The Craig Dobbins Guitar: sam kennedy

Thursday, September 26, 2013

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.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

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.