Minarkic Sky Battle

Click the button Commentary from the Artist.

This guitar was done for Minarik Guitars for thier brand new model the Halo yet to be anounced. The model is so new, I cannot show you the body until the guitar is officially released at the Winter NAMM show.

My hands were a little tried up on this project as far as the design. When I received the guitar, the fretboard already had inlay on the fretboard. The inlay on the neck showed at passive view of a fairy and a unicorn. I was asked to make something that fit the theme of the fretboard but would also be a little more on the bitey side. This was quite a challenge, but after some thought I came up with a Griffen fighting a Pegasys. This was still in the range of the fantasy creatures on the fretboard, but a bit more my style.

The next step was to create the artwork. Once I had the idea clearly in my mind, the drawing were done within three days.

Sky Battle Custom Minarik Guitar Inlay Artwork

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From there, the sketches are computer inhanced and vectorized so they can be cut with our CAM machine. Sample shell, stone, and metal colors are added to the design so the client can get a better idea of what the final product will look like and sign off on it before cutting begins.

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The next step in the process is to cut the pieces. From there they go to the "proofing board." This is where the design is cut and any final finishing of the piece is done. Right now the pieces are glued down to a piece of paper.

Sky Battle Custom Minarik Guitar Inlay Shell

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From here, the next step is to route out the holes in the guitar. This is done with our CNC (computer numeric controlled) machine. This will allow for a perfect route, something impossible by hand.

Here is the finished routing for the headstock. The guitar is now ready to accept the shell and stone.

Sky Battle Custom Minarik Guitar Inlay Headstock

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The shell is then glued into the guitar, filed flat, and polished.

Sky Battle Custom Minarik Guitar Inlay Body Shell

Sky Battle Custom Minarik Guitar Inlay Headstock Shell

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The guitar is down at last. It was sent back to Minarik and given an tortois shell finish. Now, since the guitar has be publically announced, I can show picture of the entire guitars. Here are pictures we took of the guitar in the Minarik booth at the 2006 NAMM show. The guitar was a big hit and the center piece of the Minarik booth.

My son (and apprentice) Alex holding the finished master piece.

Alex Suttle with Custom Minarik Inlay Guitar Sky Battle

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