Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey Thanks again guys. Its very gratifying to have the praise of such talented folk.

Steve K, that inlay came from a book of Celtic animal designs that I think you gave me. Lots of pearcing and sawing.

JJ, I think it sounds really good (he said immodestly)thanks for asking.

John How, those are Gotoh 3 on a plate steel string tuners. They are pretty good tuners, especially so for the price. LMI carries them.

Bob C, you sold me that zircote..Thanks for great wood

Billy, that ball end on the forth is attached to a string that is supporting the guitar in the photo booth.

Arnt, I do not know the species of ash. It is heavier than mahog but not a great deal heavier. The guitar seems fairly well balanced. I am pretty sure the ash is stiffer than mahog. The guitar has a LOT of sustain and that may be the reason

Colin, you just poured gas on the fire by giving me permission to be wierd

Russell, I appreciate your comment that the elements all work together, especially so since your work has such understated elegance. I'm glad this piece did not come off as Yankee gaudy in your eyes. I do not know about the recording. I don't have the equipment but the new owner does, I think.

I appreciate your comments guys

John

John - My goal is to be able to someday build at that level of quality and beauty. Stunning!!!

Would you mind telling us how long you've been building? Do you do this full time? And how many guitars have you built? At my rate, I feel that this would be my #1,000

Oh yes, also wondering about finish you used? Nitro?

Colin, Banjo, banjo. banjo! na na nana na ! just felt good to be a kid again Have a good day friend!

Richie, it is mostly just good photography. This is guitar #57, but probably I have built about 65 total guitars. My numbering system was irratic at best in the early days and has tapered off since then.   I have just this year started building full time, having retired from a 35 year stint as a highschool physics and biology teacher. My output for the longest time was about 3 guitars a year. I am hoping to improve on that.
The finish is Nitro.
John Kinnaird38786.2992824074

Beautiful John! just beautiful! The neck wood looks great! I am going to try it!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Lance
   I will say that finish sanding the neck was a bear. The grain, especially in the heel area where it runs toward slab, has pronounced areas of soft and hard and it was very difficult, even with a sandpaper backer, to prevent a scalloped surface.

Zowie John! I'll bet that;s one very happy customer you have! You sure know how to do things right.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I echo all the superlatives used in this thread. No one quoted Barney, "Super Deeeeeeeeee Duper!"

John your work is truly inspiring and amazing. The old schoolteach pulls another out of his sleeve!

John K. the Guitarmagician! Wow.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

That is really, really nice.   


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Dave, Bruce, Michael and Ron
I appreciate your kind words.

John

Wowie wow wow ! ! !

John, you slay me man...great stuff. That neck is really cool. Curly Ash...whoda thunkit? Beautiful all-around axe.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

What can I add that hasn't been sais already... superb looking guitar. Absolutely top drawer!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Great looking guitar, John! I love the idea of matching the neck wood and the binding. That works really well.

I also love it when people build a guitar that uses elements I'm not usually fond of (in this case, the OOO shape and the pearl - I know, I'm weird, most people love pearl on guitars) and the end result is an instrument I am wild about. There's a kind of alchemy in that. At any rate, it demonstrates your excellent artistry. The way you've put it all together is fabulous.

Is that a standard OOO shape, or a variant of your own design? It sure looks graceful on this guitar.

I have several boards of fantastic curly ash, and I'm planning to build some instruments using it for backs, sides, and necks. Your guitar stirs that much more excitement in me about it. I'll consider myself forewarned about shaping and sanding the neck contours with the hard/soft ash grain... sounds like I'm in for a challenge.     

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Don and Alain and Todd. I appreciate your kind remarks.

Todd, this is a standard 000 shape, more or less a copy of a Martin plus any errors that may have accrued from coping a copy. A solid curly ash, neck and body would be a great looking instrument. I hope you post pictures of it when you finally build it. I imagine finishing the ash would be challenging. Some parts of the grain (the dark parts) are fairly porus, and other parts are fairly non-pours. I guess you just fill it all and sand. Fortunately I did not have to grapple with that.

Lovely work!

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Good Golly, John! I'm bowing in your general direction, oh great and mighty Wizard of GA! DO pay attention to the man behind the shop-apron! Beautiful work, my friend.

Top drawer my friend... I bet you have one happy customer.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Great looking guitar John. But don't you think it would look better with a great big Maple wedge down the center of the back. (I hope you get that reference)

John,

I think you need to work some zircote into that banjo project!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Beautiful!!! Remeber that post a while back about who can call themselves a luthier?? You have earned the right! I don't care if you do sub out your finishing work.

John,

That is one of the prettiest wood combinations I have seen. Excellent!

Steve

PS Oh, the workmanship ain't bad either!

Ha Paul...I do get it. I still will believe that commission when I see it. Very skeptical here in Ga.

Robbie and John I appreciate the kind remarks.

Pat, I was looking through my scrap pile and wondering how a zircote banjo would look, or maybe a koa or Brazilian banjo. what a hoot that would be.

John

Amazing Guitar!! Awesome work John!!!

[QUOTE=Robbie O'Brien] Beautiful!!! Remeber that post a while back about who can call themselves a luthier?? You have earned the right! I don't care if you do sub out your finishing work. [/QUOTE]

Good point! I've often pointed out that nothing makes a point better than a case in point! Or, was that a pointless remark? I ask because I am sure someone will point it out!

Oh, please... Stop me before I do damamge to myself or others!