Custom Projects

BK Guitars

When a guitar from a big box store won't do...

Custom Projects

Custom Project for Chuck Harris
GS Style Guitar - Moabi (African Pear) Back and Sides, Bearclaw Sitka Top
Project started ahead os schedule on January 2, 2008
Larger pictures show current process steps. Smaller pictures of previous steps are retained for your benefit...

GS-N-F-2008-016 This is the Moabi back set. It is also known as 'African Pear'. The wood is dense and has a beautiful quilt figure.
This is the bear claw sitka set. The left side has been sanded enough to show the figure. This is how it was received from the vendor.
This is the Moabi back with Naptha on it so you can see the grain. The form creates the outline for the GS. It has not yet been joined so you can see a light color between the halves.
January 5, 2008 These are the Moabi sides in the mold after bending.
January 9, 2008 Sides ready to attach back and top. An expoxy based sealant is used on the wood as a filler. It fills in small pores in the wood and small cracks that are a result of bending highly quilted wood. It will reduce dents and dings along the way as well. (We sealed the inside along with the outside for appearance only.)
The sound board is joined, the rosette is cut and we are gluing in the rosette before completing the sound hole. Bracing is next.
Attach the back and top to the sides
Rosette being glued in on sound board
Jan. 12, 2008 Body ready for gluing.
Jan. 12, 2008 Sound board bracing voiced and ready for gluing to the back and sides.
Jan. 12, 2008 Sound board with Rosette ready to be glued to the back and sides.
Jan. 12, 2008 Back, sides and top being glued together.
Jan. 12, 2008 The neck blank is ready to be shaped.
Jan. 12, 2008 The body is ready to add binding and fit the neck.
Jan. 15, 2008 The binding channel is cut and the purfling is being added. The curly maple end graft is already in place. The curly maple binding will be added next.
Feb. 10, 2008 We are ready to final sand and prepare for spraying the finish. Sorry for not posting pictures for this section of the build. I was too busy building to document it. These pictures do not do it justice...
Next Steps Spray finish coats and sand Let finish rest Do initial setup Install electronics Do final setup	Estimated completion: March 2008

Custom Project for Craig Pelham
Jumbo Style Guitar - Quilted Sapele Back and Sides, Bearclaw Sitka Top
Project scheduled to begin - Approximately January 13, 2008

J-N-F-2008-019 Quilted Sapele back set. This is how it looks after the billet was cut and sanded to thickness by BK Guitars. Notice the wonderful quilt figure.
This is the bear claw sitka top. It has been sanded enough to see the figure. This is how it was received from the vendor.

Custom Project for Daryl Ford
Concert Series Guitars (2) - Matched Koa Back and Sides, Carpathian Top (Matchng pair of guitars)
Project scheduled to begin - Approximately January 13, 2008

C-N-F-2008-017 This is the koa back set. It is a sister set to the other back set used on #018.
C-N-F-2008-017 This is the Carpathian Top after being sanded to thickness. Notice the nice clean lines and color!
C-N-F-2008-018 This is the koa back set. It is a sister set to the other back set used on #017.
C-N-F-2008-018 This is the Carpathian Top after being sanded to thickness. It is set cut from the same billet but not the immediate sister of the set used on #017.