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  #1  
Old 02-20-2021, 12:16 AM
Hanter Hanter is offline
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Default AL PETTEWAY VIDEO UP!!! J. Kinnaird Graybeard Build: Lucky Strike x African Blackwood

Helloooooooooooo all! As some of you who were following my previous build thread might be aware, I have a new John Kinnaird build in the works, and I am very eager to share the developments as they come. The disappointment of leaving NC without a guitar was swiftly overcome with the adrenaline and excitement of a brand new build. In fact I may be utterly over-consumed with thoughts of this build just all the time.

This one will be all the more special because John is designing a new and very modern body shape. Just today it was given a name: the Greybeard... apparently its a little homage to one of the mountains in NC where he lives, and I believe he's in the process of renaming his models to take after the same trend. Anyway, Greybeard I like! It sounds pretty fierce, and the combinations on this guitar are too!

We are going for a Mastergrade set of Lucky Strike Redwood for the top and some rich chocolatey African Blackwood for the back and sides. Some teaser pics:

JK Greybeard LS1.jpg
Insane silking and medullary rays (and this is as nude as it gets) right off the bat. Great character with darkish stripe down the middle. Doesn't get better than this!

JK Greybeard ABW1.jpg
Mostly quartered (I'd say 90% of the back is) which is pretty hard to find nowadays, and just the right amount of sap (for my personal taste). You can see the blacks, browns and purples here.

I will go more into the thought process and considerations behind the shape design, scale length and choice of certain materials as the build progresses, but this guitar will be spec-ed out pretty extensively and will incorporate the following modern features:

Slim Arm Bevel
Rib Bevel
Florentine Cutaway with Contour
Manzer Wedge (1/2" taper)
Soundport
12 fret Multiscale with 3/4" scale spread (25.75" - 25.0")
Elevated and Cantilevered Fingerboard
Re-designed Bridge for Multiscale

And as with each and every of John's builds, there will be brilliant surprises in material selection ... but I will keep the suspense for now!
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2021 John Kinnaird Graybeard-12 Lucky Strike / African Blackwood
2006 Brook Euro Spruce / Flamed Maple Taw

Last edited by Hanter; 09-18-2021 at 08:34 PM. Reason: Video added
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  #2  
Old 02-20-2021, 12:35 AM
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Guitars44me Guitars44me is offline
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Smile Hooray!!!

Glad to see this new John Kinnaird build, especially after we talked on the phone.

It is good you have a fine guitar or two to console you while you wait, but John is off and running.

Beautiful woods. You are almost to the Pablo Package in specs, just add an adjustable neck. And you've got a fan fret to boot !!!

We both know John will knock your socks off…

Loving mine, and I know you did too!

Salud

Paul
__________________
3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS:
Big Maple/Cedar Dread
Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC
Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC

R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro
96 422ce bought new!
96 LKSM 12
552ce 12x12

J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut

More
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  #3  
Old 02-20-2021, 08:14 AM
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mikealpine mikealpine is offline
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This will be fun to watch! Love the wood combination. Given the ergonomic options, are you going with a larger guitar? I love how bevels make a big guitar very comfortable to hold and play.
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Old 02-20-2021, 08:54 AM
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TomB'sox TomB'sox is offline
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I must have missed something, I thought you John just finished a Cocobolo guitar for you??? Is this another?
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Old 02-20-2021, 04:21 PM
Hanter Hanter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitars44me View Post
Glad to see this new John Kinnaird build, especially after we talked on the phone.

It is good you have a fine guitar or two to console you while you wait, but John is off and running.

Beautiful woods. You are almost to the Pablo Package in specs, just add an adjustable neck. And you've got a fan fret to boot !!!

We both know John will knock your socks off…

Loving mine, and I know you did too!

Salud

Paul
Who else but the most ardent John Kinnaird fan Mr. Paul with the first reply on the thread! Thanks for your kind words on the woods. I have a feeling this new shape, with the wood combi is going to knock everything out of its way!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikealpine View Post
This will be fun to watch! Love the wood combination. Given the ergonomic options, are you going with a larger guitar? I love how bevels make a big guitar very comfortable to hold and play.
Great observation Mike! You are quite right. I tried Paul's latest Mitchell and it was nothing short of a LARGE (almost 17" across lower bout) guitar, but it certainly didn't feel so at all. It felt more like an OM. So I knew that if I too incorporated some of these ergonomic features in this build I could have the best of both worlds. More on that later though!

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
I must have missed something, I thought you John just finished a Cocobolo guitar for you??? Is this another?
Hi Tom, yes indeed. This is a-brand-new-other. Just that John admired that Cocobolo so much he wanted to bring it to Woodstock (and along with any other events/festivals/exhibitions) this year. We quickly worked out a deal when I was in Asheville such that he promised he would build me another guitar that would supercede the one I was gonna say goodbye to.

I'll tell you something though, both John and I agreed that the Tunnel 14/Cocobolo combination on the West Coast sounded super at 2 weeks old. When Woodstock comes around, its gonna be prime time and I won't be surprised if it turns out to be one of the highlights of the Invitational.
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2006 Brook Euro Spruce / Flamed Maple Taw
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  #6  
Old 02-20-2021, 04:50 PM
Jamiejoon Jamiejoon is offline
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Wow, congratulations Han. That is going to be amazing.
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  #7  
Old 02-20-2021, 05:53 PM
Hanter Hanter is offline
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Originally Posted by Jamiejoon View Post
Wow, congratulations Han. That is going to be amazing.
Hey Jamie thanks. John and I have very very high hopes for this guitar, and rightfully so. Have you penciled in your build yet? I saw your Bog Oak in the flesh and it was nothing short of AMAZING! You might be able to fashion a guess now on the soundboard I was teasing you with a couple of months ago in my other thread. Every set (and I went through all of them) is spectacular.
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2006 Brook Euro Spruce / Flamed Maple Taw
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Old 02-20-2021, 10:41 PM
Jamiejoon Jamiejoon is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanter View Post
Hey Jamie thanks. John and I have very very high hopes for this guitar, and rightfully so. Have you penciled in your build yet? I saw your Bog Oak in the flesh and it was nothing short of AMAZING! You might be able to fashion a guess now on the soundboard I was teasing you with a couple of months ago in my other thread. Every set (and I went through all of them) is spectacular.
heh heh...we are going with Lucky Strike!
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Old 02-22-2021, 10:01 AM
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Guitars44me Guitars44me is offline
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Smile Off and running

I spoke with John yesterday. He was working on this when I called.

I just wanted him to know how much I LOVE my new Pablo Custom! Whooeee. I am glad it convinced You to go for the bevels and Wedge! Comfort is good!!!

John Kinnaird's guitars really do keep getting better and better every build.

Stay warm!

Paul
__________________
3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS:
Big Maple/Cedar Dread
Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC
Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC

R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro
96 422ce bought new!
96 LKSM 12
552ce 12x12

J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut

More
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  #10  
Old 02-22-2021, 11:35 AM
Hanter Hanter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamiejoon View Post
heh heh...we are going with Lucky Strike!
Lucky You! Can't wait to see that project get started Jamie!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitars44me View Post
I spoke with John yesterday. He was working on this when I called.

I just wanted him to know how much I LOVE my new Pablo Custom! Whooeee. I am glad it convinced You to go for the bevels and Wedge! Comfort is good!!!

John Kinnaird's guitars really do keep getting better and better every build.

Stay warm!

Paul
Everything's melted here and very warm today! I'm convinced this fantabulous guitar is gonna have fantastic comfort and fabulous tone.
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2021 John Kinnaird Graybeard-12 Lucky Strike / African Blackwood
2006 Brook Euro Spruce / Flamed Maple Taw
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  #11  
Old 02-22-2021, 11:53 AM
Nemoman Nemoman is offline
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Default Wow!

Fantastic wood combo--you've got a beautiful set of woods!

So, the Greybeard--I'm curious as to the body dimensions?

And does it come with a parrot--either for your shoulder or inlayed on the fretboard?
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2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa)
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  #12  
Old 02-22-2021, 01:13 PM
GeoffStGermaine GeoffStGermaine is offline
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Those are great looking sets of wood and the modern features all speak to me very well!

Looking forward to seeing this one come together.
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  #13  
Old 02-22-2021, 10:35 PM
Hanter Hanter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemoman View Post
Fantastic wood combo--you've got a beautiful set of woods!

So, the Greybeard--I'm curious as to the body dimensions?

And does it come with a parrot--either for your shoulder or inlayed on the fretboard?
Thanks Nemoman! Those woods did speak to me. Its a whole other experience when you get to see and handle the woods that are going to become your guitar. An experience that one should go through at least once!

I will elaborate on Greybeard, though I am not sure what the parrot reference implies, forgive me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffStGermaine View Post
Those are great looking sets of wood and the modern features all speak to me very well!

Looking forward to seeing this one come together.
Thank you very much! I believe this guitar is pretty tricked out already, almost everything that John has up his sleeve in terms of custom options, but there are stuff I did not include like the lap bevel, adjustable neck etc... There is a point when you go, ok I think I'll stop here! Most of them serve a functional purpose though, so in my opinion well justified.
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2021 John Kinnaird Graybeard-12 Lucky Strike / African Blackwood
2006 Brook Euro Spruce / Flamed Maple Taw
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  #14  
Old 02-22-2021, 10:52 PM
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Guitars44me Guitars44me is offline
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Smile Pirate reference

Blackbeard was a famous pirate. Pirates often have parrots. Nice alliteration, could be a lyric here... hmmm?

I suppose had Blackbeard gotten old he might have been Graybeard.

I should post a pic of my beard here! Hahahaha

Anyway, this is going to really be a sweetheart of a Guitar!



Salud

Paul
__________________
3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS:
Big Maple/Cedar Dread
Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC
Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC

R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro
96 422ce bought new!
96 LKSM 12
552ce 12x12

J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut

More

Last edited by Guitars44me; 02-22-2021 at 11:02 PM.
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  #15  
Old 02-22-2021, 11:00 PM
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Guitars44me Guitars44me is offline
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IMG_6999.jpg

I could not resist…

And, I do not understand the point of the lap bevel, tho it does look cool and is symmetrical..

Fan frets I do understand, but I would find them disorienting for slide!

I suppose Mt. Greybeard is almost as big as Mt Mitchell and both are in John's neighborhood???

Back to your regularly scheduled program

Paul
__________________
3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS:
Big Maple/Cedar Dread
Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC
Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC

R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro
96 422ce bought new!
96 LKSM 12
552ce 12x12

J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut

More

Last edited by Guitars44me; 02-22-2021 at 11:06 PM.
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