Black Beauty

[Tony_in_NYC]

THe "J" in the port looks SWEET! How did you do that?

[Ken Hundley]

That wasn't easy to do, I was concerned with the strenth of the J, and couldn't fgure out how to make it work. First, I cut the sound hole and smoothed it out. Next, I created the J, and here's how: There are two layers of Wenge....both bent to the radius of the bout. The first, larger peice was glued inside the bout, covering the inside from one side reinforcer to the next. The second layer was a bent peice that was carved into a circle that just fit inside the sound port. I glued the circle to the backing plate already in the guitar, effectivly fully plugging the hole with wenge. I printed out a script J and glued it to the wenge plug, then carved out everything that wasn't a J, leaving the top and the bottom of it joined on the back plate, but carving some separation on the top plate. Then I took some wenge veneer and lined the edges of the sound port to cover the layers. I was concerned with how weak the J might be if I carved it flush out of the side. This way, it is surprisingly strong. From inside, the J looks crude and bulky because the carving is wider on the inside and tapers towards the outside, so to speak, giving the J a thinner, more elegant look. I'll probably do it again on another instrument, and will take better notes next time.

It took a couple of days to do this, between the bending, gluing, and carving. I built this gutiar for her for Christmas and Birthday (actually for Christmas of '09, though it never got there). She and I together decide on the design, wood choice, color (that was her, acutally), and rosette. I surprised her with the sound port, was sure to show her only pictures of the other side durign the build, so she never saw it. Burst into tears when I showed it to her a few weeks ago. Well worth the effort.

[Tony_in_NYC]

Well it is damn cool and a very nice gift. Definitely document the process with pictures as well. I get the gist of how you did it, but some photos would help clarify everything. Really nice job. I hope your sister understands exactly how awesome of a person it takes to devote so much time to hand crafting such beautiful instruments.
(That last line is true, but I added it so I can show people who I build guitars for in order to get them to fully understand my awesomeness.)

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hey Ken,
I am REALLY anxious to see how YOUR Macauaba guitar turns out. These will be the only two guitars probably ever built that look like they do. Mine really sounds very good. We did record Stephen on Sunday, and if I can pull the sound off the video, I will try and post it if this site will take the sound file.

What is next? Well I have the commission build for the young man in England. I have all the materials; OM standard, curly claro walnut, with a redwood top, Koa bindings (fretboard too), ebony fretboard and bridge, no markings on the fretboard. I am looking forward to starting it. I have some honey doo stuff to do, and my daughters family will be arriving in a month so I don't know how much I will get done on it this summer, but I should get a start.

This Black Beauty shows alot of love and care on your part. You did a wonderful job. It looks and sounds great.
Thanks for sharing the video.

Kevin

[Ken Hundley]

Thanks guys, again for the kind words. She's been dealt a crap hand in life, and needs something to be happy about. This I can do.

Yeah, Kev, I am looking forward to finishing the 'cuba too. It also has its share of mistakes already, but in the end, should be a solid, good-sounding instrument. I need to decide on a neck wood, however. I am using tulipwood as the fingerboard, which should be something special when complete. I have some walnut, but was thinking of using that with some padauk or cherry with the 30 year old redwood top I have. I have not done a maple necked acoustic, and not sure if I want too. What do you think?

[Tony_in_NYC]

Maple neck on an acoustic? The all Koa dreadnought I am working on will have a maple neck. Wanna see it? Tonight I will post pics.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Ken,
My Maca body turned out very light in weight, and the neck is made of Sapele, which is heavier than Hond. Hog. It is fine, but probably would have a better balanced feel with a little lighter neck. I also tend to like a color contrast between the neck and body, and I don't want to use any stains. The sapele turned out a little darker than the body, but I would have liked a lighter look. I have some African Mahogany that is lighter in color than Honduras, and has a slight pink cast to it, that might look really great with the Maca, and it is lighter in weight than Honduras too. You might also consider Spanish Cedar for a nice color match if you want that look. I have an all maple Fender dred, and the maple neck looks good. I'm not sure how a stacked heel would look in the maple, but if you could get a chunk and do a solid neck......

Kevin

[Ken Hundley]

Thanks, Tony, I'd love to see it.

Hadn't thought of spanish cedar, I think I can get my hands on some at Owl Hardwood fairly reasonably. I think the walnut would look better with Cherry or Padauk than the maca. I was thinking if I used Hog or something lighter like that, I would either tint the finish, or at least tint the pore fill, even the system III...maybe just some mahogany red. I am also debating a tulipwood bridge...turning into a chicks guitar, but I think it would look cool. Maybe tint the top a deep mahogany red? Nah, keep it natural.