John Kingma's latest Ancient Kauri Lefty

[John Kingma]

Just got this strung up last night. My second "Lefty" for a repeat customer. Here are the vital stats.

Ancient Kauri Body with Tru-Oil finish
Wenge Neck and Kingwood Fretboard with no finish
14" fretboard radius - 22 Stainless Steel Frets - 25" Scale
Wilkinson Tremolo - Schaller Locking Tuners
P90 Neck and Humbucker Bridge pickups by MJS Custom in Mississauga, ON
Bone Nut dyed black
2 Volume, 1 Tone and a 3 Way Switch.

I used a wiring diagram for a Gibson Explorer on this one. I have noticed that when the switch is in the middle position both volume pots seem to control both pickups... so it's impossible to "blend" the pickups.

Does anyone know if that is what happens with an Explorer?? Is there any way to not have this happen??

Anyway... here are some photos.

Note - there WILL be a back cover on the trem... it just needs a bit of trimming.

[John Kingma]

And here are some neck shots.

[Ben Castellana]

Nice guitar, and nice use of Pleistocene wood! I'm happy to see more lefty builds as well.

The Explorer wiring is the same as a Flying V wiring, and you should be able to blend the volume of the individual pickups with the switch in the middle (My 81 Gibson V does this, as does the V I built several years ago).

[Dan Hehnke]

Looks great, nice clean build. I haven't worked with Kauri yet, but I'd like to. Cool stuff!

[Dan Hehnke]

Oh, what's that stuff like by the way? Density, hardness, is it similar in working or sound to any common domestic woods?

[John Kingma]

Oh, what's that stuff like by the way? Density, hardness, is it similar in working or sound to any common domestic woods?

It varies a lot from piece to piece but I would put it somewhere in between cedar and mahogany as far as workability and weight goes.

[James Tonguet]

Very nicely done

[Jason Rodgers]

Chuck will be along shortly to flip your picture to make it viewable by the majority of the public.

That Kauri is more tame than some I've seen on instruments people have posted, but still has amazing depth to those long, slow undulations. I don't know if I've seen it on an electric. Not sure how I feel about dark necks in general, but that grain sure looks like it would feel nice under the hand. Nice body shape. It's one of your usuals, right? Have you done it in tele-form before?

[John Kingma]

Nice body shape. It's one of your usuals, right? Have you done it in tele-form before?

Not sure I get your question... have I built a Tele from Ancient Kauri...??

Yes... a few of them.

[Jason Rodgers]

I've seen (at least I think I've seen) you do this body shape in a strat form, with two horns, but I don't recall a tele shape. Maybe I'm mistaken. Or maybe the left-handedness is messing with my brain

[Chuck Tweedy]

Is this easier to look at Jason?

[John Kingma]

I've seen (at least I think I've seen) you do this body shape in a strat form, with two horns, but I don't recall a tele shape. Maybe I'm mistaken. Or maybe the left-handedness is messing with my brain

No... this shape is just this shape. I came up with it by mixing some Tele traits with some Les Paul traits and then adding my own thing to it.

I've made Tele copies and I've made Strat copies, but I haven't made a double cutaway version of this body.

[Chuck Tweedy]

Aside from my photo hijinks, I need to say that your creation is dark-chocolaty-caramelly-yummy!
Bravo Mr. Kingma!

[Jason Rodgers]

Is this easier to look at Jason?

Ahhh, that's better.

No... this shape is just this shape. I came up with it by mixing some Tele traits with some Les Paul traits and then adding my own thing to it.

I've made Tele copies and I've made Strat copies, but I haven't made a double cutaway version of this body.

Well, in that case, I think it's just swell, and I encourage you to attempt a double cutaway version of this body (in left or right hand).

[Jedi Clampett]

John:
I wonder if you would share your procedure for sanding and prepping your kauri guitar?
I ordered a piece of Kauri awhile back, paid $400 and had it sawed into qty: 4 -1/2" tops. I am using one of the tops on my latest build and have thought to use tru oil. Would love more info on your process, your guitar looks great!

[John Kingma]

John:
I wonder if you would share your procedure for sanding and prepping your kauri guitar?
I ordered a piece of Kauri awhile back, paid $400 and had it sawed into qty: 4 -1/2" tops. I am using one of the tops on my latest build and have thought to use tru oil. Would love more info on your process, your guitar looks great!

I've built quite a few guitars from kauri and I've finished every one of them different. This is one of two that I think looked best.

Everything you read about sanding kauri will say to sand it up to at least 1000 grit, however I have found when using an oil finish that's too much sanding. Sanded to 1000 grit seemed to "burnish" the top causing the oil to penetrate very unevenly. It looked blotchy even after 6 or 8 coats. So I sanded back to bare wood and only sanded to 320 or 400 grit (I can't remember) and applied the oil in very light coats and it looked evenly absorbed after a couple coats.

[Jim Bonnell]

Nice job John. I really like the design and the wood is out standing.

[Gordon Bellerose]

That is a great body shape John. And very nice grain in that wood. Subtle.
How thin did you taper it on the forearm cut of the body? It looks as though it gets fairly thin.

[Gordon Bellerose]

Just got this strung up last night. My second "Lefty" for a repeat customer.

I used a wiring diagram for a Gibson Explorer on this one. I have noticed that when the switch is in the middle position both volume pots seem to control both pickups... so it's impossible to "blend" the pickups.

Does anyone know if that is what happens with an Explorer?? Is there any way to not have this happen??

.

On any instrument with 2 volume controls, you can wire it for independent volume control by switching the wires on each pot.
Here's a link.

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Electro ... 000_4.html

[John Kingma]

That is a great body shape John. And very nice grain in that wood. Subtle.
How thin did you taper it on the forearm cut of the body? It looks as though it gets fairly thin.

There is no forearm cut. Must be an optical illusion in the photo.