Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

This to my thinking doesn't compare to the raw creativity of Craig Lawrence's Myrtle 12 string, but I thought you might enjoy seeing some North American Big Leaf maple. This particular set displays a rare figure called by some stair-step, or angel-step or angel-wing. It's a form of quilt figure, only fairly angular. The top is from British Columbia: some of Shane's Lutz spruce. Brazilian rosewood bindings/headplate.











Thanks for looking!

Steve

Just beautiful Steve,

Quite simply an outstanding combination of wood that showing very refined taste and an incredible application of skills, what a combination, and what an amazingly lucky customer you have lined up for this one.

Craig's work is outstanding as well, we are all very proud of him here and I am sure he will be flattered by such recognition by one of the famed Kinnaird Bros.

Thanks for sharing with us M8.

Cheers

Kim

To quote one well known ex wood supplier

dang

G'day Steve ,
Man ! , that Maple is mind blowing . I've never seen Maple like it before .

It's a truly beautiful instrument Steve and I am indeed flattered by your comment . Many thanks to Kim also

Beautiful work Steve,

I ahve the privilege of holding it and having a play at the GAL. No doubt it is off to a good home.

regards

Tim

Wow
That is a very appealing peice of timber and well put together very tastful. If you are like me I hate to see guitars with exceptional figure/tone go to someone else, but I suppose we cant keep them all.
Thanks for sharing that.

I'm a huge fan of your work, Steve!! That is really a magnificent instrument.

Ron

Fellas, many thanks for the kind words.
Taffy, I know exactly how you feel, because I felt it big time with this guitar. Sold it to a friend...who lives here in town...whom I see frequently...and I STILL felt sad driving away from the sale. What is this? You'd think I'd gotten rid of my favorite dog or some such thing.

Craig, you are most welcome. In fact, you are due some "dangs" of your own!

Kim, Bob, Tim, Ron, cheers M8's.

(Am I starting to get that Aussie thing down yet?)

Steve

G'day Steve. Can't add much to the above comments except that you're starting to get the lingo. Might have to get out on the piss with Kim and he'll be able to teach you a few more colorful phrases.

I just got a few sets of Birdseye Maple at the OLF swap meet. Never worked with it before except to bust into blocks for firewood back when I lived in British Columbia. Oh the shame. Anyway, can I ask how you find it to work with? Any problems bending? Tendencies to staining etc.

Oh Craig gets heaps of Dangs. Though they are usually shouted at him

Nice ax Steve. Very understated but beautiful and eye catching at the same time. I guess sometimes you just gotta let the wood speak for itself.

I too am a big fan of you and your brothers work - even if you totally failed to send me that pig!

Allen, thanks amigo. (Might as well spread the education around, eh?)
Maple, from my perspective, has it's plusses and minuses. Of all the odd things, it's very easy to bend. Get it hot and it gives up. (That said, I've never tried birdseye figure, but I'm guessing that it will behave itself also.)
It is a dream to finish, as the pores are so very small as to present no problem. In the minus column, it's the sanding! You will find maple as resistant to your efforts as national politics---to borrow a phrase from David R. Young. Very tough wood, very abrasion resistant. However, press on through and the rewards are great.

Paul, many thanks, and many appologies about the pig. I'll check with shipping and see what the problem is. Of course, it might be stuck in customs. We'll see....

Cheers,
Steve

And by the way...what in the world is a "bandicoot"?

(Or do I not really want to know?)

Cheers,
Steve

Here ya go Steve.

They're only little fellas and hop like a kangaroo.

Holy cow! That's an evolutionary throwback for sure.
How many posts does one have to have to get out of that category?
Or, er, what's next??? Emu? Water Buffalo?

Steve

Stephen Kinnaird wrote:Holy cow! That's an evolutionary throwback for sure.
er, what's next??? Emu? Water Buffalo?

Steve

I think the Kangoatazebrawallamaroo is next Steve



Cheers

Kim

I just made a new rank at 20 Posts so Steve's now a Thylacine.

You're going to have Steve wondering what the hell a Thylacine is now Bob ,,, or was that your intent ?





The mouth is no exageration either ! . They were/are able to dislocate their jaw at will.

They are believed extinct , but there are a group of folk who still think they may be 'out there'. Commonly called the Tasmanian Tiger.



Magnificent creatures huh ! They carry/carried their young in their pouch.

I'm thinking of having my Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle guitar themed on this creature.

Thylacines were pretty much wiped out by european settlers after they developed a taste for sheep. There's been talk recently about cloning them from preserved specimens/hides, but I'll believe that when one bites me on the ass.

Now they're kinda like big foot. There's a few reported sightings each year, but like big foot, and UFO's, the footage (if there is any) is always grainy and out of focus. Funny about that huh?

I believe there's a pretty large reward for proof that they're still around.

There you are, more than you ever wanted to know about Thylacines.

Extinct! Balderdash! I got 1/2 a dozen of the buggers in me fridge right now.





Cheers

Kim

Geez Kim, it's still an hour away from Beer-o'clock on a friday arvo and you're posting pictures like that? Damn!

Paul,

Its been beer o'clock for at lease four hours, its Friday.

Stunning guitar Steve, quilted maple forces me to go take a cold shower. Here is another stunning piece of this timber. http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/iko ... 10;st=3375 13th post down. How much can I sell a couple of kids for..... slobber...slobber....

Wow, where to start?
Bob, I'm honored--I think--to be in a new category. At least one that seems more in keeping with guitar building. Craig's picture of the tiger is the usual way I greet customers who have complaints. So that's fitting.

I loved Kim's pic of the Kangoatazebrawallamaroo, even tried to use that as an avatar. Couldn't reduce it small enough though. Bob, could you help in that regard perhaps?

Sebastiaan, thanks for the kind words M8. But keep the kids. There's always more wood to be had. Next piece is always nicer, right?

Muchas gracias, amigos.

Steve

Do you know Steve a good friend of mine, one of the best guitar builders I know, has just posted a guitar exactly like that over on the OLF. It looks just as amazing as this one does. Don't you just love a 12 string, mind you they are a little deficient in strings compared to a lute.

You're a great craftsman Steve.

Colin

Colin, you're right.
I mean, not about the craftsman part, but that guitar does look amazingly similar, doesn't it? Eerie, sorta.
You are very kind, my friend. Next time I'm in Kent, I'm buying!

Bob! You DID it. Thanks, M8...I'm all set.

Steve