Construction on my McKnight SSD is getting ready to begin so I thought I would give you a little introduction to the guitar (right now just a stack of wood) and my experience with Tim and Mary so far. I hopped on Tim schedule Summer 2018 when he told me he may be able to have the guitar finished in time for McJam 2020. These are the specs we have agreed to.
Specs
Model: Skinny Slope Dreadnaught
Woods, Trim & Other Materials
Top Material: Tim's Special 1959 Sitka Spruce
Back & Side Material: Quilted Pomelle Sapele
Neck Material: Honduran Mahogany
Rosette: Select Wood Mosaic with inner and outer Abalone rings
Top Purfling: Abalone
Binding Material: Pomelle Sapele
Headstock Shape: McKnight fingerstyle
Headstock Inlay: Abalone Knight Head
Headplate & Backplate: Pomelle Sapele w/ maple sandwich
Bird's beak volute
Radiused Fretboard: Ebony
Fretboard Inlays: Slotted Abalone Diamonds w/ Abalone Dove @ 12
Fretboard Side Markers: White tubes with Black fill
Heelcap: Pomelle Sapele w/ Abalone
Back Strip: Abalone
Nut & Saddle Material: Laminated piano keys (ivory)
Bridge Material: Ebony
Bridge Style: Std McKnight
Bridge Pins: Colossi Dyed Bone w/4mm Abalone dot
Finish: Sunburst
Measurements
Nut Width: 1 13/16"
Saddle String Spacing: 2 5/16"
Scale Length: 25.4"
# Of Frets Clear: 14
# Of Frets Total: 20
Upper Bout Width: 11 3/4"
Waist Width: 10 1/2"
Lower Bout Width: 15 1/2"
Body Length: 20 3/8"
Other Features
Tuning Machines: Gold Gotoh 510 & Knight head logo
Strap Pin: Gold
Pickguard: Tortis with engraving
Electronics: K&K Pure Mini
Case: Guardian Dark Gray
The back and the top
I had heard so much about Tim's '59 Sitka. At my first McJam I played a guitar that was in the shop for repair and little did I know it was topped with a piece. Man did I love that guitar! So much so, at the next McJam I asked Tim if he would build me one just like it. He said he could come close!
At McJam this past summer I arrived a little early and spent some time with Tim in the wood room. My goodness that is a wonderful place. The aroma is to die for. I could live in there. We picked out a '59 Sitka top and a really nice piece of Sapele. Both tapped really well so we have high hopes!
Here Mary caught me back in the wood room sneaking my Sapele off the shelf to get a pic.
We also discussed a wood mosaic rosette. Tim keeps every scrap from every guitar for just such an occasion. Here Mary and I are picking out some choice morsels.
This is what we are shooting for.
More photos coming when the building process begins in earnest.