Stephen Kinnaird SJ BRW/Italian Build just for me! Chapter 2...

[TomB'sox]

The next couple of days after the above was done, Steve worked on further design features of the neck. I will tell you what, for me anyway, the hardest part of the design of the guitar is the rosette and the fb inlays. Believe me I have come 180 degrees from what I thought I wanted in the beginning to what we are ending up with, but as the design progressed, one thing sort of fed into the other until you end up with something you love, but is completely different than what you initially thought you were going to have. In my case, I originally planned for a vine-type inlay done by a inlay specialist. As the guitar progressed, this just didn't seem to fit anymore.

In terms of the paua dots, it appears that working with them is not as easy as one might think. Apparently the color is very inconsistent as is how the paua will refract the light. So once inlaid and sanded down, the color and refraction can change completely and the dot can virtually disappear. When this happens it needs to be drilled out and started over. Steve had to do that two or three times on a few of the dots just to get them right. Sometimes changing the orientation was enough, others needed all new implants. I am sure that some bad words may have directed at me during some of those incidents although Steve probably spares me. Anyway, it is a lot more work that I would have thought because of the properties of the paua.

Thanks, I just found this little tidbit about the paua interesting. So they have to worry about the orientation of the dot from the players standpoint as well as hoping when it is brought down to the right level, it has not lost all of its color. For this reason, Steve is going to use MOP for the side markers as its color is more consistent throughout and will show up very well which after all is sort of the point....

Tom

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by invguy921

My goodness Tom, yes I guess if I had thought about it I would have expected the Paua, but I'm really tickled to see it happen. Very very pretty indeed. This guitar will be a treasure for you. I've also had experience with Tony's finish work which is spot on. Steve and Ryan are building you a SWEETER than SWEET guitar .

Thanks Woody. I really appreciate your kinds words as well as you liking the guitar. Steve has had great things to say about Tony so between that, what you have said, and some other builds he has finished on the forum, I am 100%confident that the finish will be perfect. No wonder there is a little wait, the guy must be super busy!

Have a great weekend. We have a lot planned for the weekend so time to get off the computer and join the real world !!!!!

[invguy921]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

"time to get off the computer and join the real world !!!!!"

Seems to be a common theme! John K is on a outing and my wife and I are headed out on an outing for a few days as well.

Make the most of it! Breathe...

[TomB'sox]

After several back and forths, multiple design thoughts, several sketches, and many emails, this is the final design that was selected for the fb. I like it a lot and think it will go really well with the rest of the guitar when it is all brought together. It is pretty fancy, but I don't think it is over-the-top at all. Hope you all like it too:



Next is the side board markers, as mentioned above, Steve selected m o p because its color is more consistent than the paua and it is very easy to see. He is also likely to darken up the neck a little as the BRW is quite dark and he is trying to get a little less contrast with the neck and body. Tomorrow will be frets and final sanding before Steve starts to apply finish to the neck.



Thanks, Tom

[mikealpine]

Tom, the fretboard and neck look fantastic!

[Steve Kinnaird]

Let me sneak in here, Mike, and offer my thanks for the kind word.
Both Tom and I felt pretty safe doing this inlay, as well as the rosette, because his wife had such a large part in helping with the design.
Say what you will about luthiers and guitar players, but wives remain above criticism.

Steve

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

Tom, the fretboard and neck look fantastic!

Thanks very much Mike. Really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Let me sneak in here, Mike, and offer my thanks for the kind word.
Both Tom and I felt pretty safe doing this inlay, as well as the rosette, because his wife had such a large part in helping with the design.
Say what you will about luthiers and guitar players, but wives remain above criticism.

Steve

Spoken like a wise happily married man.....besides she is the one that has to look at it while I sit and play and play and play. She needed to be happy with it as well and I don't have many bad vices so I think she is happy that this is my worse one....at least that she knows about

[Marcus Wong]

Tom I'm dying to see the end of this build. The design elements are going to tie together so beautifully. You're really getting something here!!! I always love to see extravagant guitars that are done as elegantly as yours

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

Tom I'm dying to see the end of this build. The design elements are going to tie together so beautifully. You're really getting something here!!! I always love to see extravagant guitars that are done as elegantly as yours

Hey Marcus, thanks a bunch, almost there!!!! Good to see you around the forum again these last couple of days. Been a while.

[cigarfan]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Love the way the fretboard came out. Really tasteful and fits the theme like a glove. And the neck with MOP side markers looks great! Getting to watch this instrument come together has been a privilege. Just wish I could be a fly on the wall the day it arrives at Tom's place.

[TomB'sox]

Thanks Cigarfan for all your nice comments and for following this thread. I am dying to see your Hatcher back from the finisher!!!


Frets went in today. Not done, but close. Steve picked Evo gold and said they are a dead color match to the Alessi tuners. I was personally amazed at how they seemed to make the inlay even cooler and also seemed to work real well with the color of the koa diamonds....anyway here it is....



Thanks for watching.

[TomB'sox]

Continued progress up the neck, the headstock inlay is finished by the addition of two paua dots. Nice final touch I think.

As mentioned above, the paua dots can be a pain in the sound hole....Steve mentioned he had to place three different left dots before this one was found to sand to the appropriate color and refractivity. Ahhh, the life of the lonely luthier....

[TomB'sox]

Here is a test fit of the tuners....Alessi.



Here are two picks of the neck after a little color was applied to darken up the neck a little for a better match to the body and one coat of finish applied. I don't know about the rest of you, but I think the colors are BEAUTFUL. As I told Steve, I am starting to think he knows what he is doing!!!!

[Nemoman]

Love the colors, Tom--it's looking awesome!

[TomB'sox]

What a change and my how it brings out the beauty of the grain...