The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-20-2020, 08:31 AM
IndianHillMike's Avatar
IndianHillMike IndianHillMike is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 546
Default Build Thread -- Indian Hill Guitar Ziricote/Cedar for Dream Guitars

Hi everyone,

I've got a build well underway that is destined for Dream Guitars in the new year and thought I'd catch you all up. This one is my Grand Concert model with a killer set of ziricote and sinnker cedar top. I've built a couple of guitars with this combo and have absolutely loved the results every time. On to the pics...





One side laminated while the other is clamped up and drying...





The process of ebonizing the inner side lamination -- untreated spanish cedar, wiped with quebracho, wiped with iron acetate (steel wool in vinegar)...




Joining the rim...





Bracing the back...





Back glued on with the interior stained...





A simple radial ziricote rosette with maple and rosewood purfling...





More pics soon, thanks for looking!
__________________
Michael Kennedy Guitars
michaelkennedyguitars.com
facebook
instagram
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-21-2020, 08:29 AM
IndianHillMike's Avatar
IndianHillMike IndianHillMike is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 546
Default

On to the second half of the woodwork for this guitar! One of my favorite starts to a day in the shop is when I get to take off the binding tape and clean up the body...





Prepping to inlay an endgraft...





All cleaned up...





Carrying the theme onto the headstock...





And showing the "hidden" truss rod access...





Fully sanded and ready for finish!








Based on the frequencies I'm getting from tapping this one I think it's going to be quite the monster of a guitar! It's been a few years since I've built in this shape (my largest) and the first time I've done a tornavoz with this model so I'm quite excited to hear it rumble! Now I just need to patiently wait a month or two until I get it back in my hands and can finish it up...
__________________
Michael Kennedy Guitars
michaelkennedyguitars.com
facebook
instagram
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-21-2020, 09:00 AM
TomB'sox's Avatar
TomB'sox TomB'sox is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: The Lone Star State
Posts: 13,447
Default

Looks wonderful and based on your comments, is going to sound wonderful as well!
__________________
PS. I love guitars!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-21-2020, 09:25 AM
Nemoman Nemoman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N. California
Posts: 3,140
Default

The spiderwebbing in that Ziricote is amazing--Mother Nature at its finest!
__________________
2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle)
2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW)
2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga)
2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco)
2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak)
2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk)
2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-21-2020, 09:51 AM
Treenewt Treenewt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: The Ol' North State
Posts: 5,182
Default

Man, I love what you're doing with the ebonizing! Such a cool look! This one is gonna be a beauty!
__________________
Treenewt
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-21-2020, 10:08 AM
EverettWilliams EverettWilliams is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 755
Default

This looks just great and I can only imagine what a beast it will be if it's even close to the guitar Mike just delivered to me. Among a stable of really nice instruments that I love, I find myself grabbing for my Indian Hill more than others. It may still be a honeymoon period, but I'm unusually smitten with this guitar and I'm already thinking about another...

It's a sample size of one for me, but based on that, I'm really, really, extraordinarily impressed by Mike's ability to build.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-22-2020, 09:01 AM
IndianHillMike's Avatar
IndianHillMike IndianHillMike is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 546
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
Looks wonderful and based on your comments, is going to sound wonderful as well!
Thanks!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemoman View Post
The spiderwebbing in that Ziricote is amazing--Mother Nature at its finest!
I feel pretty lucky that I get to work with such beautiful materials and do my best to make sure I let that natural beauty shine through!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Treenewt View Post
Man, I love what you're doing with the ebonizing! Such a cool look! This one is gonna be a beauty!
Thanks -- it's been fun messing around with the aesthetics of the interior on these past few builds.


Quote:
Originally Posted by EverettWilliams View Post
This looks just great and I can only imagine what a beast it will be if it's even close to the guitar Mike just delivered to me. Among a stable of really nice instruments that I love, I find myself grabbing for my Indian Hill more than others. It may still be a honeymoon period, but I'm unusually smitten with this guitar and I'm already thinking about another...

It's a sample size of one for me, but based on that, I'm really, really, extraordinarily impressed by Mike's ability to build.
Wow, thanks Bill! Knowing some of what's in your stable that means quite a lot!


One final pic from yesterday while I start the wait for the finishing. I do really love a nice bevel!


__________________
Michael Kennedy Guitars
michaelkennedyguitars.com
facebook
instagram
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-22-2020, 01:05 PM
Nahil.R Nahil.R is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 184
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by IndianHillMike View Post
Thanks!




I feel pretty lucky that I get to work with such beautiful materials and do my best to make sure I let that natural beauty shine through!




Thanks -- it's been fun messing around with the aesthetics of the interior on these past few builds.




Wow, thanks Bill! Knowing some of what's in your stable that means quite a lot!


One final pic from yesterday while I start the wait for the finishing. I do really love a nice bevel!



That is a lovely headstock!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-22-2020, 07:15 PM
Guitars44me's Avatar
Guitars44me Guitars44me is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Mountains east of San Diego
Posts: 7,372
Smile Sweet!

Very pretty instrument and woods!

Is there a sonic benefit to the ebonized interior or just for the cool looks?

Carry on and have Fun

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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-22-2020, 08:50 PM
Jamiejoon Jamiejoon is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 730
Default

Very nice work, Mike. Really nice attention to detail. Made me go to your website, where I was knocked out by your hand-rubbed maple/spruce 00 with f-holes. Stunning.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-23-2020, 01:51 PM
Kenbike Kenbike is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 157
Default

Mike
is it a 12 or 14 fret neck?
__________________
Guitars come and go.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-23-2020, 02:27 PM
IndianHillMike's Avatar
IndianHillMike IndianHillMike is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 546
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitars44me View Post
Is there a sonic benefit to the ebonized interior or just for the cool looks?

Just for looks! A lot of times I like to laminate with lighter colored woods (yellow cedar in this case) which to some might look strange with a dark outer back/sides.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamiejoon View Post
Very nice work, Mike. Really nice attention to detail. Made me go to your website, where I was knocked out by your hand-rubbed maple/spruce 00 with f-holes. Stunning.
Thanks for checking it out! I was quite smitten with that guitar -- it was one of those builds that I'd had in my head for years and it was nice to see it finally come to fruition.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenbike View Post
Mike
is it a 12 or 14 fret neck?
This one is a 14-fret neck.
__________________
Michael Kennedy Guitars
michaelkennedyguitars.com
facebook
instagram
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=