Thanks John. I think you saw the black cloth stand on the desk in the office. They were taken there with my iPhone. The trick was to get the exposure where the black cloth looks black. The back looks lighter than reality in the pics, but the first two are pretty close. Still learning.

Man, Ryan. I was sure you were going to say it was the back of your SUV. (with shielded indirect lighting of course)...

C'mon Chris. You know I had to trade in the SUV for a minivan. I'm ashamed to say how comfy it is. Anyway, with three girls, there's too much glitter to take good pics in my car anymore.

I'll take the blame...
 

I'll take the blame...well some of it at any rate (and looks like Tom's is an FS not a '00' so no competition yet...)

I'm the Indonesian Rosewood order and delighted Steve and Ryan have agreed to build a '00'! Steve and I go way back on 00's since before he started building and not sure we can tell all our stories, but it's a fun and historic model (both in the history of acoustic guitars and our history together...starting with an old 00-21 I purchased circa '74) *.

I feel like I've been a pest over this model for a long time and hope they aren't building it just to shut me up, but it might accomplish that as well.

I hope, like the FS, it's become a mainstay in their lineup. So far we're still sorting out pieces of Indonesia Rosewood (my bad on that score), but I will totally relish this build, to be sure!

* - I can't say whether its in the will for Steve, cuz he might bump me off!

Cool man,

Glad things are looking up.

Prayers.

I would like to conceive this build as ALL USA. I don't know why it matters, but it does.

We'll talk.

Chris

This will be a fun thread!
 

Very glad y'all are back in the saddle! I am sure we all continue to send good thoughts/vibes/prayers for you folks and your families...

Also glad to see you have plenty of fine guitars ordered! Good work is appreciated!!! And yours certainly is fine.

We will enjoy watching the progress!

Cheers

Paul

Well hey Bob,

I just can't keep up with you. I told Steve that I wanted an FS to pay homage to the co-designer, AKA Robert Tucker himself, the all time number one, numero uno, outstanding, super premium, top of the heap, unmatched, world class, lifetime designee top Kinnaird owner extraordinaire, and all around Steve Kinnaird expert and some day autobiographer, and then here you go making them build another new model just for you. Does that mean I have an OO in the future too? God help me.

:roll::roll::roll:

Overstated...
 

Steve is way too generous in his sharing credit on the 'FS'...while I do assume a cheerleading role, I do NOT DO ANYTHING. I come up with random ideas...Steve and Ryan nix the manifold bad ones and somehow I get credit for something that remains. Just because of their generousity, I can assure you!

Oh my goodness. Do I sense a revolution here?? ;) That is...GREAT guitar builders with oceans of experience now becoming talented photographers?? NICE!!As I have perused the threads in this custom area, I've noticed a whole bunch of just the opposite recently. I think it is time that the audiences out there get their senses tickled a bit to the reality of working with super talented people who build amazing guitars and...by the way...can also take great photos.

Phones take "OK" pictures. Ryan, your pictures look GREAT and the lighting is superb. And for many photos, these included phones work fine. However, despite pixel counts, their lenses are limited. So, if you really want your photos to be smokin' good with even more clarity, a touch more money (investment) will be required :).

So, if I were asked (and yes I realize I haven't been lol), the only thing I would add to this is a great camera with a great lens. I think Nikon is the ticket. The digital SLR with 8 or more pixels and a nice big zoom lens. Clarity at it's best. You can pick up a good one on the bay and not have to mortgage the house to get it. It's like adding the sixth man on your basketball team.

Lighting...angles...and add a great camera. It's taking the talent of making a picture as good as those you've shown...add an SLR and...voila...now you have a masterpiece. You'll get back the cost of your investment in a camera with the additional $$ you'll get from your current and future builds. Take nothing away from some of them, but some of the young builders out there have proven all of this to be true ;).

I just realized I may have hijacked your thread...or did John?? Let's blame John ha!

This ends badly....:halo:

Yeah we know...but some of us like to be luthiers just for the fact that we can be old coots and get away with it. :) Steve and I both have good cameras, but we both have that feeling like nice cameras are to be treated with kid gloves. Something about our dusty shop makes us leery of bringing the good stuff out. We're slowly working on it. But, until then, enjoy some more iPhone pics.


We got the body back from our finisher today...here's a peek at the front with a little side port action.

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...psjec7luar.jpg


Next a shot of the back side. You get some of the beautiful deep red and figure of this Bubinga. It is unbelievable in person.

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...psthuale9t.jpg


A look at the tail wedge with the Guatemalan Rosewood bindings.

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7lffqghm.jpg


And another look at the top and rosette dead on.

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbharhrs.jpg


We're putting the final touches on the finish for the neck (pics coming soon!) and then we'll put this guy together.

Thanks for the interest...and business advice. ;)

Looking good!

Here's an idea: everyone who likes realllllly great photographs, should pool their funds, and buy the luthier(s) of their choice good photographic equipment!
The camera is a fine place to start, but we will need lenses, backdrops, lighting, tripods, filters, difusers, defibrillators, Coke machines, extra bathrooms, another computer, new coffee pot, dedicated phone line, office staff, and a new room to put all this stuff. The defibrillator is obvious, right?
So what say? Any contributors?

:D

Ryan, Steve,

Looks really nice!

Pentax to the rescue! There's a piece of the market in DSLRs called the enthusiast niche, where Pentax has a weather-resistant camera. Dust/moisture seals on the camera and their WR lenses keeps out dust and moisture, though they're not waterproof. The family tree starts with the K20D, then the K7, K5 and the current K3. I brought my old K7 out to live in the shop; no problems - yet!

Pat