Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Everyone. It was great to meet you all (those who went!) at the Miami show a few weeks ago! Some of you know that Larry Robinson stayed with me during the show so that was just great. He's as cool if not better then anyone would hope. Just an amazing talent and flat out good person.
Once the show actually began things only got better. It was a great time and in the end my entire table of show guitars sold to a collector. No, my wife won't let me get the car..
Hat's off to Henry for making something that special happen down here.

Anyway got back to work and managed to crank these out as of today. One for the brother's Kinnaird, and the very last Chesapeake Bay inlay- called "Last Light". It's almost just all stone and ebony, but the colors work.
Now that those are out of the picture my list has opened up a bit..
Thanks again for all the support!
I won't be in Canada, but hope you all going have a great time.
Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Glad to hear of your success at the show Craig. Very well deserved IMO

How do you manage to crank them out so fast? Amazing!! (we need an emoticon for "shaking my head in disbelief"!) Very cool

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind: For the grass in the foreground and the tiny birds in the background on the neck, presumably you engraved those, right? What black filler do you use, and what do you seal the inlays with at the end?

Thanks,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

I have gotten faster at these.
When it's all you do all day it gets to be faster! I had a long waiting list a month ago but even that is getting cut down now.

I use Grit's filler (available at Stew Mac) and don't seal anything. It doesn't need sealing since it's thick enough. Once it's gone over with a light paper grit (like 320) to smooth it out it feels and acts like the inlay itself.

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig congratulations on your more than deserved success at the Miami show. Glad to hear you enjoyed meeting Larry Robinson.

This coming Sunday along with a few of my buds I will be heading down to Grit Laskin's shop for a visit that I am really looking forward to.

Beautiful work as always. The yellow stone you refer to is it Recon stone?

Love the flower inlay as well.

Keep 'em coming!!

I got to hang out with Grit a bit too. All the inlayers did dinner the first night, Chuck, Larry, Renee (she is absolutely wonderful), Harvey, Grit, Doug from Pearlworks and his wife and me.
Grit is always interesting to speak with. You'll learn a lot. Have fun!

The orange is recon spiny oyster. The sun is gold pearl, birds are ebony. The oyster is very brittle and breaks very easy. I needed to rout a little wider then normal to make sure it didn't chip out when fitting it into the cavity. Cutting it is equally fun..
Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

As always, my dear Mr. Lavin, I'm wowed.
And pardon the personal interest in the wild rose, but over that one I'm stoked! Can't wait to show it to the owner.

Many thanks Craig,

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

It was *REAL* pleasure meeting you at the show Craig! Sorry about the flat tire incident too.. bummer.

I can tell those of you that havent seen craig's work in person that although the pictures are beautiful, they dont do justice to the real beauty that goes into his work. When you are able to turn the work and see all of the different rays and reflections in his inlays it really comes to life.

Well done Craig!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Craig my friend you are one talented man. Very outstanding work.
I'm happy to hear of your success at the show.
So is the B&W Ebony Guitar gone?

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Yes Bob, the Black and White is sold, as are Living Sea 1, and Living Sea 2.

Now I am working on new showpieces as well as commissions because I just don't have any more show guitars. Hanging out with Larry and the rest of the group has given me plenty of incentive to do something groundbreaking so the next ones may take a while as I really want to develop some new techniques. I have the goals, just have to figure out the methods.
You will all get to see an electric Kinnaird as well..

Ken it was a pleasure and your guitars were wonderful. Glad your first time at bat was a hit.
That guy in your video also came by my table but didn't even stop. I need to do a Harley Davidson inlay for that type..
Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

That isnt a bad idea at all Craig! We need to talk about this and see where it leads us.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Craig my initital reaction was that was a very hurtful thing for you to say as keying off -- "electric Kinnaird" instantly conjured up an image of Steve get fried handling a router or some other sort of power tool

Anthony that's nothing.
I just saw a post about cat nitro and all I could think of was a cat on wheels hot rodding down the track. Maybe on that Harley..

The only thing that's gonna hurt about the electric kinnaird is the price..

This one has to be more then the ones in the past art-wise so I am kind of going all out. I never like to over-cook a guitar inlay wise (yes I hear you all murmuring in the back) but for my tastes this one is going to be visually full. I need to come up with few new tricks as well.
Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Very pretty Craig!

I must agree with my brother and cheer especially hard for the rose. A wild one indeed.

Great work

Beautiful as usual Craig, my friend.

I wish I could have been in Miami for the show. I'm sure you had a blast staying with Larry. He's awesome isn't he?

He's still my favorite inlay artist on the planet. I love Grit and the other guys, but Larry's work just bows me away
every single time I see it.

Anytime he does a new piece, I can;t wait to see it....and there are never enough photos of it to make me happy.

Glad you had a great show and maybe we'll be able to finally meet and spend some time together at the next one.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Excellent stuff Craig!

That is great to hear you sealed the deal on your table!
Well miss ya in Montreal. You going to Healdsburg in 09?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

John it should be getting there by today or tomorrow,
And yes Kevin I would love to meet you as well. Your one of those on my list that just didn't happen yet. Larry is awesome. Larry's work is awesome. I have no hesitation stating that he is my favorite as well, and I am blessed to be able to have him as a friend now too. Of course Renee , Harvey and Grit are all inspirations, which is why I need to ramp it up a few notches!

Lance I have no idea what the next show is going to be- I don't think Healdsburg, but possibly NAMM again in January.
I need to make another showpiece for the table before I can think of a show, so I threw Living Sea-3 (it was stalled) into the mix now.
Hopefully I can crank that out as well as everything else this year.


More soon.



Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com