Kraut Headstocks
 

Here you go Colin! These are headstocks for two modified dreadnaughts that Ray has sold to overseas clients.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...headstock2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...headstock1.jpg

Those both look awesome--especially like the 2nd one!

Agreed. But my personal preference is John's over these two; I like the deeper blue in John's and its contrast to the BRW.

Gotta agree with you there!

My first experience of high end guitars was Woodstock, back in like 2012 and I met Ray and played one of the 00 guitars he brought. It was an amazing guitar and I loved the feel and the tone of it! And the beauty of his builds! And this one is going to be another special one! Thanks for sharing it with us-

beth

Kraut 00
 

Thanks so much Beth! I couldn't agree more with your assessment of Ray's guitars.

Thanks Carmel Cedar. Ray has some gorgeous maple, and I definitely prefer the bird's-eye maple. Sound like you snagged a really great guitar there!

Yes, being able to watch Ray build guitars is quite a privilege.

Kraut 00
 

CAUTION: LOTS OF GUITAR BUILDING PHOTOS

I visited Ray's shop two days ago, and watched him carve the neck for my guitar. To me, this is one of the best parts to watch. It looks like it takes so much skill and experience to take a rectangular piece of wood, and use hand tools to shape it into a gorgeous guitar neck. I took lots of photos, so here they are:

This is the collection of hand tools (rasps and files) that Ray uses to shape the neck and heel. Most are made by Auriou in France. This looks like a tray of medieval torture devices.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...07-01Rasps.jpg

Ray shaping the neck with a rasp:

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

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

More shaping:

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

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

Pile of mahogany saw dust from all the neck filing:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...-06Sawdust.jpg

Ray filing the figured mahogany heel cap. He uses self-adhesive sand paper to get an exact fit to the guitar body.

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

Gluing the heel cap to the neck.

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

Starting to shape the heel with a chisel:

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

Shaping the heel:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...0ShapeHeel.jpg

The remaining ten photos will be continued in the next posting.

Kraut 00
 

CARVING THE NECK, CONTINUED

Shaping the neck where it meets the headstock:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...1ShapeNeck.jpg

The shapely heel:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...2HeelFinal.jpg

Sanding the neck:

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/K...13SandNeck.jpg

Drilling the holes in the fingerboard for the side dots:

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

Installing the brass side dots:

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

Filing the side dots:

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

Close-up of one of the brass side dots (the maple fingerboard binding has not been sanded yet):

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

Gluing the neck to the body, and finally starting to see a guitar taking shape!

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

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

Finally, the fingerboard after the first sanding:

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

Wow, that was a lot of photos to upload. I hope you enjoyed seeing a snippet of all the small steps it takes to carve an acoustic guitar neck.

Never seen a fingerboard look that great. This is a special build, no doubt!!

Kraut 00
 

Thanks so much Kenny! I really like the fingerboard too. Ray is making a pinless bridge with the same Brazilian rosewood.

Ray has my guitar all built, sanded and ready for finish. I am heading to his shop in a couple hours to see it. I am hoping to post more photos tonight.

Looking forward to photos!!!

I really appreciate a well documented build with loads of pics. Awesome to see how it is all coming together. That all exciting "paint drying" phase looks to be right around the corner.

Kraut 00
 

Thanks Cigarfan. I feel the same way, which is why I am trying to post as many photos as possible during the build process.

Yes, the month of finish drying seems like such a long wait! I took a bunch of photos of Ray's shop as he has some really nice jigs and vintage power tools. I plan to post these during the "paint drying" phase. The tool that Ray uses to carve the fine lines in his rosettes is especially cool.

Thanks for following. I should be posting more photos soon.

Kraut 00
 

I asked Ray to come up with an end graft that matched the rosette and headstock. He once again exceeded my expectations.

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

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

The guitar has been sanded and is off to finish. Now the long wait!

Just beautiful documentation of this special guitar! Hang in there with your wait time!!