Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/09/2016:  13:33:14

SATURDAY

AFTERNOON

Here I am kicking back and taking advantage of the down time to write a few lines.

It is amazing how just relaxing like we are is so invigorating. Although I must admit feeling guilty for not being upstairs someplace working on a painting. Maybe after I am done writing this I get in gear and grab up a brush. 

We loaded up  a new group of guests. They seem like great folks. Tonight we will play for them during Happy Hour and then tomorrow a Banjo 102 and an evening performance. . I'm looking forward to that!

Here is the QUEEN in port at the Beale St. Landing in Memphis...

And from a mural on the Magnolia Lounge the R. E. Lee landing in St. Louis...

And the Paddle wheel Lounge just next to our room...

More soon!!!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 04/09/2016 13:34:28

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/10/2016:  14:51:30

TODAY'S 

QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI 

BANJO 102 CLASS!

They were great!!!

More Soon!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/12/2016:  20:22:00

TUESDAY

BACK HOME 

IN PARIS

Ah to be home again. This was a great trip. Lots of wonderful folks to meet and play music for!

Sunday afternoon I had a fun experience visiting the McRaven house. Mississippi's most haunted house. I hate to admit it but I didn't see or feel a thing...

It was a neat house though, and I'm glad I got to tour it! 

This grand staircase was amazing!

One of the folks I went with snapped this photo. She said she saw the ghost in it, do you?

I arrived at the shop this morning to find that while I was gone someone had installed a Fairie door next to the shop front door.... Don't know who, perhaps the fairies!

  

My great friend Joe Snow in today workin on gears for his wooden clock....

Yin & Yang first buffing...

Reaming for tuning machines...

Checking the fit...

The buffing exposed some uneven spots in the finish so they are sanded flat....

Here I scrape the finish that snuck under the masking tape and onto the fingerboard...

MORE SOON!!!

dr4dpet - Posted - 04/12/2016:  20:31:19

It was in a similarly old house, Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, TN, where I saw my first example of Burl Walnut. They had quite a collection of furniture built from this beautiful wood.

Edited by - dr4dpet on 04/12/2016 20:36:03

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/13/2016:  05:16:52

The Yin & Yang is looking more awesome every day!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/13/2016:  14:17:04

Dan

As I was quickly looking at your photos, I thought that the inside images of the McRaven House might be your home.  

A grand vacation on the Queen!! Such a deal!!

You may need to install a fairie door on the inside so the fairies can get inside and finish any detail work that needs to be done. 

YIN & YANG is looking very good.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/14/2016:  17:26:37

JW,

I performed there at the Ames Plantation several years ago for a wedding. The horse stalls were amazing!

Doug & Dave,

Thanks!!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/14/2016:  17:51:59

 THURSDAY

Lots accomplished this day... 

Boy does that sound pretentious, but none the less it's true. Here is just a taste:

On the ole Yin and yang guitar we are heading towards the finish line (and not the Finish Line Car Wash either!). Here I'm measuring for a trussrod cover plate. 

Then it was off to choosing pearl to make a two color truss rod cover...

It was glued back to back jointed, drilled and the cut to 1/2 the shape...

Finished. I really like the abalone in the upper aria...

We've talked about inlaying the Julia Belle Swane on the Aeroplane neck. Here is the photo of her that I'm working from...

Here it is flipped into a negative for easier viewing while cutting...

And cutting...

Today was my granddaughter Amber's day to come by and paint at the shop. Here she's drying underlayment paint for a steamboat we'll both be painting on...

And my friend John Monroe (the great Paris painter) helping installing tuners on a Gibson SG...

Oh yeah... if you are near Paducah, Kentucky tomorrow evening pleas help my pals Eddie & Josh Coffey, Nathan Lynn and all the rest of Bawn in the Mash celebrate their 11th. year of Banding!!

MORE SOON!!!

dr4dpet - Posted - 04/15/2016:  00:34:21

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dan Knowles

 

JW,

I performed there at the Ames Plantation several years ago for a wedding. The horse stalls were amazing!

Doug & Dave,

Thanks!!!

 

---

That is a great brick barn. I recall seeing an old McClellan saddle in it. Quite an experience to ride using it. I spent a week there with other vet students working on the livestock. It was breath taking to see the Tennessee Walking Horses with flowing manes and tails driving the cattle along the lanes from pasture to pasture.

dr4dpet - Posted - 04/17/2016:  07:45:56

Congratulations to Dan and Tyler, they both took home shiny hardware last night.

They were outstanding at the Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree in Holladay, Tn. I guess that makes them both West Tennessee champions for the next year.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/17/2016:  15:43:24

JW,

It was great to see you again yesterday! The stack of shiny's that Tyler got was certainly larger than my single one... but here mine is...

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/17/2016:  16:19:42

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Well I guess you probably figured out where I was Saturday... Holladay contest. And I had such a great time. Most of the day was spent pickin' with:

Mike McKnight (banjo), Rob Pearcy (banjo), William Moore (bass), Dennis Bumgardner (fiddle & guitar), Tyler Andal (guitar & banjo), Wayne Jerrells (fiddle) and singing with Suzie Holladay, talking with J.W., Steve Holladay, Billy Holladay (the Billy Holladay), Mark Holladay, Wayne Holladay and lots of other folks!!!

There were also more young folks at this one than I've seen for many years. In fact the group that won the Bluegrass Band competition (GATEWAY TO THE NEW SOUTH) were mostly very accomplished teen aged folks!

The picking & visiting was great but having Tyler play guitar as I attempted to perform Home Sweet Home was a big treat . We played it slow & then fast but during the slow part his cross picking accompaniment was so masterful I nearly laughed out loud with joy! That was such a treat Tyler! THANK YOU!!!

Ok enough of that...

Friday me and a ca. 1900 Farland Grand Artist got up close and personal...

A 5th string peg had moved the (black dyed) pearwood fingerboard causing a hump in the space between frets 4 & 5. Well we couldn't have that so I made this clamping jig to move it back into place. Oh yes I also applied glue so it would stay...

   

Also the Yin & Yang recieved a bridge...

But first the tape protecting the gluing aria from finish had to be removed. First the finish was cut through to the tape...

Then the tape was cleanly pulled off...

The gluing surface was thoroughly cleaned and then glue was applied...

Clamps were applied and the glue squeeze out was washed away...

More Soon!!!

60spicker - Posted - 04/17/2016:  16:36:39

Admirably representing the Hangout!

rubicon - Posted - 04/17/2016:  17:29:02

The Ying any Yang is looking good Dan

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/17/2016:  17:52:20

Agree with Rubicon..Yin & Yang is looking good..a very fine instrument indeed!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/23/2016:  13:14:19

Doug, Terry & Rubicon,

Thanks!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/23/2016:  14:51:55

BACK ON THE RIVER

Here I am reporting in from the Mississippi river on board the Queen of the Mississippi heading south to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Here it is Saturday... how this week has flown by! I think that this post has almost become a Luthier's Week post, because it certainly seams to be that I'm only able to post about that often lately... it's not a matter of want to as much as it is time.

On to the photos...

I needed to bend a set of linings for my friend/ student Kevin Bailey so here I make a bending form for the machine and then bend them...

The Yin and Yang came very close to the finish line this week. When I get back on Monday I will finish up some detail stuff and hopefully call it a day...

Here goes the fret leveling.... first cleaning finish residue from the fingerboard edges & marking the fret tops...

After they were leveled with diamond stones they are marked again and crowned...

And then slicked up with 200 grit sandpaper...

On with the truss rod cover... 

Slotting the nut...

Cutting it down to proper height...

Stringing and truing the string slots...

And hearing this baby sing "Misty" for its first song.... This is a sweet guitar!

Thursday's BANJO 102 class on the QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI. I tried the panorama setting to get them all in a single photo learning...

Thursday we landed in the fleet yard in Rosedale, Mississippi. It certainly was exciting scooting into a new place!

Clouds over the Mississippi...

My nut on the Pharaoh came loose. This make tuning very problematic and frustrating at best, so I got the chance to practice some gorilla lutherie gluing it back in spot. and no, I didn't use Gorilla Glue!

MORE SOON!!!

northwoodspicker - Posted - 04/23/2016:  16:21:46

I wanna hear that white oak 000!!!

Beautiful job on Yin and Yang.

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/23/2016:  17:12:48

Yep..Dan we all want to hear Yin & Yang when ya have time to drop a sound clip in....a very unique and wonderful guitar..Bravo!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/23/2016:  19:04:10

Dan

I also want to hear the Yin / Yang as soon as possible, however I think that posting a sound file is by rights the privilege of the new happy owner.



Gorilla lutherie on board The Queen, Dan is there anything you can't do?

rubicon - Posted - 04/23/2016:  20:23:48

A rendition of I'm a fine guitar on the Ying Yang please ! I was lookin for a link ???? What a teaser

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/24/2016:  14:44:09

Joseph, Doug, Dave & Rubicon,

Thanks! I'll see what I can do about that clip before it's gone.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/24/2016:  14:50:18

SUNDAY

JUST ABOVE

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI

We had a great time last night performing. But today's Banjo 102 class was extraordinary! It wasn't 90% nor 95% nor even 97.5% that got it... They all did!!! It was amazing!

More Soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/24/2016:  16:01:46

Hats off to the talented instructor! 

dr4dpet - Posted - 04/24/2016:  19:27:59

Were some of the class playing banjos from that new batch of mini banjos?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/26/2016:  05:49:06

Dave,

Thanks!

JW,

Yes, 6 of them are from the new batch.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/26/2016:  06:00:45

TUESDAY MORNING

I'm up and just gettin' ready to work. Today is teaching day. First out of the shoot will be Joe Snow, woodworking...I figured I'd post a couple of shots to prove that we have been performing out on the Queen and not just vacatin'.

Usually ( when I remember) I'll hand my camera over to one of the front row guests so they can take a few photos.... this one caught me by surprise!

Eddie & me gettin' the show gowin'. It was probably Sally Ann or maybe Night Train to Memphis...

Old-Time guitar pickin' time... reasonably warm licks on Wildwood Flower...

and Over the Rainbow on the Mandora d'Amore...

More Soon!

Dave1climber - Posted - 04/26/2016:  06:30:11

Dan

You're so professional, you just have to let the mask slip once in a while.  

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/28/2016:  05:06:01

YESTERDAY & TUESDAY

Early morning breakfast: Coffee, toast with peanut butter & crasins. Um um Good!

Today my granddaughter Amber will be in to work on her painting stuff. Along with John who'll be doing some finish spraying. It should be a fun & busy day.

Tuesday as y'all know who follow this post, is my teaching day. But with that involvement I was able to steel away a bit of time to luthin'.

The white oak 000 received most of my attention and most of that was in wet sanding the finish. I sometimes think that instead of being called a luthier I should be called a sander for it seams that is the majority of my trade. Power sanders help (A lot!) but there is still a great amount of sanding and polishing in this trade.

Here I'm wet sanding the top...

Then it was off to the buffing wheel...

Unfortunately there are a couple of finish flaws that will require more attention and work to make perfect, so back on the bench & spray booth with the 000...

Wednesday morning I had some lathe fun! I turned 3 rims. I realize that it would be more productive (and quicker perhaps) to use milling tools, but I enjoy the feel of laying a chisel to spinning wood...

And there is nothing like the mass and mess of shavings!

More soon!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/28/2016:  05:34:41

Dan that Oak guitar is looking awesome!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/28/2016:  17:29:58

Doug,

I hope you'll still think so after tonights post.

Dan Knowles - Posted - 04/28/2016:  17:40:59

THURSDAY

Today I tore into the finish on the top of the White Oak 000.  There was a large discoloration which needed to be gotten rid of, so out with the sandpaper and off with some finish...

After sanding to remove finish the bare wood was again treated with several treatments of potassium dichromate. This will hopefully (age) oxidize the wood surface allowing it to match the other parts of the top visually...

Here it is after drying. I'll allow it to work its majic over night and tomorrow I'll start reapplying finish.

Spray a bass neck heel...

2 shots with lots of banjo parts in the background...

Banjo parts in the drying rack side of the spray booth, including the first Knowles plectrum banjo...

More Soon!!!

guitarman8491 - Posted - 04/28/2016:  18:08:10

Dan..I still think so..you perform your magic and it is even better than before! One awesome guitar!!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/04/2016:  05:36:50

Doug,

Thanks. I do really wish sometimes that it truly was majic ... then I'd just shake a wond or wiggle my nose!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/04/2016:  06:21:08

RUBBIN' & A' BUFFIN'

Good Wednesday morning. I'm sitting here tapping out words all the while drinking on some Brazilian coffee which was (fresh) roasted last night. This batch was brewed up in my French press although I'm just as likely to fix the stuff in my Aeropress or espresso machine depending on my mood. I'm drinking from a cup that was made 10 years ago by my ceramics instructor / friend Martin Paschall, It was made more as a small glass and not as a cup (having no handle and being taller than most cups), but it feels so nice and warm in my hands this morning. I'm finding that as time goes by these simple pleasures mean more to me.

Here I am wet sanding out the first Knowles 4-string plectrum banjo, serial #311. Amazing how they pile up. 

  

Saturday Zeb, Chris & Jeff were in for guitar building class. Zeb is heading towards the finish line with his first one. Here he's installing tuners...

I caught 'um all! Jeff & Chris checking neck joint fit and Zeb making a nut...

A while back I was asked about my buffing machine so yesterday I made some photos. There are many things that I like about this thing... and a couple things that need to be improved...

This machine is attached to the wall and is hinged so it can be swung out of the way when not in use. When it's down it sticks out into the room about 3 1/2 feet. Basically it's a motor, 2 pillow block bearings, pulley and a 3/4" shaft  mounted to a piece of ironwood. A small rope holds it in place when it's down.

Beside the hanging feature the beauty of this machine is that the buffer can move. Should I accidently catch a piece on its edge the buffer usually will jump away instead of tossing the work to the floor.

Two things I need to do:

1. Build a guard over this pulley. I haven't hit it yet but I'm always afraid that I will.

2. Mount the bearings on the top f their wooden base. Oilng these bearings is problematic at best and someday they may fail because of this oversight.

It is equipped with a high tech steel hanging device...

Up...

The shaft (with its washer and nut) barely protrude beyond the buff, but as a protection I've covered it with a finger guard. This was done years ago after I bumped it with a banjo rim (ruining the finish)...

Here are the pillow block bearings and the pipe insulation. The insulation is a protector much like the finger guard and is lose on the shaft. This makes a nice soft place for instruments to touch if I mess up...

The belts are kept a bit loose so they can slip and not grab. Years ago I had a guitar pulled out of my hands by the buffer (back in the tight belt days) and this is another one of my fixes for my buffing technique.

More soon!!!

Dave1climber - Posted - 05/04/2016:  10:04:02

Dan

The plectrum neck looks as if you have done some decorative carving on the heel, if so can we see a photo of it?

I like that you build so many of your own machines, very nice! 

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/09/2016:  19:36:02

Dave,

No the plectrum is quite simple with very little inlay and no carving. I do enjoy building those things (machines). I guess I caught it from my millwright father!

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/09/2016:  19:41:47

VIDEO OF THE YIN AND YANG

The Yin and yang guitar went to its new home today but just before she left (note the she) for her new home I played this tune...

An Irish Blessing.

I hope you enjoy it!

facebook.com/lisa.g.koven/vide...33981761/ 

rubicon - Posted - 05/09/2016:  19:41:47

OK gotta ask how did you make out with the white oak ?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/09/2016:  19:44:51

Rubicon,

The white oak is back having the top finish coloration changed ( It will be lightened some). I'll shoot some photos of her after I get back from this year's "Long Trip".

rubicon - Posted - 05/09/2016:  19:47:39

Do you have a sound clip of the ying yang for non facebookers ?

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/10/2016:  20:40:42

Rubicon,

I tried to figure a way to save the video so I could Youtube it and post it here... but was not successful...Sorry.

My next post will be from the boats the Queen of the Mississippi & the America for the next 3 weeks... see you then!

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 05/10/2016 20:42:26

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/14/2016:  07:08:52

REPORTING IN

FROM THE

QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI

Great Saturday morning from here in Memphis, Tennessee... Perhaps Top of the Morning would be more apropos considering that this first half we have been spending time with folks from the AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC TOURS. As always, wonderful sweet folks to pass the time with.

Speaking of wonderful folks here is our QOM Banjo 102 class from Thursday... 100% success rate with these folks!

THEY ALL GOT IT!

Thursday's sunset was so rich and full that I just have to share it with you. 

Ok.. here for everybody to see (and especially Terry Heaton) are my new, red, alligator shoes. Kind of over the top, I know, but....

I'm not sure what happened in the show that night but Eddie musta liked it!

What can I say....

And the boys get ser-e-us...

I'm heading down to the Magnolia Lounge here in just a minute to pick a bit of Dixieland.

See ya soon!

PS.Here is a short video of us playing Amazing Grace with the saw...

facebook.com/terry.poulton.35/...54962925/

Edited by - Dan Knowles on 05/14/2016 07:13:13

60spicker - Posted - 05/14/2016:  08:39:34

Where does one begin to describe one's joy over such purdy shoes?

Damn, son! If you click your heels together three times, are you rocketed back to Paris?

Um, pity the poor red alligator that had to sacrifice himself so that you can look like a fool on stage. 

Did you actually PAY for those things?

Do they make you tap dance better?

Is that John Hartford I hear rolling over in his grave?

I suspect a red banjo is forthcoming (if you ever get back in the shoppe).

Man, those puppies are BLOOD red!!!

Thou shalt not covet thy luthier's shoes!

I could go on....

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/14/2016:  10:30:16

Terry,

We did have a funeral for the plastic alligator that gave his life for my shoes...glad you approve.

Dave1climber - Posted - 05/14/2016:  10:49:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by 60spicker

 

Where does one begin to describe one's joy over such purdy shoes?

Damn, son! If you click your heels together three times, are you rocketed back to Paris?

Um, pity the poor red alligator that had to sacrifice himself so that you can look like a fool on stage. 

Did you actually PAY for those things?

Do they make you tap dance better?

Is that John Hartford I hear rolling over in his grave?

I suspect a red banjo is forthcoming (if you ever get back in the shoppe).

Man, those puppies are BLOOD red!!!

Thou shalt not covet thy luthier's shoes!

I could go on....

---

Terry

My exact thoughts!!  

cbcarlisle - Posted - 05/14/2016:  11:20:08

I thought the shoes looked like Strawberries!

Bufo Bill - Posted - 05/15/2016:  13:50:02

The naysayers can say nay till the cows come home, those shoes are my kind of tasteful!!!

All the best from Bill. :D

Dan Knowles - Posted - 05/16/2016:  11:52:29

Good morning from room 111 on the queen of the Mississippi.

It's great to see folks interested in my shoes. Someone asked me yesterday if I have a shoe fetish...Hum... How does one answer a loaded question like that?!?

I just got up, out of the shower and am nearly ready to head down to breakfast, but I thought I'd type out at least a bit of this missive before I head over t breakfast. One of the pluses of being in crew quarters is that the dining room is just down the hall!

We are in Vicksburg, Mississippi today, tomorrow we'll be in Natchez and trading boats to the new American Cruise Lines riverboat America. She is on her first trip past he maiden voyage.... well we almost made it!

Anyway here are some shots from a couple of days ago in Memphis and..

The Queen of the Mississippi at port on the inner landing on Mud Island...

I don't remember the name of this place, but what a Victorian in mid-town Memphis...

Memphis Bell & her sister boats at port..

What a treat! The Beale Street Strutters with their new banjo player.  Until a few weeks ago I never played Dixieland now I r one!

Sunday's fabulous Banjo 102 class These folks were wonderful. 

BTW Eddie and I are working n recording a live CD on this group of trips. We've done 4 of the 12 shows that we'll do on this batch. Hopefully we'll be able to get up enough stuff and mix it out before we head home. 

See Y'all Soon