Here we have the back and sides lovingly laid out in preparation for the build. The side bender doesn't actually show the sides of my guitar being bent but, rest assured, the sides are in there. And presumably they are bending. :)
Lastly, the back being joined with the strip in the middle.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_1.jpg

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_2.jpg

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_3.jpg

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_4.jpg

That plane looks seriously expensive: A far more serious piece of kit than the one I got down the hardware store!

Cheers,
Steve

Here's a picture of the back glued up. Also pictured is Ray's left big toe and part of his middle toe. The side bender appears to have done its job, as well.

Ray is great fun to work with during the design process, I should add.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Back_Glued.jpg

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Sides_Bent.jpg

Beautiful guitar: I really like Mr. Kraut's work


It's a lie nielsen miter plane: about $375

We're still squarely in the design phase. This will be something of a "works" inlay design and I'm asking Ray to do something a little out of the ordinary. So we're taking our time.

In the meantime, Ray lent me an OM to assess the neck profile. I discovered pretty quickly that I need something smaller than his standard neck. I have small-ish hands, so I find myself much faster and more accurate on a thin neck. Hoping to have more photos soon.

It all starts as a sketch on a piece of paper.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_10.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_11.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_12.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_13.JPG

I was considering a Mod D with a cutaway and fanned frets as well.

Looks promising.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_16.JPG

Ray uses a special breed of marquetry termites to rout out the top for inlay. You select the size of the termite based on the depth of the inlay you want. Then you set up a tiny fence outlining the area and let them eat away. Ray didn't let this termite out for a bathroom break, as you can see.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_17.JPG

Some of the marble inlay slabs have been inserted here.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_18.JPG

I see a sweet rosette in the future!

Here's a photo with the fence up for the marquetry termite. Once the routing is done, Ray just gives that fence a real hard whack with a hammer and, BAM!, pufling.

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_19.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_20.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_21.JPG

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_22.JPG

The first layer is completed. Second layer tomorrow!

http://www.jus-tone.com/misc/kraut/Kraut_Build_23.JPG

Now I think I'm jealous. That's one helluva nice rosette.

beautifully understated rosette!

I could be wrong, but I would imagine that this is just the first stage of the ROsette Ray will doing for this guitar. Ray's rosettes are always so unique, and create a great focal point to the guitar.

Yes, this is just layer 1. More to come.

Just what I was thinking...

Less-is-more in my house but let's see what happens; the ebony is so beautiful, I'd be happy with just that.

Cheers,
Steve