McKnight Guitars - Woodstock 2018 build thread

[GaultierRedon14]

Mary, I really like the Art Nouveau-ish motifs in the Aquarius guitar and look forward to what other design elements lie ahead. Beautifully executed, Tim!

[Baker Rorick]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

This one is for Baker. He loves our new Yellow / Orange "Tape-burst". I think we may call this the "Baker-Burst".

Boy Howdy! Beautiful works in progress! I'm especially intrigued by the Skeeter (I've got a pair of 1930s L-00s, love lightweight small-bodies with shorter scale lengths). Y'know, I'm usually so busy at the show that I don't even SEE half the instruments on display, and I refuse to pick up a guitar, because then I would be lost. But I hope to get to try the Skeeter on set-up day!!!

[Eire]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

And here I thought you'd abandoned working with stone, after your struggles with the stone in my Blimba guitar you built that nearly cost you your religion, as I recall (not to mention a truckload of sanding discs). Or is the malachite softer, like the Petoskey stone coral?

I'm late to the game here, but I'm another McKnight Skeeter owner (Panama RW/Cedar). As Dennis says, the Skeeter is anything but boxy, and it can be a cannon if you want it to be, what with that five-inch depth in the box. The big thing for me is how comfortable this particular guitar model is to hold. It's the McKnight guitar I'll be playing while sitting in the rocking chair on the porch of the old-folks' home one day all too soon.

I'm fortunate to own four different models of Tim's guitars, and the Skeeter is the most comfortable to play, and while the wood combos are different across the board, the tone of the Skeeter is on par with the other three. If and when I have the chance to build another guitar with Tim and Mary, it'll be another Skeeter.

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by pandaroo

Oh my oh my, is there anything you and Mary can’t do. Thats one incredible design

LOL. Yes there is but bandwidth doesn’t permit posting a list that long.

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by Eire

And here I thought you'd abandoned working with stone, after your struggles with the stone in my Blimba guitar you built that nearly cost you your religion, as I recall (not to mention a truckload of sanding discs). Or is the malachite softer, like the Petoskey stone coral?

Fortunately for my sanity, we used reconstituted stone which was MUCH softer than your Blimba stone.

[Tim McKnight]

Layed up some purflings for the SSM guitar:




Next they are ripped into strips. The order is Black - Maple, Blue, Green, Maple, Black:





Bending the purflings:










While the purflings take a set we notched the rim for the top and back braces:





Some builders only notch their rims to accept braces into the kerfed linings but we "let" ours all the way through the kerfed linings and sides. I'm not implying one method is better than the other but our way seems to differ from most.

[Tim McKnight]

Here is the peg head inlay on the SSM guitar:














Inlays on the Skeeter "Aquarius" guitar:










Skeeter FB inlays:
























SSM FB inlays:

[Rodger]

Beautiful work Tim! Best of luck at Woodstock!!

[cigarfan]

Some gorgeous stuff Tim & Mary. I would think someone at WILS won’t be able to resist. Gives me some ideas for my upcoming SSD.

[Tim McKnight]

Thanks Rodger and Dennis for the kind words. Here are some shots of the SSM Rosette which Mary has nicknamed "The Choker":

















I'm pretty sure its a one of a kind








And one last picture of the Choker with a seal coat of French Onion Dip, which really makes the colors pop:

[Joel Teel]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

Thanks Rodger and Dennis for the kind words. Here are some shots of the SSM Rosette which Mary has nicknamed "The Choker":

















I'm pretty sure its a one of a kind








And one last picture of the Choker with a seal coat of French Onion Dip, which really makes the colors pop:

I get it... choker ...as in women’s necklace. I like it a lot...except that I’d drop the “French onion dip inlay” 😋

[Doubleneck]

Finally getting a top for the Slim Slope Dred. This one is the sleeper cause so few have played one. Don’t think I have seen one at a guitar show. But these two guitars show two different ways to comfort and sound. Small and deep. Big and thin. I really think the slim Dred is awesome for me, I’m a Beatles, Neil Young flat picker. The large soundboard I think booms and gives the full effect and feel of Neil’s palm mute. The slimness almost that electric comfort, especially good as old age gives us a higher platform as we strap on. Lol

Seems I’ve seen so many people as they get older go to small guitars, the slim full size soundboard is the road few take, maybe because few are made?

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by Joel Teel

I like it a lot...except that I’d drop the “French onion dip inlay” ��

I almost lost it when I read your reply Joel ... and duly noted.

Oh, great, now I have to order a Ken Onion "Leek" knife to remove the French Onion inlay.

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

Finally getting a top for the Slim Slope Dred. This one is the sleeper cause so few have played one. Don’t think I have seen one at a guitar show. But these two guitars show two different ways to comfort and sound. Small and deep. Big and thin. I really think the slim Dred is awesome for me, I’m a Beatles, Neil Young flat picker. The large soundboard I think booms and gives the full effect and feel of Neil’s palm mute. The slimness almost that electric comfort, especially good as old age gives us a higher platform as we strap on. Lol

Seems I’ve seen so many people as they get older go to small guitars, the slim full size soundboard is the road few take, maybe because few are made?

I couldn’t have said it bette Steve.

Dreds are rarely picked up at many shows we exhibit at unless it’s a show targeting Bluegrass or Country. Many players are seeking comfortable couch guitars, or ergonomic friendly features, which are what we mostly build these days. I agree with you that the SSM is a real sleeper and I hope players will come by our table and take it for a spin. I think many will be pleasantly surprised.

[Tim McKnight]

Cutting the end wedge channel in the Skeeter:




















The bindings and purflings go on next: