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. 

Installing the preamp and wiring

Kirk and I decided that the lower bout was a good place for the input jack. Looks like "X" marks the spot . . .

Is it too late to change my mind?

Now, on to the Prismatone preamp, which is installed onto the access panel on the back. The preamp doesn't touch the guitar top or inhibit the vibration of the soundboard.

The battery is accessed through the panel as well- no more fiddling around through the soundhole to change a battery!

Kirk says "I love this battery setup! Click the photos quickly, and you'll get a stop-action movie." It's pretty cool, so I decided to make a .gif of the photos. Enjoy!

After connecting everything, Kirk sent me this photo of the finished guitar, front . . .

. . . and back. Beautiful!

Next time- final thoughts, sound clips, more photos, and how to order your own Craig Dobbins Signature Model!

Craig

P.S. If you can't wait, go ahead and email Kirk Sand or give him a call at 949-497-5570. 

Last few construction photos

One afternoon I received this very excited email from Kirk Sand: "I just strung it up, and it sounds great! Right away! I can't wait to get the electronics in it!"

Here are a few more photos he sent that day. First, installing the Prismatone pickup . . .

A perfect fit! Kirk fashioned the bridge to receive the Prismatone without the need for intonation adjustment screws.

Now, stringing it up . . .

Beautiful! Kirk used D'Addario ProArte Extra Hard strings, with a Savarez Alliance 3rd string.

Here's a closeup of the bridge/pickup area.

And a view through the access panel.

Looking good!

Now, deciding on the input jack location. Endpin or side?

Next time- installing the preamp and wiring!

-Craig

Making the bridge

While the first coat of lacquer is drying, Kirk turns his attention to the bridge . . .

"Any ideas on the shape?" he asked me. My ideas were something along the lines of John Knowles' bridge, but with swept wings to echo the angled fingerboard and heel, and the Brazilian rosewood wedge on the back. "I'll think on it," said Kirk. "The ends of the wings can be traditional square flat on the ends. I curved John's in a little. I'll play with curving the ends the opposite way."

Here's John's bridge:

And here's the rough drawing I sent to Kirk:

A couple of days later, I heard from Kirk. "It came to me in one second today. What do you think?"

"It is similar to John's, but not the same. It has the straight ends like your drawing. It mimics the other lines on the guitar too!" (That's the Prismatone pickup next to the Brazilian rosewood bridge blank.)

I gave Kirk the go ahead, and he went to work. First, he created an inlay for the tie block, using the same scheme as the soundhole ring and binding.

The finished inlay, ready to install . . .

. . . and a closer view.

Done! The tray will receive the Prismatone pickup.

Now, Kirk lacquers the bridge . . .

. . . and sets it aside to dry.

Next time- buffing and sanding the finish!

-Craig

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