Monty McKinnon

Monty McKinnon

Welcome to Monty McKinnon, your ultimate destination for learning how to build acoustic guitars from scratch! Whether you're a seasoned luthier or just starting your guitar-making journey, our channel offers detailed tutorials, expert tips, and engaging content to help you master the art of guitar building. Subscribe to stay updated on our latest projects, and join a community of passionate guitar builders and people who enjoy woodworking projects.

Router & Hand Tremor

Router & Hand Tremor

Another Make At Home JIG

Another Make At Home JIG

The Top Redo!

The Top Redo!

Starting...At The Top!

Starting...At The Top!

Free Jig Plans

Free Jig Plans

Build This Jig

Build This Jig

Brace It!

Brace It!

Make a Perfect Tip

Make a Perfect Tip

Make This Jig in 2 Minutes.

Make This Jig in 2 Minutes.

Surprise Unboxing

Surprise Unboxing

Drill Press Review & Hack

Drill Press Review & Hack

Gotta Fix This!

Gotta Fix This!

Пікірлер

  • @BearCreekWoodworking
    @BearCreekWoodworking2 күн бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us Monty! I’m glad you didn’t scrap this guitar. Once completed you will get a large feeling of accomplishment, and enjoy playing it that much more. 😃👏

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon2 күн бұрын

    That's the plan!

  • @qlewer670
    @qlewer6703 күн бұрын

    Thanks for video Monty, which oil using for shellac polishing here?

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon3 күн бұрын

    I mix shellac flakes and Everclear alcohol. Works well I do a 1 pouble cut the ratio is 1 to 8.

  • @andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624
    @andrewmundenandcadfellmast46243 күн бұрын

    Ha ha, good one Monty 😂😂

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon3 күн бұрын

    Thank you. It is so true.

  • @tomalexiou9573
    @tomalexiou95734 күн бұрын

    Thank you for making this video Monty and sharing your experiences.From Scarborough Ontario.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon3 күн бұрын

    My pleasure! I have sent a lot of time in your neck of the woods. lol

  • @tomalexiou9573
    @tomalexiou95733 күн бұрын

    Wow,I wish I knew you back then.I could have been your apprentice.I went to Cedarbrae CI , Churchill and R.H. King.1978-1982.

  • @kwaktak
    @kwaktak4 күн бұрын

    I admire your fortitude and you're wife's support, Monty. My situation is similar yet dissimilar. - I don't like sanding or using power tools if I can help it; I'm much too accident prone for that. My recent heartbreak ruining a top when trying to patch repair a broken purfling with a router taught me a lesson. Less is more and sometimes a card scraper is the better tool for leveling. It's less messy. I also learned that violin makers use this thing called a gramil for inlaying. I found one and used it to redo my binding and purfling. - I also cut my own shellac but in that case I do rely on a power tool to speed up the mixing process. Specifically, I use a coffee bean grinder to turn the flake into finer flakes and a powder. My last batch of 8:1 took just a couple of hours to fully dissolve. I'll throw up a short on my channel (a la the old "video reply" days on KZread.) - I also French polish my guitars, so when I cut shellac I do two jars; one 8:1 for sealing the wood so that the CA glue doesn't soak into the wood and one is 4:1 for pore filling (I use a shaker filled with pumice) and French polishing building sessions.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon4 күн бұрын

    That is some siolid advice. I use pumice, sparingly but I never thought of a 4:1 as a grain filler. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

  • @kwaktak
    @kwaktak4 күн бұрын

    @@MontyMcKinnon the shellac is more to help soften the wood so that the pumice’s abrasive qualities can work any fibers into the pores. If you use too much pumice it will fill the pore instead of the wood fibers. I also tend to use pumice during the early building sessions afterward to address any sinkage into the pores.

  • @jonpardue
    @jonpardue5 күн бұрын

    Well done persevering Monty! The lesson can be applied to any of us trying something new. What a grand experience to return and discover you kept working endlessly to move the build ahead. You inspire us.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon4 күн бұрын

    Oh my, thank you so much for your support.

  • @RickEagan
    @RickEagan5 күн бұрын

    Mistakes happen to all of us no matter how experienced we are as luthiers. We know we learn from our mistakes. The challenge is how are we going to correct the problem. As luthiers we are problem solvers; which is what you did on this guitar.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon4 күн бұрын

    Rick, thank you for your encouragement. I needed that. This was a tough one so, thank you.

  • @vperalta
    @vperalta5 күн бұрын

    I like the idea of a sound port. I am sorry about the setbacks. About your hand shacking, my left hand shakes when I hold something. I mentioned it to my neurologist and he said many surgeons are forced to retire when they develop the kind of shake I have. I am trying not to be discouraged by it.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon5 күн бұрын

    I've had this problem since I was a teenager.

  • @andrewdarnley4608
    @andrewdarnley46085 күн бұрын

    I always thought that I was the only builder that had too correct the snafu's I encounter with almost every guitar I build.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon5 күн бұрын

    I've made every mistake building guitars at least three times. lol

  • @ryanhatten7751
    @ryanhatten77515 күн бұрын

    I love the sound ports on your guitars! So that is my vote 👍 I have a long-term goal of eventually building guitars, and I want to model them after your builds. Keep up the amazing work. Love your videos they are so inspiring.🙏

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon5 күн бұрын

    The sound ports are great. I'm leaning that way.

  • @johnsee7269
    @johnsee72695 күн бұрын

    Condolences for the last hurrah guitar Monty. I'd vote for no sound port but I'm a bit of a traditionalist and kinda resistant to change... Beautiful back and sides wood!

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon5 күн бұрын

    Yes, the body wood is gorgeous. Wait until you see it with a french polish.

  • @red58impala
    @red58impala5 күн бұрын

    Glad to see you persevered. If you hadn't told us about the problems, we probably wouldn't have noticed. I'm looking forward to your upcoming tool videos as I'm always looking for better ways to sharpen my tools.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon5 күн бұрын

    Sharp tools work better.

  • @christopherbutler4923
    @christopherbutler49239 күн бұрын

    Not a real and fair comparison. Compare a $5000 factory guitar with a $5000 costom. That would be meaningful.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon4 күн бұрын

    Not too many store bought guitars have a french polish. But it I was to spend $5,000 I think I would go custom hand crafted. They have great sound.

  • @KBorham
    @KBorham11 күн бұрын

    That was time well spent! Excellent explanation of the hardwood strips, thank you.

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon4 күн бұрын

    Thank you so much.

  • @JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers
    @JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers19 күн бұрын

    I always love this short! John & I joke about projects and I say “Mr.Monty says there is NO 10 minute job” 😂😂

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon12 күн бұрын

    Whoever said a job will only take ten minutes, should be sent to his room for the day without lunch. We'll call it a 10 minute time-out!

  • @vyvynylification
    @vyvynylification19 күн бұрын

    I have heard some people claiming the non-cutaway versions of guitars sounding better but to me the extra access a cutaway model offers is worth it

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon12 күн бұрын

    If you're a player then I agree. But, if you are only playing in the first position it might not matter until you become more accomplished.

  • @vyvynylification
    @vyvynylification12 күн бұрын

    ​@@MontyMcKinnon ofcourse. I don't go past the 12th fret very often, but those very few times I do I really dislike my non-cutaway guitars. That said, professionals such as Tommy Emmanuel get by without cutaway perfectly fine!

  • @Galacticgospel.
    @Galacticgospel.22 күн бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this information 😊

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon20 күн бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @TheTattooedCrafter
    @TheTattooedCrafter25 күн бұрын

    Another amazing video Monty. We always enjoy watching your content. ❤❤

  • @MontyMcKinnon
    @MontyMcKinnon20 күн бұрын

    Thanks so much