Kinnaird Guitars: LS Redwood/Claro Walnut SJ

[cigarfan]

I love your bridge. Always smiling at me when I walk in the room.

[Stevied63]

Bridge looks great!! Steve is working on something special for the fretboard - can’t wait for that part to be revealed!

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

I love your bridge. Always smiling at me when I walk in the room.

Thanks Dennis, I'm sure it's because it's always happy to see you!

Originally Posted by Stevied63

Bridge looks great!! Steve is working on something special for the fretboard - can’t wait for that part to be revealed!

Thanks Steve, we're getting there!

SK

[TomB'sox]

I think I may have seen it under a couple of layers of tape, no?

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I think I may have seen it under a couple of layers of tape, no?

Not quite, that was the other one, the Indonesian rosewood OM.
It is since out of tape and that neck is ready to finally meet its body. (What a weird statement...) Steve's SJ neck got partially carved this week, but we're waiting for final art work for inlays. When done...and done...we'll fret his neck. And then the tape goes on. Forgive me for thinking out loud here, but sometimes that helps.

SK

[Steve Kinnaird]

Update: the neck, partially carved, has been fitted to the body.
That gives our reference point for locating the bridge, and then "pinning" it in place. Here is the guitar in that state:

IMG_2232.jpg

Shortly after this shot, the final sanding was completed. And then, the body was boxed up and sent off to our finish ace. An exciting step for sure!

Steve

[Stevied63]

Looking great Steve! How long does the finishing take? Is the neck done separately at another time?

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by Stevied63

Looking great Steve! How long does the finishing take? Is the neck done separately at another time?

The body takes 5-8 weeks. And yes, the neck is done separately and we finish those in house. Or actually, to my wife's great relief, in shop.
Glad you like it Steve!

SK

[Steve Kinnaird]

These next few shots are past due, so let me remedy that.
As Steve alluded, we have been working on a fretboard inlay concept. More on that in a minute. But the neck has received attention as well. E.g., gluing the fretboard to neck shaft:

IMG_2210.jpg

And after that has dried and cured, neck carving commences.
First the extraneous width is pared down to the fretboard. Several tools are used; coarse work was done on a band saw, while closer work was done with a spokeshave:

IMG_2212.jpg

Fine, delicate details can be achieved with a cabinet scraper:

IMG_2218.jpg

And then refining the heel's shape, while blending it into the neck:

IMG_2219.jpg

Many thanks for watching,

Steve

[Steve Kinnaird]

Now, about the inlay--unfortunately both Steve and I have lost friends recently to suicide. From the start we have been discussing some way to express the sense of grief and loss. What finally resonated was an inlay pattern of falling leaves, replete in their autumn colors.

Several designs were considered, and an amalgam of those several was worked out:

IMG_2226.jpg

Then some autumn colors were needed, and Steve voted for natural wood colors. There is a logic to that:

IMG_2244.jpg

Jeweler's saw freeing those leaves:

IMG_2255.jpg

And then when inlaid, the gentle free fall is depicted:

IMG_2269.jpg

Woods used: Lemonwood, Bloodwood, Amboyna burl and Koa. The veins are next, which will be incised tomorrow.

Thanks for watching,

Steve

[Stevied63]

Spectacular, Steve. This means a lot to me. Just awesome!

[TomB'sox]

That looks really nice. I really like the last leaf that is curled up. Has a really cool 3-D look to it. And you are adding more detail with the veining? Nice.

[Zandit75]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

And then when inlaid, the gentle free fall is depicted:



Woods used: Lemonwood, Bloodwood, Amboyna burl and Koa. The veins are next, which will be incised tomorrow.

Thanks for watching,

Steve

Wow, that is gorgeous, not just the work done, but the thought process behind it. Condolences for your losses.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by Stevied63

Spectacular, Steve. This means a lot to me. Just awesome!

So glad you like it, Steve!

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

That looks really nice. I really like the last leaf that is curled up. Has a really cool 3-D look to it. And you are adding more detail with the veining? Nice.

Thanks Tom, I was hoping it was clear enough to be recognized as a curled leaf. That does my heart good.

Originally Posted by Zandit75

Wow, that is gorgeous, not just the work done, but the thought process behind it. Condolences for your losses.

Thanks Zan, for all your stated reasons. Very kind.

Steve K

[cigarfan]

Working a design with a luthier is special but I have to say Kinnaird Guitars is top of the heap. I cherish the memories and the end result. Congrats to both Steve’s on a fine design and the memories it will conjure for life. Really special.