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.