Kinnaird Student Build--CS-13 Adi/Padauk

[vpolineni]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Thanks much, Vasu--you just beat me to posting the video!

When's your next student build at Kinnaird West?

It sounded so good I had to post it immedately!

Mine is next month, can't wait! I will hopefully bring it to BIG for you all to play as well.

[TomB'sox]

I saw this on FB as well, congrats, it sounds and looks amazing. Something to be proud of and will remain in your family for a long long time I hope!

[Joel Teel]

Way to go Kevin!!! You’ve done a wonderful job with number 1…
Are you already in the planning stages for numbers 2, 3 and 4?

-joel

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

So Ryan just sent me some final pics of this guitar. Needless to say, I'm pretty blown away by the looks of this beauty! The Padauk just came alive with the finish, and the Moradora provides such a nice complement to the overall aesthetic. Steve did such an awesome job on the neck as well with his color and fading--it really adds to the look as well. Both Steve and Ryan have been impressed thus far with the tone, and I'm really looking forward to hearing it sing in my hands. Steve plans to do a video later today prior to shipping it out, so I'll share that once he sends it my way.

Can't wait--I'll share my impressions once I've had some time to become acquainted. Here are the pics...



















Thanks for checking it out!

Wow that's a great looking and sounding guitar, you should be very proud! Thanks for posting the wonderful pictures and your story! Congrats to you!

[mountainguitar]

This is so cool!! I love that you built this gorgeous instrument that sounds so good! What a special guitar!!

Beth

[mikealpine]

Incredible, my friend, a gem of a guitar!

[Nemoman]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I saw this on FB as well, congrats, it sounds and looks amazing. Something to be proud of and will remain in your family for a long long time I hope!

Thanks, Tom--I believe it will be around for a long time to come!

Originally Posted by Joel Teel

Way to go Kevin!!! You’ve done a wonderful job with number 1…
Are you already in the planning stages for numbers 2, 3 and 4?

-joel

Thanks, Joel--no plans on building another one...Yet!

Originally Posted by mountainguitar

This is so cool!! I love that you built this gorgeous instrument that sounds so good! What a special guitar!!

Beth

Thanks, Beth--it is a special guitar. Really made more so by the entire experience and the relationships formed...

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Wow that's a great looking and sounding guitar, you should be very proud! Thanks for posting the wonderful pictures and your story! Congrats to you!

Thanks, Rockabilly--and thanks for following along!

Originally Posted by mikealpine

Incredible, my friend, a gem of a guitar!

Thanks, Mike--I'm excited to have you try it out at BIG III!

[Nemoman]

So it's been about 3 weeks since this Padauk puppy arrived home, so I feel like it's time for some final comments. I don't think there has been but one or two days that I haven't played it--it's been in the daily playing rotation nearly everyday, even if only for a short time period.

My picture taking abilities don't compare to Ryan's, so I won't even try to match them here. I will say that as amazing as the pics are, they don't compare to seeing it in person. I know everyone always says that, but it's true! The Padauk back and sides come alive as you turn the guitar around in your hands--it's like literally on fire. Amazing! And as beautiful as the Padauk is, I don't know if it's been mentioned what an awesome Adi top this guitar has. Darker grain lines, pink coloring, silking, this top has it all as well as a subtle feathering and it comes together towards the bottom.

This guitar really delivers the tone as well. I'm not good at describing tone, so I'll just offer up a few comments. It's been a fun process to hear it develop over the past few weeks--the bass has become more prominent and focused, but it's a very balanced guitar. It has a good punch and attack to it without being too bright and has warmed up more and more during my time with it. And the sustain--you can go get a glass of iced tea and come back and it's still ringing, waiting for you to come back and continue where you left off! I play with a pick and a fairly strong attack and this guitar responds in kind and doesn't back down.

So in short, I love it! But as amazing as this guitar turned out, that's not what it's all about for me. It's about the friendships developed with Steve, Ryan, and Billie. It's about the time hanging out in the shop, telling stories around the dining room table at lunchtime and dinner, and experiencing the magic and mojo that happens there on a daily basis. It's all about the experiences. I can't thank Ryan and the Kinnairds enough for taking me in and allowing me to be a small part of their lives for awhile and to come out of it with a wonderful guitar to boot!

If anyone has the inkling to do a student build with Steve and Ryan, do it! I can guarantee that you'll never regret it and will come away with memories to last a lifetime.

Thanks for everyone who has followed along and offered up their comments. I've enjoyed reading every one of them. I'll have this guitar with me at the BIG-III--so come and check it out for yourself.

Time to go pick and play some guitar!

Cheers--Kevin

[TomB'sox]

Kevin, great review of the guitar and just as important, the experience.

I think it will be great fun to A/B your build with Steve and Ryan and my Texas guitar they built. They might even have been successive builds if I am correct, mine just ahead of yours???

So it will be fun to see if they both sound like Kinnairds despite the different woods and builder(s), ie. are they first cousins or some distant relative they never knew they had! Balanced is the best way to describe mine I think and it sounds like yours fits that bill as well.

Congrats again.

[Nemoman]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Kevin, great review of the guitar and just as important, the experience.

I think it will be great fun to A/B your build with Steve and Ryan and my Texas guitar they built. They might even have been successive builds if I am correct, mine just ahead of yours???

So it will be fun to see if they both sound like Kinnairds despite the different woods and builder(s), ie. are they first cousins or some distant relative they never knew they had! Balanced is the best way to describe mine I think and it sounds like yours fits that bill as well.

Congrats again.

Thanks, Tom! I believe yours was just ahead of mine by a week or two.

It will be cool to A/B them and check out the similarities and/or differences. I have no doubt they will have similar flavors and personalities--as you say, maybe cousins. But then my participation on my student build may have brought in some elements from the shallow end of the gene pool!

[Steve Kinnaird]

Thank you for the kind review, Kevin. Our goal is to give each student the experience of their dreams, and when they walk away with a sweet guitar, that’s icing on the cake. I especially appreciate the comment that your guitar “doesn’t back down”. Sounds like one of your major requirements was met.
Thanks again, and we look forward to hearing it in a few months!

Steve

[Mbryan]

Absolutely stunning guitar in looks and tone!

[Nemoman]

Originally Posted by Mbryan

Absolutely stunning guitar in looks and tone!

Thanks, Mbryan--it continues to make me smile me with each passing day!

[Guitars44me]

What a beauty! Fabulous that you are super pleased with the tone, too!!!

Have fun and play beautifully

Paul