Official Luthiers Forum!

What a team to work with...The Zoot master and John Kinnaird. Two great friends but even greater assets to luthiery. They honestly gave their all to this project.

"Magnum Opus" the earth and it's great works. This is the dolphins headstock I use in my add, plus the remaining neck with a panda, elephant, hyacynth Macaw (my avatar) and a leafy sea dragon that still has no good photo of itself!
Bob C provided the black and gold ebony and water fall bubinga neck (I think that's what it is), and bearclaw top, and John made me somethin' pretty sweet to dress them out in.
The rossette is spalted maple, and I believe the arm rest is ebony. There is a side sound port as well in that upper bout.

Don't even ask if I am happy. "understatement of the year!"
I just got these pics last night. I can't wait to see this thing with a finish over it!

This is going to be my personal guitar, and a showpiece as well (unless it sells in Miami) . I actually don't have an acoustic except for just one Taylor. My guess is this thing is going to be a canon. John' last I heard was.

Thanks John and Bob, and of course this is an OLF derived instrument in total, so thanks to all of you for your constant support and assistance.

Craig Lavin

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www.handcraftinlay.com

WOW...I'm breathless, speechless and stunned!!!

You're best yet, Craig!!!

And just another perfect Kinnaird!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks JJ
I am not too sure about perfection. Nothing like closeup photography to show up the places that need attention.

BTW, that neck is made out of anigre with a little curl to it. Anigre matches the lighter color of that BW ebony almost exactly.

John

What can one say!!!

Simply Sensational.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

WOW!!!!!

Craig, I'm jealous. That is one amazing looking instrument. I bet she sounds great when finally strung up.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Zootgasm.

"I am not too sure about perfection. Nothing like closeup photography to show up the places that need attention." -JK

Yeah but your going to touch up those spots right John??



You perfectionist you.

CL

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig buddy man is that pretty!!!! Great job on the team collaboration too!!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Congratulations Craig !! It just keeps getting better and better. Really a "work of art."

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Peter

Thanks guys

I have been giving some serious thought about an all black neck on this guitar. What do you think about that?


John

John, that is one spectacular example of the guitar makers art. That ebony from Bob is going to pop to extreme when it's finished. Your workmanship continues to inspire.

Colin

See I never mentioned the bling once (Oops I just did!)

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Nice git! Let's see the back of the neck.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

so the curls comes through, almost like an electric guitar black stained quilted maple look?
Like a deep grey black with wood grain effect?That could be nice..
Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

While the debate about eye candy vs. tone is sure to be in people's minds when viewing this, as is should be for some, I want everyone to know in advance that this guitar was developed and came to life as an eye candy piece first, tonal guitar second, at least from my point of view. I am an inlay artist, and for the past ten years I have only had electrics with any of my work on them for my personal collection, or for my show displays. All the acoustics at my past showings have either been on loan from clients, or sold.

I realized that I needed an acoustic calling card and John and Bob and I came up with this.
It was made to be eye popping first. And John and Bob came though I think.
This is the last inlay I was able to get out of my shop that was purely for the fun of it and just for me, before my now growing waiting list took over (I am NOT complaining!)
It's a message of hope and a reminder that the Earth is great because of all it's life and beauty. The cast of characters are mainly mega-charismatic environmental issues, the panda, elephant, macaw, etc.. but the idea is all represented- dolphins and sea dragon-seas, macaw sky, elephant land, panda the WWF (easy to recognize) global need for conservation, and the Earth all of creation with the stars behind leading out to unknown worlds. It actually had a bigger message if you read into it.


How will it sound?

I have played john's instruments and the tone has always been like a Laskin bottom end (think deep piano type "bong" that rings loudly, with with a Martin-like warms in the highs. They are not muddy and are very articulate. If this guitar sound half of what I expect tonally it will still be better sounding than most. I believe the side port will add to the volume on a personal level at least as well as being a very cool asthetic.

John asked me about the details during the build and what I wanted. The rosette, purfling, etc.. I left that to john as he had the guitar in front of him and I did not.


Never tell a great chef how to cook...... Most likely they know how. Thanks for all the comments. based upon people reactions this guitar is doing it's job already.. and it's not even strung up yet..

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Every time I log in I see something new to aspire to...what an absolutely beautiful body of work by all.

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Mitch

WOW! that is one super show guitar!
I suspect well be seeing this one at the Miami show

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Lance, and everyone.

It was made before Miami, and for past Miami. It was actually just in process anyway but the timing is right.

The thought of covering the whole thing with inlay occurred once, but then I realized that the woods being so stunning on their own tie in perfectly with the theme of beauty from the Earth,
So I decided to let them speak or themselves.
Don't you love Bob's bearclaw top? That thing is going to look" ripped up" with a finish. It's hard to tell now..

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Beautiful work of art guys! Simply amazing inlay work as always Craig and with Kinnaired
acoustic guitar skillmanship(what a word!) How can you get any better?
An all black neck John? Sounds cool to me and definitely different! I would go fer it!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

WOW!! I was wondering how this guitar was progressing. It looks awesome. Great workmanship by both of you.
John I like the idea of a blauck neck. Would you stain the Angire?

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Great work Craig and John.

Most of the superlatives have been used in this thread, and I agree with these sentiments completely. Wow.

Bob C just keeps coming up with incredibly tempting wood. The pinnacle of success is evident. I'd love to see it and play it, if I could.....

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous...man, I have GOT to find time to get up to John's shop and spend a few minutes with him asking questions, etc. That's class all the way around.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Teamwork is an awesome thing, and so is that guitar. Beautiful work. I'm bettin it does not come home from Miami.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

WOW!!!

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Beautiful work, gents.
Bob, that wood makes one wonder how much pain the tree was in?

Anxious to see the "finished" shots, keep us posted.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com