Killer guitar Steve my friend - very classy!!!
As for a pick guard I would go Tor-tis or clear with this beauty.
Beautiful guitar as always Steve!
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| Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20984 |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Hesh's Unfinished Masterpiece has given me courage to post some shots of the latest (almost finished) OM we're doing. It has: Sycamore back/sides/neck Sitka top Bubinga bindings and center lam in neck Texas ebony fretboard, bridge and headplate Boxwood pins. Now, what do you think, should we put a small teardrop pickguard of tortoise shell, go black, or clear? Attachment: otb front2 sm.jpg Attachment: otb shldr sm.jpg Attachment: otb back3 sm.jpg Attachment: otb trim sm.jpg Attachment: otb head sm.jpg Thanks for looking, and giving input! Steve |
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| Author: | Barry Daniels [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Very nice Steve. I like the Texas ebony. Is it available commercially? |
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| Author: | Dave White [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Steve, Wow - that's lovely. The sycamore looks stunning and the bubinga bindings and neck stripe are the business!! The neck looks whiter in the pics, more like maple - how did you do that? It fits in really well with the body. Love it !! No or clear pickguard by the way. |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Thanks Barry. Yes, it can be found. I was just at Clark's, almost running through their yard, so didn't notice any. (Which of course doesn't mean they don't have it--give 'em a call.) I buy it from a small yard in Mt. Enterprise, of all places. They always seem to have a few sticks around. Come up some Friday and we'll drive up there. Steve |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Hi Dave, was typing a response to Barry while you were commenting. Thanks mucho, amigo! The neck---ahh, yes, almost a disappointment. Both the back/sides and neck stock came from East Texas trees, just not the same tree. You are right, it is a good bit paler, quite close to maple, or what you would call Sycamore. More variety in the species than I first knew. It's a bit better match than mahogany would have been...I think... but perhaps the Bubinga ties it all together. Thanks for the input! Steve |
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| Author: | old man [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Looking great, as usual, Steve. Love the bubinga binding. I'm getting ready to do one in sycamore, also, and I might go bubinga as well. Did you add ANY stain to the body? I didn't expect sycamore to look that dark. Ron |
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| Author: | Wes McMillian [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Gorgeous as always, Steve! And congrats on the Texas Highways article. I just read it, way cool! So (side topic) are you going to the LINT Master's Class on 2/28? I've never made a LINT meeting, as I'm always working, but I may make this one. |
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| Author: | LanceK [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Looks great Steve! Ya know sycamore is a great looking wood! I don't know why its not used more. |
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| Author: | Hesh [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Killer guitar Steve my friend - very classy!!! As for a pick guard I would go Tor-tis or clear with this beauty. Beautiful guitar as always Steve!
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| Author: | James Orr [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Lance Kragenbrink wrote: Looks great Steve! Ya know sycamore is a great looking wood! I don't know why its not used more. It also has a very cool, dry sound. At least the sycamore OM's I've played have. |
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| Author: | SteveCourtright [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Very nice indeed, as per your usual effort. I like the sycamore, too, which reminds me of lacewood in figure. Hopefully, it was easier to work than lacewood, which I tried on one project and then swore never to use again. Regarding a pickguard, if you must use one, perhaps tortoise would be nice and kind of match the binding in color, but clear might work better. |
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| Author: | Dave White [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Steve Kinnaird wrote: Hi Dave, was typing a response to Barry while you were commenting. Thanks mucho, amigo! The neck---ahh, yes, almost a disappointment. Both the back/sides and neck stock came from East Texas trees, just not the same tree. You are right, it is a good bit paler, quite close to maple, or what you would call Sycamore. More variety in the species than I first knew. It's a bit better match than mahogany would have been...I think... but perhaps the Bubinga ties it all together. Thanks for the input! Steve Steve, No disappointment - I meant it as a compliment. I love the way the neck looks and think it goes beautifully with the body and gives more interest imho than if it had been a match for the b/s wood. You've got a good "designers" eye - even if it sometimes operates on a subliminal level 
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
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| Author: | douglas ingram [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Uhh, clear! Why would anyone want a distraction form such a nice guitar? |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
I degree. Clear! What a beauty!
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| Author: | Piiman [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Way Nice Clear pickguard |
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| Author: | Todd Rose [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
That's looking great, Steve. The bubinga trim is very handsome on the sycamore body, and compliments the Texas ebony FB nicely, too. And the sycamore itself is gorgeous - very striking! That guitar will turn a lot of heads. To others seeing, perhaps for the first time, how great a sycamore guitar can look, here's a shameless plug: Come on over to the classifieds, and you, too could have a beautiful set of sycamore to build with! |
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| Author: | Arnt Rian [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
What a beauty! I don't like clear pickguards, they look weird when the guitar gets worn around the outside of it. Besides, the vintage Martin OM pickguard shape is about my favourite pickguard shape. I'd pick a tor-tis color that matches, nothing too loud though. That, or nothing, would be my choice. |
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| Author: | Steve Saville [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
That is very nice Steve. Great job! |
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| Author: | Colin S [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Steve, 14 fret with a slot head, with a gorgeous three piece back (love 3 piece backs), Kinnaird build quality and aesthetics. You've got the colour palette just right again, you really are getting quite good at this guitar building malarkey aren't you. What's not to like about this, and no, no pickguard please, or a clear one if you must, don't spoil the lines. Colin |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Fellas, you're awfully kind...as usual. Let me answer the Q's- Ron--no, there's no stain to the body. Tony did smear it down with epoxy, though, which always imparts a slight amber tint. Wes, thanks for that! And yes, we'll be making it to this year's LINT masterclass. Don't want to miss Siminoff. Steve, I've never tried Lacewood, so there's no basis for comparison. But I will say that this particular set of Sycamore wrestled me a bit. It seemed reluctant to bend. Dave, subliminal design work? I like that. Probably my best work isn't done consciously.... The rest of you, my thanks again for your kind remarks. Now as for the pickguard, I see we have no consensus. Maybe I'll let the (future) customer pick it out. That way he/she will be happy with the choice. Spoken like a true coward, huh? Steve |
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| Author: | Ken Franklin [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Beautiful work, Steve. I love that sycamore. Have you used it on a neck before? Any carbon in there? |
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| Author: | gozierdt [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Beautiful guitar, great selection of colors. The sycamore has a gorgeous figure, and I like the three piece back. Do you know if any of our suppliers have "texas ebony"? I like the grain and color a lot. From the second shot, it looks like there are dark borders on the bubinga slice in the middle of the neck. Is that fiber, a dark veneer, or am I seeing things? |
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| Author: | cphanna [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Nice guitar, Steve, and stunning use of stunning wood on the back. A wood dealer just told me he had some sycamore available. I was clueless, but now I know I'll go buy some for sure. Regarding the pickguard, I have a hunch you should try to match your headstock plate. Or use a piece of your sycamore. But what suits my taste might not suit your taste. To you, it might look like a brown hole in the face of a nice instrument. There's one way to know for sure: Cut out several "fingerboards" from scrap paper or shirt box cardboard. Get a cheap set of watercolors or felt markers, and draw the colors and figure of various woods to the best of your ability. Tape them lightly in place, one by one, place the guitar on its stand, and step back across the room. In about thirty minutes of comparison, you'll know which solution "speaks" to you. Patrick P.S. Did I say I also love the bindings? Very nice all around. |
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| Author: | Darryl Young [ Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Sycamore/Sitka OM Pics |
Steve Kinnaird wrote: Both the back/sides and neck stock came from East Texas trees, just not the same tree. You are right, it is a good bit paler, quite close to maple, or what you would call Sycamore. More variety in the species than I first knew. It's a bit better match than mahogany would have been...I think... but perhaps the Bubinga ties it all together. Steve Steve, Thanks for posting these pictures!.....beautiful! This is the first guitar I've seen made from American Sycamore. I know Sycamore was beautiful but I've also read there is a large discrepancy in tangential vs radial expansion due to moisture. I assumed it was too unstable for use as a tone wood. Growing up we had a huge sycamore tree in our front yard that was planted by my great grandmother. It eventually was cut after it was struck by lightening. My dad drug a large log from this tree out in the pasture underneath a large oak tree. I would sure love to get wood from this tree to build a guitar but it's likely rotten.....or spalted! <smile> I'll check on it. Can anyone describe how a guitar sounds with sycamore back and sides? What wood is it simiar to in the tone it produces? Thanks again for posting that picture and that is a fine looking guitar! |
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