John Kinnaird Englemann/Brazilian West Coast
 

There are those who might say that this build was inevitable. Frankly, this guitar is meant to fill the void created by the fact that I sold one of my favorite guitars of all time in a moment of financial "challenge". I'm super happy with who got that guitar, and I know he loves it. So although I miss it, I'm happy to be able to build a similar guitar now. Call it a copycat guitar if you will...but there's so much about the other guitar I liked, I asked myself "why reinvent the wheel" right??

I'm pretty darned stoked about this one as it incorporates a sister set of Brazilian to the one I sold. Some similarities include Lots of Paua, a segmented rosette, and blackwood binding. A few differences; this one has Englemann (which is my favorite top wood) vs Euro on the first one, and this one will have touches of Cocobolo. This one will add a few bevels for added player comfort, and a bound sound port. Overall I hope to find a similar level of satisfaction in this guitar as I had with the one I sold.

This one will also be one of John's "Westcoast" models, which I think he now refers to as his Westcoast OM. The body dimensions are Upper bout: 11 3/8" Waist: 9 1/8" Lower bout: 15 5/8". So slightly smaller at the butt end than a GA, with a sexy waistline. It will have a standard scale length.

The woods are:

Master Grade Englemann that has some really sweet figuring. John says it simply rings like a proverbial bell. And then there's some very very old and very dark mostly straight grained Brazilian

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...nglemann-L.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...razilian-L.png

Here's a couple pics of the beginning

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...d%20bend-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-Fds66ts-L.jpg

Congrats on the new build; the Brazilian looks great!

Inevitable...
 

Sent an email. My iPad is not liking commenting on threads for some reason.

This is my fourth try...

Get a Manzer Wedge! I LOVE mine.

Congratulations!!!

Hope all is well and biz is booming

Paul

Congratulations Woody. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Congratulations Mike! Indeed, the one you sold me is fantastic, thank you for entrusting it to me. Another well-respected luthier visited my house, and he said "this guitar is on fire!" when he played it. I know John will build you a wonderful guitar.

John will soon start on my third one, by the way, also with Engelmann.

Jamie

Very rich and handsome looking Brazilian.

What body shape and scale length is this beauty gonna be?

John Kinnaird is just build thread after build thread ... great affirmation for his work I guess!

Nope, no Manzer Wedge. That ship has sailed

It’s just like yours Han. Which BTW, had the neck fitted today.

Thanks for the plug Jamie. I’m looking forward to your next build.

Thanks to Jaan, Paul, Nootis, Jamie, and Hanter...all of you who have been so kind as to comment and provide various encouragement!!

Hanter, the answer is that this one will also be one of John's "Westcoast" models, which I think he now refers to as his Westcoast OM. The body dimensions are Upper bout: 11 3/8" Waist: 9 1/8" Lower bout: 15 5/8". So slightly smaller at the butt end than a GA, with a sexy waistline. It will have a standard scale length. I did add this to the original post.

John has been kind to provide various pictures along the way, and has recently picked up a lot of steam in the build process. As such, I'll add more pictures soon as time permits.

Until then, here are a couple more:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...5_152241-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...1_100740-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...IMG_1227-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...5_084027-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...5_083933-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...IMG_0560-L.png

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...IMG_0601-L.png

Wonderful choices here. This is shaping up to be a great guitar. Thanks for the updates.

Best,
Jayne

Thanks Jay!

Here's a couple more progress shots:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...1_110010-L.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...2_110026-L.jpg

John sent this picture of the very cool and very figured Walnut neck he's using for this build.

He sent the following additional info: "Gluing in the neck spline. I'm using JBWeld epoxy for this joint...5200 lbs /square inch tensile strength. With nearly 2 square inches of gluing area the guitar will collapse before this joint fails. Over engineering? At least it's one worry off the table."

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...8_084657-L.jpg

Beginning to look like a guitar!!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...5_083852-L.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...5_083905-L.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/Kinnaird-...IMG_1340-L.jpg

This is beginning to look like a gorgeous guitar!! Good to know that if you sell a JK and regret it, John will build you another one. Or two or three or... (yep- I'm friends with Paul).

John's guitars have this wonderful tone that is quite something. There's an extra richness and depth to the tone of every JK I've played. I'm sure this is going to be special!

beth

Walnut neck! Great choice. I think walnut necks are very beautiful.

It looks like you're off to a great start Mike. I love that creamy set of Engleman spruce and the beautiful Brazilian too. Look forward to following along and see what you and John come up with here.