Nik Huber Koa Project

[koamarlin]

Hi folks!
Have been to Nik Huber´s shop today since he called me, cause he finally achieved to laminate the the top of my next guitar.
Koamarlin proudly presents: the top of Koamarlin II. http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif
As the name indicates the koa-topped Dolphin is going to feature a Marlin inlay on the bottom of the top.
(The first Koamarlin about 10 years ago had a Marlin inlayed to the upper fretboard)
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6614/koamarlin11.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/i/koamarlin11.jpg/)

This time we´re pushing the goal a bit further:
3 Pus, (5 singlecoils actually!), honduras mahogany core, accentuated with a 3,5mm maple layer between top and core to push the heights -and the looks, brasilian rosewood neck as before -this time with a maple accent running through the middle length of the neck.
I´m gonna report on the project as it proceeeds!

Koa Top: don´t mind the excess glue at the bookmatchin gap! http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5972/oberursel001.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/oberursel001.jpg/)


The fretboard:

http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_images/ip.boardpr/img-resized.png Reduced: 75% of original size [ 674 x 284 ] - Click to view full image
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3162/oberursel022.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/oberursel022.jpg/)

The Marlin inlay is going to be somewhat like this:

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8522/marlin331.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/marlin331.jpg/)

Do I have to add that I´m near a nervous breakdown? http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif


B.T.W.:

there´s some pics in addition to the above topic :

The new Dolphin "butcher" model: http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

[/URL] [URL="http://img37.imageshack.us/i/oberursel01412.jpg/"]http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9783/oberursel01412.jpg (http://img177.imageshack.us/i/oberursel01411.jpg/)

Nik displaying a brand new Twangmeister:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8931/oberursel010.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/oberursel010.jpg/)

Brainstorming:

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2396/oberursel017.jpg (http://img177.imageshack.us/i/oberursel017.jpg/)

A very fine ruby Redwood:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9819/oberursel009.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/oberursel009.jpg/)

Beauties in the drying booth:


http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_images/ip.boardpr/img-resized.png Reduced: 97% of original size [ 524 x 460 ] - Click to view full image
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5885/oberursel006f.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/oberursel006f.jpg/)


Enjoy! http://www.nikhuberfanclub.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

[Fuzzhead66]

Looks great man... I bought a Dolphin II a while back and it's amazing!

[narad]

Amazing wood - can't wait to see how it turns out! If you managed any more pics of that ruby redwood, please post :P I was thinking to myself the other day what other redwood stains would look like

[koamarlin]

Amazing wood - can't wait to see how it turns out! If you managed any more pics of that ruby redwood, please post :P I was thinking to myself the other day what other redwood stains would look like

I´ll be watchin my guitar getting built - so I intend to be at Nik´s place a couple of times in the nearer future. I´ll see what I can do!:aok

[koamarlin]

Amazing wood - can't wait to see how it turns out! If you managed any more pics of that ruby redwood, please post :P I was thinking to myself the other day what other redwood stains would look like

Besides the red colored top there have been only natural stains in Nik´s program - as far as the Redwoods are concerned ; I think the natural color of redwood unpredictably inhibits or at least effects the color of different stains ...?!:dunno

So here you can see a natural version, a sunburst and and a doublestained guitar- which is about all the colors Nik has done so far on Redwood topped guitars - let alone the ruby red Dolphin...!


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/411/nikrl.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/nikrl.jpg/)http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6573/img0960u.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/img0960u.jpg/)http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7691/img0207fzn.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/img0207fzn.jpg/)

[VegasGreg]

As always, great pictures!

[DavidH]

I'd have that faded burst Dolphin, the one in the middle in the last pic. They have an Orca in that finish at my local dealer and it's just stunning, love that finish. I have a humble Junior, mahogany, tobacco burst, it's a great guitar. Love Nik's work, it's incredible value too IMO, you're getting something akin to prs private stock for a hell of a lot less.

[narad]

The naturals are pretty interesting. If you do a search for Nik's stuff on digimart.net, which is an amalgamation of various japanese shops, there's quite a few (or was) natural Hubers there.

[Gadow guitars]

Thats going to look real nice...and sound great. Nik is one of my favorite builders......can't wait to see that one finished.

[koamarlin]

It´s always a bit like Christmas when you get e-mails from Nik:
Just before he leaves for his "family holidays" he sent me a couple of new pictures of the ongoing project!

I have always been very fond of the fire in koa wood - as my Koamarlin I clearly indicates.
This time the beauty of the top of my 4th ( 5th, if you make the Doublenik 2 guitars... ;-)) ) Huber just knocked me of my feet....

Enjoy!!


http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5822/img3886o.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/i/img3886o.jpg/)
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4503/img3916p.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img3916p.jpg/)
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1156/img3898s.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img3898s.jpg/)
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/2742/img3904.jpg (http://img75.imageshack.us/i/img3904.jpg/)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6324/img3973a.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/img3973a.jpg/)

(http://img65.imageshack.us/i/img3971o.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7530/img3974d.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img3974d.jpg/)

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8617/img3975.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/i/img3975.jpg/)

[amc]

the slice of figured maple in between the top & back is such a nice detail.........

[Scott Peterson]

Koa is gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo d! Dig it. Go Nik!

[koamarlin]

the slice of figured maple in between the top & back is such a nice detail.........

....which is going to repeated in the brazilian rosewood neck between fretboard and neck...! :drool

[koamarlin]

The build goes on:

Nicl,one of Nik Huber´s longtime coworkers, has crafted a Marlin inlay to match the "Koa-Marlin" theme. It is routed into the top beneath the bridge.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5941/img4267.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/i/img4267.jpg/) http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6992/img4269.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img4269.jpg/) http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4240/img4270.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/img4270.jpg/)

Afterwards the top is sanded till the inlay is flush to the top´s surface - and the first spraycoat is applyied to the body.
For the first time the incredible grain of koa starts to glow.....

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4227/img4308.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img4308.jpg/) http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6581/img4312.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/i/img4312.jpg/) http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1233/img4313.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img4313.jpg/)

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3050/img4306.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img4306.jpg/)


While the first spraycoat is drying, the Brazilian rosewood fretboard is prepared. A maple pinstripe is inlayd to the fretboard edges.

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/8489/img4342g.jpg (http://img2.imageshack.us/i/img4342g.jpg/)

I´ll be back for news!!;)

[paintguy]

Looks great!!!

[albimusig]

Hey Koamarlin

It`s gonna be a one of a one of guitar.

congrats on that beauty!!!!!

Looking forward to see it ready to rock

Albi

[koamarlin]

Hey Koamarlin

It`s gonna be a one of a one of guitar.

congrats on that beauty!!!!!

Looking forward to see it ready to rock

Albi

Thanks Albi!
I´m very much looking forward to the moment, I´ll have it in my hands to tickle my Marshall....:rockin
It´ll have TV Jones pickups , by the way....;)

[r9player]

wow sweet looking!!

[mojocaster.com]

Any recent developments? What a guitar!

[verhoevenc]

That is HILARIOUS! That's the EXACT same Marlin picture off the web I found and used when I was working out the stylized marlin inlay for my Marlin guitar shape!
Chris

[Pa'ani]

Wow just totally stunning!

[koamarlin]

Hi folks!
Here is more news on the Koamarlin II project. It took me quite a while again to find time to post some new pictures.


Nik has now cut out two parts from a brazilian Rosewood board to form the neck plank - together with a tigerstriped maple shim of 4 mm, which
goes in between the two side parts. These 3 parts are glued together to receive the raw material for a neck with a contrasting stripe in the middle.

Who again was it , who said: Luthiers who build one piece necks are just too lazy to do it the right way... ?;);)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1955/hals2.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/hals2.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2333/hals1.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/hals1.jpg/)

Already planed back side

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1369/hals3.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/i/hals3.jpg/)

Neck profile is cut out and trussrod tunnel is routed from the top

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2130/hals4.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/hals4.jpg/)

Last picture shows the raw neck and the fretboard besides the body.
The fretboard gets an additional layer of maple between it and the neck itself to complement the pinstriped look of the body

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9504/koam211.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/koam211.jpg/)

Let´s see: maybe the Koamarlin turns out to become just the right X-mas present for myself....;)


Meanwhile the pickup setup is finally determined: TV Jones!!!
Another Huber first....!

Supertron at the neckposition , TV Classic Plus at the bridge and a Magnatron in between.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2088/supermagntron.gif (http://img521.imageshack.us/i/supermagntron.gif/)http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5300/supertron.gif (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/supertron.gif/)


I´ll be back for more soon!:wave

[DavidH]

This is shaping up to be something special..that top is just plain rediculous! (in a good way of course).

[mojocaster.com]

so cool. Thanks for the update!

[Pa'ani]

The pictures of the neck and fingerboard looks fabulous! Very nice...

[koamarlin]

Well, now the frets are in, the maple layer between fretboard and neck ist glued in and the the double maple /rosewood veneer makes for a nice pinstripe along the neck.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3321/foto1ao.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/foto1ao.jpg/)

[guitarjunky]

:aokAwesome!!! Koa is such an amazing tonewood and so pretty!

Congrats

[koamarlin]

The one and only Nicl, ( who did the Marlin inlay!)

shapeing the neck!

http://srv036.pixpack.net/20091216224611535_vqcolrgbvt.jpg


The first assembly pics!!

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/6905/guitar1y.jpg

http://srv040.pixpack.net/20091216214024468_jsljfzwhan.jpg

http://srv033.pixpack.net/20091216214310209_fnthiexusi.jpg

http://srv031.pixpack.net/20091216214539434_lwfwwcpgum.jpg

[Thor]

That is awesome. I love this thread. Thank so much for posting the progress photos - it's aways facinating to see the work and attention that goes in the fine guitars that we love so much.

-Edward

[mojocaster.com]

Dang, I love it. Wow.

[Pa'ani]

Thanks for the incredible updates... The Marlin inlay looks amazing!

[koamarlin]

There´s more news!
The guitar has been to the spraybooth:
".....shining like a National guitar! :drool"


http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5167/koa7c.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/koa7c.jpg/) http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9269/koa8.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/koa8.jpg/) http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4331/koa3.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/koa3.jpg/) http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3829/koa1.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/koa1.jpg/) http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7141/koa5.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/koa5.jpg/) http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9466/koa6.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/koa6.jpg/)

[koamarlin]

Hi folks,
finaly the koa topped Dolphin II with it´s beautiful brazilian neck is completed. I picked it up at Nik´s shop last Saturday.
It´s gonna be on stage for the first time on Feb.6th - a week later.
Hope , I will be able to show some pics or even a vid from the gig.

Here are some pics of the guitar itself:

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4525/bild155k.jpg http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8071/bild160q.jpghttp://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8637/bild161.jpg http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2743/bild157s.jpg http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/3658/bild162.jpg
First impressions you can check at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooDTICw3yaQ (http://www.youtube.com/user/koamarli.../0/ooDTICw3yaQ)

Please excuse my English - and my playing.....:worried AND my tuning!!!:messedup

[scmavl]

Wow, what a guitar. Could you check the YouTube link? It doesn't seem to work.

EDIT: I think I found it. Nice!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooDTICw3yaQ

[paintguy]

Fantastic!!! Congrats!

[koamarlin]

Wow, what a guitar. Could you check the YouTube link? It doesn't seem to work.

EDIT: I think I found it. Nice!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooDTICw3yaQ

Thanks for correcting the URL!:)

[Pa'ani]

Congratulations on the finished Nik Huber Koa Marlin II.
Looks fabulous and sounds great!

[Fuzzhead66]

ooDTICw3yaQ

[mojocaster.com]

Absolutely stunning guitar.

[r9player]

Very tasty, nice demo!