took photos of the rosettes of the other four guitars that Ray got back from finish. The guitars have not been sanded or buffed yet, like mine, with the exception of the first guitar in the photos below, which Ray was getting ready to glue the bridge on:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...-01Rosette.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...-02Rosette.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...-03Rosette.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...-04Rosette.jpg

I have always been attracted to the unique rosettes that Ray creates for each guitar. I am so happy that I will finally be getting one soon!

Feel free to chime in and let me know what you think of the rosettes.

Thanks for reading this far!

Fantastic!

That’s an elegant looking box.

Kraut 00
 

Thanks so much John. That's high praise coming from a talented luthier such as yourself. I have always liked Ray's sense of design.

Looks like it may take a month or so longer to get this guitar into my hands. Everything is slowed down due to the Coronavirus spread. Ray ordered the Visesnut case for this guitar several weeks ago, but there is still no ETA. He is also waiting on a couple other smaller items. Oh well, at least I have other nice guitars to play while waiting.

What a LOOKER!
 

Wow! Mighty nice.

All the rosettes are quite striking. Your instrument will be a peach!!!

Enjoy it in fine health and spirits too...

Cheers and SALUD!

Paul