Kennedy Guitars 

I am starting two new guitars.  A Rosewood/Sitka single side OM commission and a double side Mahogany/Lutz OM for Willie’s American Guitars.  i hope to have both completed in early 2025.

I recently did a two part interview with Nate Wesgor the owner of  Willie’s American Guitars in St. Paul MN.  It’s a fascinating store and well worth a visit if you live in or are visiting the twin cities.  I am honored to be hanging my instruments there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6gHctVnJ30&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDC8xBdfSbw&feature=youtu.be

Twin cities guitarist Lindsay Paine was up in October with his OM that I finished last year.  Everything looked good and we did a minor action tweak.  It’s breaking in nicely.   Besides playing in a larger band he has an acoustic duo called Oake and Paine that play around Minneapolis and St Paul.

Well it has a been a tough fall for Kennedy Guitars with major life changing health issues for both myself and my wife.  Shop work is gradually resuming at a slower pace but proceeding none the less.  I am confident I will be able to complete more instruments.  The two in progress have the bodies complete and the necks are coming along so it is very possible they could go to finish in early 2024.  They may be spoken for but if not, they will go to Willie’s American Guitars in St Paul.

Life throws you a curve ball now and then.  This was a big one.

Work continues on two OMs for Willie’s American Guitars. Both double sides/  One Rosewood/Maple inner  and the other Birds’s Eye Maple/ Rosewood inner.  I am planning a Cedar top for the Rosewood.  Hope to have them in the store October of November.

My friend Paul G picked up his OM last month.  The burst came out great!

Quite a few repairs floating through so things are busy.  Have a great summer!

It has been a while since I updated my blog.  My website software had an issue but I think I have figured a workaround.  I have just completed two commissions, both IRW OMs with Lutz tops.  Single sides with Brazilian fretboards.  They are off to finish.

I have also delivered a nice double side Mahogany/Rosewood OM commission with a great Adi top.  Finished in a burst.  Good sounding guitar.

I will be focusing on repairs for the time being, but will probably be starting another build in the relatively near future.

           Check out my instruments at Willies american Guitars in St Paul MN.

                           https://www.williesguitars.com/product/new-kennedy-om-80/

                            https://www.williesguitars.com/product/new-kennedy-om-85/

The all laminate archtop is back from finish and set up.  I have been playing it for a couple of weeks.  I have decided to keep it as it is perfect for what I am doing musically right now and I want to see how my new design tailpiece holds up.  The plates are from builder Steve Holst.  The top has a spruce outer laminate and I am impressed at the acoustic sound unplugged.  It has a mounted Kent Armstrong humbucker.

The All Mahogany OM with the upper bout carbon tube headbock bracing is almost ready to go to finish.  This is my first Mahogany topped guitar.  It has a great tap tone so we will see if it is a winner or dud.  You never know till the strings are on!  The bracing works as I have duplicated string tension with the neck on and there is very little movement.

The rim set in the top of the lower picture is my new 15” Mahogany archtop design waiting for it’s plates.  It will have Holst laminated top and bottom plates and a mounted pickup.  

Finally my main wood supplier, Walter Lipton of Euphonon Co. has retired at age 78 and his wood has been bought by Allied Lutherie which has re-located to New England from California.  Walter’s Mahogany was the best, especially necks and I was lucky enough to get some of his neck blanks from Allied.  Enough to keep me going for a couple of years.  I also got some of his BZ bridge blanks and headstock veneers.

His Mahogany back and side sets were great as well and I will be ordering some from Allied before all their Euphonon stock is gone.

Finally, both guitars I had at Fret Central in Minneapolis have sold.  I hope to have some more there in the next six months.  Probably the 15” archtop and an OM.  have a great 2020 everyone.