Stephen Kinnaird - Lutz/MBW Small Jumbo

BlackKeys36 · #1 08-10-2022, 12:38 PM

Howdy!

The day I picked up my 000-12 Commission from Steve and Ryan last year I left them a check deposit for this year's.

For most of the past 6 months this was going to be a CS-13 with Lutz or European Spruce over some kind of ebony, but after re-assessing my current collection and looking at holes, I decided to go with a bigger model. We discussed a 12 fret SJ but because I decided not to do a cutaway I decided I would like to get another fret's worth of real estate for the 2.7 times per year that I get that high on the neck; hence, the 13 Fret SJ it is.

Steve has a stash of tops that would be the envy of pretty much everyone and his clean lutz may be the most guarded. I've offered him all sorts of trades for one and have only succeeded in getting some good-natured eye-rolls in return. I have 3 Lutz-topped guitars currently and it is consistently a safe choice for me. I think it's visually one of (if not) the best and tonally has a lot of what I love about Sitka and what I love about Adi.

Fortunately, Steve is letting one of his favorites go to build this guitar:

For the back and sides I considered every set of ebony that Steve has (a lot) as well as the varied selection I have in my collection. I was really torn between going with something highly figured (see the koa on last year's commission) vs relatively plain, and in the end decided on a set of Malaysian Blackwood i picked up last year that is clean and straight-grained with some nice reds and greens and a couple of ink lines. MBW has always been intriguing to me and I've never owned a guitar made from it. Another factor that played into this was that I wanted to do a "wow" choice for the binding, bevel, and (possibly) rosette and I liked the idea of relatively "plain" B/S to help the accents pop.

Ryan is inlaying the backstrip, bending sides, mocking up the rosette, and assembling the rim assembly this week.

Thanks for following along; more pics to come!

Nemoman · #2 08-10-2022, 12:56 PM

Awesome wood choices, John--I really look forward to seeing this one come together. It's always great fun watching any build, let alone a Kinnaird West one.

I love the 13-fret configuration myself as well both tonally and for that extra fret.

I'm up playing at the 12-fret range frequently as well, although I would estimate my ventures up there at around 2.35 times per year!

Thanks for sharing your build with us...

BlackKeys36 · #3 08-11-2022, 08:31 PM

I absolutely love the rosette on my 2021 000-12 Kinnaird commission and want something similar:

000-12 Rosette:

I wanted a little less of the yellow/orange that macassar brings to the table because of the color of the binding (incoming shortly). After considering quite a few options and almost driving Ryan to block my cell number, we settled on this piece of Brazilian...

Current state:

We ended up ordering some shell for the outer rings that will be in next week...it's gonna be great!

Thanks for following along!

Carpinteria · #4 08-12-2022, 06:00 AM

Looks great! The Lutz and MB should be a wonderful combination. Dave

ChuckS · #5 08-12-2022, 07:31 AM

Great looking sets of tonewood.

cigarfan · #6 08-13-2022, 04:54 AM

Your tonewood selections are spectacular. Really like that back. And the rosette looks great so far.

I love the tone in the Kinnaird SJ. Ever since I played Tom's. They are special.

mikealpine · #7 08-13-2022, 07:14 PM

I’ve got MBW on the back of my Stehr, with a Carpathian top. I love it. Hope you have the same reaction. This is going to be a wonderful build!

Guitars44me · #8 08-14-2022, 08:38 AM

This will be fun to watch come together!

Enjoy the ride

Paul

iim7V7IM7 · #9 08-14-2022, 11:57 AM

Some nice looking wood there…

jguns · #10 08-16-2022, 05:18 AM

John,

You have selected some gorgeous tone woods. It is going to be a stunner! I don't care how many times I see that 000-12 rosette of yours, I just can't get enough. I am sure the new one will be awesome as well. Looking forward to watching all the build decisions come together. Enjoy the ride...

John

RJVB · #11 08-16-2022, 05:51 AM

That back wood is gorgeous, but are you sure you're on the same page concerning the shape? That outline looks like a dreadnought to me, not a jumbo

BlackKeys36 · #12 08-16-2022, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJVB

That back wood is gorgeous, but are you sure you're on the same page concerning the shape? That outline looks like a dreadnought to me, not a jumbo

Touché

Maybe Steve & Ryan decided to make their lives (and sides) complicated and do an SJ top with a dreadnought back.

BlackKeys36 · #13 08-16-2022, 01:48 PM

Thanks all for the comments. I spent last Friday in Nacogdoches at the shop and, of course, it's even more stunning in person.

For the binding I decided to use some fiddleback mahogany. Steve and Ryan had a matching neck stringer and we will likely use the same for the end graft and an arm bevel.

Ryan has already inlaid the first strip in the back, so if you have strong thoughts against fiddleback mahogany for binding it's too late

justonwo · #14 08-16-2022, 02:10 PM

It’s raining Kinnairds. Have fun!

j. Kinnaird · #15 08-19-2022, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackKeys36

Thanks all for the comments. I spent last Friday in Nacogdoches at the shop and, of course, it's even more stunning in person.

For the binding I decided to use some fiddleback mahogany. Steve and Ryan had a matching neck stringer and we will likely use the same for the end graft and an arm bevel.

Ryan has already inlaid the first strip in the back, so if you have strong thoughts against fiddleback mahogany for binding it's too late

Beautiful work guys. I love that fiddle back mahogany. It’s a perfect addition to the color palet here.