Now you can have one too!

I took delivery of my new guitar in July at the CAAS (Chet Atkins Appreciation Society) convention in Nashville. It's incredible!

Here's a video of the first time I played it, in the Sand Guitars display room at CAAS.

And here's a poster from the convention.

The text reads:

• Sitka spruce top

• Mediterranean cypress back and sides

• Brazilian rosewood back wedge and lining

• Brazilian rosewood trim

• Prismatone pickup and preamp

• Schaller tuners with ebony buttons

Here's another photo of the guitar, taken by Kirk himself.

. . . and from the back. Did I mention the Brazilian rosewood wedge?

I recorded a couple of audio clips so you can hear both the acoustic and amplified tone of the guitar. First, amplified with the Prismatone pickup/preamp system. 

Note: These clips were recorded when the guitar was only a couple of weeks old. It's really opened up in the last two months!

http://www.craigdobbins.com/sand-cdm-test.mp3

And a "quick and dirty"version of Nine Pound Hammer, using both mic (left) and pickup (right).

http://www.craigdobbins.com/nine-pound-hammer-clip.mp3

*     *     *     *

I confess. Sometimes I find myself just peering through the soundhole at my name on the label. (Smells good, too.)

Kirk's workmanship is incredible, and Sam Kennedy's Prismatone pickup and preamp are the icing on the cake. I'll post more clips and photos soon. In the meantime, I'll be playing my guitar . . .

Craig

For more info or to order your own Sand CDM, email Kirk Sand or give him a call at 949-497-5570. 

Preamp rout and neck block

With the neck made, Kirk turns his attention to routing. Remember the access panel for the Prismatone preamp? Well, the top needs access too.

Kirk makes a template of the preamp and routs channels in the top for the controls.

The sliders will be accessible on the top of the guitar for quick adjustments.

Next, routing the neck block. Again, Kirk begins by carefully drawing a template.

"Measure twice, rout once!"

Now the neck block is ready to receive the neck . . . when it's finished.

Next time- the fingerboard!

-Craig

Back, preamp, and access panel

Here's the finished back, almost ready to glue to the sides.

But first, Kirk cuts the access panel for the preamp (because this is an electric nylon string guitar, don't you know). You can see the tracing for the cutout below.

My guitar will be amplified with a Prismatone II pickup. My friend Sam Kennedy has re-created the Prismatone, as used by Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins. Paul Yandell said he thought it was the most balanced sounding pickup he ever heard. Sam has also designed a special preamp for my guitar which incorporates the original circuitry, plus volume control and 3-band EQ. The preamp will be accessed through- you guessed it- the access panel, and the slider controls will be on the top of the guitar.

Back to the access panel, after Kirk cuts the opening, he reinforces it with rosewood.

Two sides completed...

Gluing up the other two sides.

My guitar drying...

Both guitars done.

Looking good.

View from the outside. The wood Kirk removed will become the door for the panel, which will rest on the rosewood supports.

Finished and ready to join!

Well, maybe next time we'll glue the back!

-Craig

Gluing the top

Now Kirk attaches the top to the sides- or is it the sides to the top? Anyway, here's a view from inside. That Brazilian rosewood lining looks great!

The three-piece back (Mediterranean cypress/Brazilian rosewood) is braced and ready to go.

Here's a view from the outside.

And one more from the inside.

Both backs are done, and join the other backs waiting their turn.

Looks like it's ready to be glued! (That's my personal guitar, #642.)

Next time- gluing the back!

-Craig

Completing the sides

One of Kirk Sand's special design touches is lining the sides of the guitar for strength, beauty, and projection. His rosewood instruments are usually lined with mahogany, so he thought it would be a nice touch to line the Mediterranean cypress sides of my guitar with Brazilian rosewood. Kirk said, "This is just a little something special for the player- you'll look down into the soundhole and see this beautiful Brazilian rosewood looking back at you!"

Here, the sides are lined and ready for the kerfing.

Kerfing done on two sets of sides. One is the prototype (my personal guitar), and the other is its "twin." Sorry, it's already sold- but Kirk will be making more...

Here's another view of both sets.

I love the grain of that Brazilian rosewood. The kerfing is Spanish cedar.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the guitar will have a Brazilian wedge on the back, and also Brazilian rosewood lining and binding. Here's one more view of the finished sets of sides.

Now, the sides are ready for the top and back! The two sets on the left are Craig Dobbins Models, lined with rosewood. The two sets on the right are rosewood guitars, lined with mahogany.

Next time- making the rosette!

-Craig

Getting started

With the the wood selected and the templates drawn, the first job is- bending the sides! Below is a length of Mediterranean cypress ready to be heated . . .

. . . and bent. Check out the grain on that cypress!

When the wood is pliable, Kirk carefully bends it into shape on a special pegboard template.

Little by little, the sides of the guitar take shape.

Kirk: "Here we go- sides are bent! As soon as I make the neck block, I'll be bending the cutaway."

I can hardly wait!

-Craig