Stephen Kinnaird OM build - LS Redwood on Ziricote

[vanceen]

It took me a while to realize that the Steve Kinnaird whose work is sometimes featured on this forum is the very same Steve Kinnaird that I knew briefly in the early 70's from my visits to play at Stephen F Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX. After perusing his work here and reviewing my pressing new guitar need, I talked with Steve about commissioning a finger style guitar.

In mid-February my wife and I had the chance to visit with Steve and Ryan in Nacogdoches. I played three or four of his guitars and showed them a couple of mine, pointing out what I liked and what I didn't. Going in, I was thinking redwood top and maybe African Blackwood back and sides.

I was looking for warmth but also something harmonics-rich as opposed to fundamentals-heavy. Steve and Ryan explained a lot to me about wood characteristics and we all spent a couple of hours tapping on sets in Steve's workshop. In the end we settled on some beautiful ziricote sets for the back and sides, and some kind of redwood (to be selected) for the top.

The back piece isn't too clear in this picture, but there's much better pictures for later.





We agreed on:

OM Deep Body
25.4" scale
1 13/16" nut width
2 5/16" spacing at saddle
Redwood top (to be selected based on tapping and testing)
Ziricote back and sides
Ebony bindings
Rosette: ziricote within black mother of pearl rings
Venetian cutaway
Arm bevel
Sound port

[vanceen]

Clearly I have to figure out how to post images since my links to Imgur photos don't seem to be working!

EDIT: figured it out

[vanceen]

Here's an image of the back piece with a little shellac on it before being cut:



As you can see, I changed my mind and decided to go with a Florentine cutaway.

We decided to go with a ziricote peghead overlay, fretboard, and bridge as well. Here's the fretboard and bridge blanks:

[vanceen]

Steve narrowed down his best redwood to four possibilities:

1. a piece of Lucky Strike (LS1)
2. another piece of LS redwood (LS 2)
3. some conventional non-sinker redwood
4. a piece of sinker redwood

LS 1 (with a little splash of shellac to suggest the finished color:



LS 2 (with some striping unlike the very regular LS 1):



Sinker:



All of them are beautiful in different ways. Notice the silking in LS 1.

Steve reported they all sound exquisite when tapped. After some physical testing, he reported that LS 1 was clearly better for strength to weight ratio, and that's what we went for.

[Nemoman]

Awesome woods, and we all know what great guitars Steve and Ryan produce--you're in good hands!

Congrats--looking forward to following along!

[Jamiejoon]

Cool story, and beautiful woods. Lucky Strike! Ziricote! Should be a wonderful guitar.

[Guitars44me]

Wow! That Ziricote is wild!!! These gentlemen make spectacular instruments.
This will be fun. I'm in...

Cheers

Paul

[fitness1]

You guys have some amazing wood!!

[TomB'sox]

Congrats, it might be a safe bet to say I am one of Steve and Ryan's biggest fans although there are many that may lay claim to that. Congrats and I can promise you that they will create a masterpiece for you!

[Steve Kinnaird]

Thanks for the encouraging words, guys.
Like Vance stated, we were amigos back in the 70's. (Wow...!)
Life took us in separate directions, but from time to time I'd pull out my guitar and play one of Vance's songs. Which are exceptionally good, by the way.
And then early this year an email pops up with his name attached and I said to Billie, "How many guys do we know with that name?" I was floored. Lance coming up from Big H was like a high school reunion.

I'll say this, building Vance a guitar is a real honor as he is one of my musical heros in many ways. So thanks Vance, this is a real blessing for us!

Now, shall we offer a contest to see who can guess which top we chose?
Winner gets a bucket of lard.

Edit--just noticed that you already stated the winner. Oh well, we'll think of some other multiple choice contest.

[theEdwinson]

It boggles my mind to contemplate what Steve and Ryan can do with Ziricote and Redwood. C'mon, guys, slow down and let the rest of us catch up! Using those woods is almost like cheating!

[Stevien]

I know you already picked the top, but geez, that sinker would go so well with that Ziricote!
Steve

[cigarfan]

Love your wood choices. And for fingerstyle, the OMDB is excellent. I have a couple here at my place and can attest they sing!

[vanceen]

Originally Posted by Stevien

I know you already picked the top, but geez, that sinker would go so well with that Ziricote!
Steve

Yes, the sinker is a visual knockout. But everything else has to take a back seat to the sound, so the Lucky Strike carries the day.

[vanceen]

Thanks for the kind words about the songs, Steve. It was a treat to find out you guys were still using some of those in your church.