Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok, I'll bite.

The headstock is on my #2, currently residing happily with its new owner in Napa, CA. I think it has a certain richness the way the color of the wood stands out from the grey background of the table saw top.

The one of my daughter is one of my favorite all-times snaps. She's not in the shop helping me build a guitar, but I couldn't resist.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Here's one I like.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Holy Jeez -- I just did a double take and realized that that is a picture of Tommy Emmanuel playing one of your guitars. How cool is that! That, or given how aggressively Tommy plays makes me wonder about your state of mind when you handed it over.

Where was that picture taken? That must have been quite a moment to have one of the world's finest playing a guitar you built. Congrats my friend.

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Ken

Yes Anthony .. Tommy Emmanuel a pickin and a grinnin ...

taken at the Outremont theatre in Montreal where Tommy played May1st, just after sound check. I exhibited at all 4 shows thru the Toronto Fingerstyle assoc which I sponsor (next night Ottawa, then two in TO, you went Saturday with the OLF gang). He was swappin licks with a kid who had a Maton TE model ... the kid would show Tommy what he was working on, then Tommy would take the guitar and show him how he did some of the trickier passages .. very neat. I had the baritone out around the corner on my table so went and grabbed it, then at a break in the action handed it to Tommy. The kid kept playing and Tommy started to play along, transposing on the bari in real time .. that was something to see, couple times he had to stop quickly and think about it, but once he found his groove, wow .... then when they finished that Tommy just let rip into a piece with soloing and the whole nine yards .. everyone around (the fellow who makes the XXL guitars was there too, and Tommy plugged in a couple of his as well) was in awe .. never sounded better, and as can be seen, Tommy was enjoying himself .. very special moment.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I hereby confirm Tony's story!!!

It is a blast to have your guitars tried by one of the masters... who then asks for one of your business card!!!

I saw (and heard) Tony's work for the first time... wow!!! Tony's baritone guitar has a very balanced sound, well defined! And the workmanship!!! I was glad to hear your guitar Tony!!!

Craig Lawrence

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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This has really been fun... Thanks to everyone for posting the great photos! For many years now I've been very involved and obsessed with photography and guitars... and combining the two is a real gas!

Thanks again!

long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

Here's one I like a lot...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Craig, thanks for posting this. This also happens to be one of MY favorite photos. Heck, one of my favorite guitars!
I like everything about this one, but am still amazed how lovely--and clever-- the purfling scheme is.

Steve

Hmmm, not sure why the pic isn't coming up. It's the 12 string headstock I'm referring to....

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Cheers Chris for those kind words .

Thanks also Steve. Is this the one you mean ?



Here's another shot of that headstock Steve which perhaps isn't so 'Arty" , but shows the broken purfling line better. The idea just came to me and became part of the design theme , where it is repeated on the fretboard and bridge. I like it so much , I think I'll use it again. Thought of using Maple for the line but could see it becoming a grubby colour on the fretboard in no time . Couldn't bring myself to use plastic , so I was pleased to have ivory. It has a great colour tone which matches the Englemann soundboard , rosette woods and body purfling. Unfortunatley the pics show it to be "white"






It has a wider fretboard then most, for fingerstyle,and so wanted this guitar to have a kind of 'classical' theme as well . Hence the rosette, which I think worked out quite well.

I'm arranging some sound clips for it this month with a fabulous guitarist from our University,so will post them when available . It has an amazing sound !.and being a 24.9 " scale ,13 fretter is also very comfortable to play for a 12

I like this shot , which I think captures it's character



Spent a heap of time on the inside detail. Here's an interior shot. The Kiwi headblock inlay is viewable through the soundport



Cheers all ! , Craig Lawrence

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Ken,


Where did you meet the legendary guitar builder Wayne Henderson, the builder of Clapton's guitar, the one they wrote the book about. Wayne lives about 40 miles from me in the small town of Rugby Va. I try to make it to his festival and guitar competition every year, held on the third Saturday of June at the Grayson Highlands State Park. The winner of the competition wins a Henderson guitar and that brings out the best flatpickers in the country. A great festival in a beautiful setting.

Yup, dat's de one Craig!
If I were teaching a class on guitar design, your 12 string would be required study.

Still impressed,

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Hi Mark,

Wayne teaches a bluegrass pinch pickin' class at the California Coast Music Camp in northern California every couple of years. He'll be there this July. It's a great camp with a lot of talented teachers and players. I'd love to go to Wayne's contest some day. Wayne is a hoot so I bet it would be great fun.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

This one is pretty cheesy but I can't help but like it.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.