Stephen Kinnaird '16 (Sitka/Oregon Myrtle OM)

[jim_pridx]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Glad you like it, Jim--it's a few extra steps, just for a "look" on the inside.
The veneer is Santo Domingo mahogany, the real deal. Garnered from a furniture maker, who used such sawn veneers (1/8" thick) to overlay his drawer fronts. It's a treasure we value highly.

Steve

Cool stuff! Can't wait to see it!

[nacluth]

Just a couple pics to finish up the rim assembly construction. To complete the rim, I have to do what is lovingly called around the shop as "my favorite thing." Like most things said between Steve and I in the shop, this is said a little facetiously. It's not work if you love what you do.

Gluing on side braces:




Carving side braces - When I thin them down to the depth of the linings, I determine the grain of the brace and mark on them which way they should be carved. This helps limit any tear out of the spruce.




Final rim with carved side braces- Many builders have left carved side braces behind. Fabric strips soaked in glue (like Martin) or little flat pieces of wood accomplish the same thing structurally just fine, but we like the look that on our custom builds, we continue to do them - even if one of us complains about the process. (It's really not that bad.)



Box construction pics up next.

[TomB'sox]

The inside of the build is as pretty as the outside! Not telling you how to run your business, but perhaps a dental mirror should be given with each custom so we can look inside...we also can appreciate the secret Kinnaird plugs for reverb and sustain control better that way!!!

[nacluth]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

The inside of the build is as pretty as the outside! Not telling you how to run your business, but perhaps a dental mirror should be given with each custom so we can look inside...we also can appreciate the secret Kinnaird plugs for reverb and sustain control better that way!!!

Kind of like my doctor tells my kids about their ears, "don't stick things in there." Leave sound hole penetration to your luthier please.

[jim_pridx]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

The inside of the build is as pretty as the outside! Not telling you how to run your business, but perhaps a dental mirror should be given with each custom so we can look inside...we also can appreciate the secret Kinnaird plugs for reverb and sustain control better that way!!!

Yeah, it's certainly a piece of art! I have yet to see the "secret Kinnaird plugs," though. BTW, I bought a two-inch mirror quite some time ago, so I'm sure a peek into the interior will be one of the first things I'll be doing once the guitar arrives.....

Originally Posted by nacluth

Kind of like my doctor tells my kids about their ears, "don't stick things in there." Leave sound hole penetration to your luthier please.

Perhaps I spoke too soon......LOL.

[nacluth]

If you come by our shop, you can take our four hour workshop on Custom Guitar Observation. At the end, you will receive a certificate that acknowledges that you can adequately handle a mirror and flashlight for internal exploration and a checklist of numbers to call in case of emergency repairs. The class comes with a meal and a t-shirt. Feel free to contact me for more information.

[nacluth]

Alright, let's get this box built. Here's what we're starting with - a beautiful Italian Spruce top with a custom rosette and an excellent back of Panamanian Rosewood with a strip of Koa down the back.




Then lots of go-bars to brace up the back:




And even more to brace the top:



A little carving work yields a finished back plate:




And a lot more carving gets us a finished top plate:




Using the most modern technology available, we clamp on the back:



The box is coming together...a couple more steps and we'll be ready for a neck.

[jim_pridx]

Looking great, Ryan!

[nacluth]

A couple more steps that might be of interest. First up is the only thing between me a 300 pounds is a little watusi that results in the top linings being radiused. Stupid looks are optional.




Here's an internal view after the top has been shaped. The top brace pockets have been cut, and the cross supports help the guitar stay rigid while we close the box.




Always important to install a label...




Clamp city.




And then we have a body ready to be dressed up.




This sucker is getting built.

[lizzard]

Nice! Can't wait to see it under finish!

[nacluth]

Originally Posted by lizzard

Nice! Can't wait to see it under finish!

Me too Chris. This being the first Panamanian we've built, I'm pretty excited to see how rich it gets. It shouldn't be long now.

Here's some shots of the neck coming together. The neck starts with Mahogany with a center lamination of Honduran Rosewood. There are two pinstripes of Koa and Indian Rosewood on either side of the center lam. Picture here is the gluing on of the "ears" of the peghead. This strengthens the peghead at the same time as reducing material waste.




Here's the peghead choices we gave Jim. These are some Honduran offcuts we had around that are remarkably close in tone to the Panamanian. This is just to give you a glimpse into a little bit of the "custom" experience. We had other types of woods to offer too, but we recommended these first to match the palette of the instrument and to provide some pop to the bindings.




He picked #2.




Skipping some steps, here's the inlay going in with the binding on.




And many more steps later, this was the only shot of the back of the peghead I could find. We used a curly Koa backplate to stiffen the peghead and provide some visual appeal.




thanks for watching.

[lizzard]

I prefer lam necks for strength. Love RW in any neck (in my head they ad resonance)

Keep it up,

Chris

[Tim McKnight]

Excellent choice on the Padauk bridge plate guys

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

Excellent choice on the Padauk bridge plate guys

Tim, that's all we use. It's perfect for this job.
Thanks for dropping by,

Steve

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by lizzard

I prefer lam necks for strength. Love RW in any neck (in my head they ad resonance)

Keep it up,

Chris

Thanks Chris. I agree, the stiffer the neck/head assembly, the less string energy is dissipated. That may be what you're hearing?

Steve