Thought I would build a guitar with Kinnaird guitars west!

[TomB'sox]

So after talking to the boys about possibly coming to their shop a couple of years back to maybe hang out and learn me something, I am here and trying to build a guitar and still count to 10 at the end of the week.

Day one is done and it was full of fun.
Ryan and I worked until the sun was done (not quite, but it is cloudy).
When Rye could take no more, Steve was up to the chore,
As we finished neither of them could take me anymore!!!

Some day one pics!

I had actually glued up the back at home so we started today with cutting out the back on the bandsaw.

guitar building day 1.jpg


Then we used the drum sander to thickness the back to the appropriate thickness.

guitar building day 1 a.jpg

I laid out the bracing pattern on the back from measurements Ryan gave me. I do not know if you can tell, but this was the only picture I was aware of today LOL.

guitar building day 1 b.jpg

Glued in the center seam reinforcement strip from some lutz.

guitar building day 1 d.jpg

Using the router and very cool jig to route out the channel for the rosette and purfling around the rosette.

guitar building day 1 f.jpg

guitar building day 1 c.jpg

[TomB'sox]

So we are building a deep bodied OM. I am laying out the form for that which I later cut out on the bandsaw.

guitar building day 1 g.jpg

Thicknessing the sides to allow them to bend.

Guitar building day 1 h.jpg

The coolest thing, and most stressful, bending the sides. Ryan has so much fun doing that, I had to push him out of the way to keep him at bay LOL! As much fun as the bending was, I kept looking at how beautiful this walnut is going to be under finish.

guitar building day 1 i.jpg

After the sides were bent, they went into the OM form which also allowed us to glue in the neck and tail blocks. They are in there somewhere, you will have to trust me on that.

guitar building day 1 k.jpg

Here I am cutting out the center support to install the back braces. This was also stressful, but came out well.

guitar building day 1 n.jpg

Steve and I gluing on the headstock veneers. I got to pick from a variety and unbeknownst to me, I picked one that came from a tree from Steve's late father's yard, so that was pretty cool!

guitar building day 1 o.jpg

Here are the sides, the blocks, and the fabric support strips to end the day.

guitar building day 1 p.jpg

[difalkner]

Looking very good - can't wait to see this progress through the stages.

[Guitars44me]

Another fun build with K west. Looks great so far. I like the black and white diamond pattern strips, and your Walnut is very pretty!!!

Enjoy the entire thing!

Paul

[mountainguitar]

So wonderful Tom!! I think this is one of coolest things that Steve and Ryan do (ok- besides building great guitars!). I love that you're doing this and letting us follow along. This looks beautiful!!!

beth

[canuck7]

Wow, very cool! Great pics! Looks like you’re a regular. Hanging in Naco doing some woodworking and creating a one of a kind!

[srick]

Hmmm ---- looks like you're a natural!

[Treenewt]

Thanks for sharing this with us Tom! Looks like you’re having a blast!

Fwiw, I played a Kinnard maple deep bodied OM at Lowe Vintage last year that was sublime!

[soma5]

This looks like great fun! I'd be honored to see and play it at B.I.G. this fall!

[Carpinteria]

Good for you, Tom! Have a great week and enjoy the process. I look forward to seeing the guitar!

[blews]

Great - great stuff! Enjoy the time with the boys from Nacogdoches! Looking forward to future pics of the build process….

[TomB'sox]

Thank you so much everyone for the nice comments. About to get at it for day two.

I should have mentioned how patient Ryan and Steve are, did not throw anything at me, did not make me paint the shop or clean the floor with a wet towel and bucket, nothin. Ryan did make me do some laps around the shop, at least that is what I understood him to mean, that might have been a misinterpretation on my part however.

Hopefully will have the back on today, the top braced and about 50 other things on the list completed by tonight!

[Nemoman]

This brings back some awesome memories--I know you're having a blast!

Enjoy the ride...

[WayneJohnson]

Wow! I am so happy for you. This will no doubt be an experience you will cherish forever. That will be a very special guitar for you. You do realize 9 out of 10 Doctors recommend guitar building for a strong and healthy heart and, largely contributes to years of happy living.......

[WilbornGuitars]

Getting to hang out in one of the nicest shops I've ever visited, with two stellar humans/luthiers and build a guitar sounds good to me! Good luck, Mr Sox, and have fun.