Latest Build,,,First Keyed

[Sonny Jenkins]

Just completed my latest build,,,,hoping Jerry O will be kind enough to post pics for me.
After having built dozens of keyless guitars, this is the first keyed guitar I've built. Alumitone pick up, hard tiger striped maple body, grover machine heads,,,,,Tru-Oil,,,,NOT lacquer finish (some on here may remember Tom Pettingill,,,he was a master at Tru Oil finish,,,I think he would be proud of this one,, )
There a couple of little things I hope to improve but I'm basically pretty happy with it.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Sonny's new Red keyed offering! Gorgeous guitar Sonny!

sonny red 1.jpg

sonny red 4.jpg

sonny red 2.jpg

sonny red 3.jpg

FWIW, I like Tru-Oil too. I used it on the bari neck I worked and finished for a T style guitar.

[Bill Groner]

Very nice build Sonny, and great choice of colors. Red is my fave.

[Bill Hatcher]

Beautiful

[Ken Pippus]

That is just far too pretty.

[Lee Baucum]

Beautiful guitar (as usual) Bro. Sonny!

[Pete Martin]

Beautiful, nice work!

We want to hear it now!

[Chris Templeton]

WOW, JerrY! Congratulations on your beautiful guitar!! I love the design of the pickguard and it's not symmetrical. I'd love to hear a clip of it.

[Gene Korte]

Simply elegant.

[Daniel Holden]

ya id love to see a video of this thing, its amazing. im guessing if we have to ask how much we cant afford it? i think a 10 string lap steel would be interesting

[Sonny Jenkins]

I truly appreciate all the kind words,,,makes this 87 year old feel not so worthless,,, LOL!!!!

Actually I've machined 4 of these tops,,1/8" aluminum with pockets cut 1/16" ,,,textured and ceracoted. I think they are going to be too costly,,,,even with MY free labor,,to produce. I'm hoping I can recover my cost,,,of course prototyping is more costly. I hope to have all 4 on display at the Texas show in March,,,probably 2 keyed versions and 2 keyless. These 2 have alumitone pickups,,,which are unbelievably clear and clean,,,but I'm having much difficulty getting them.

[Sonny Jenkins]

WOW, JerrY! Congratulations on your beautiful guitar!! I love the design of the pickguard and it's not symmetrical. I'd love to hear a clip of it.

Hey Chris,,,,Jerry was kind enough to post the pics for me. I used to be able to post pics all the time but for some reason I can't on this platform.

Thanks for the kind words my friend!!!!

[Per Berner]

That's seriously nice! How do you manage to get that sheen on the oil finish?

[Daniel McKee]

your keyless guitars are superb but wow Im very impressed. Heck, Im impressed with anyone who can build something like that so Sonny, as far as Im concerned you knocked it out of the park with that one.

[Stephen Cowell]

Sonny, is this one for sale? I only have one of your guitars!

[Sonny Jenkins]

Hey Stephen,,,thanks for the kind words!!!! Yes,,,,it being the first keyed guitar I've built,,,and a new design, I have a couple of little modifications/adjustments to make. I hope to to have this one and and a couple more at the Dallas (actually Ft. Worth this year) show in March. I think these 3-4 guitars will be the only ones I'll build,,,,cost have been more than what I had hoped.

Hope to see you in March,,,,shoot me a PM or call anytime,,,210-413-1195

FWIW,,,,I just bought a little 10 watt CFG TuneBomb amp,,,,battery operated,,,,,bluetooth,,reverb/delay,,,,these guitars sound GREAT through it,,,,almost carry this little amp in my pocket,,,LOL!!!!! Thinking about building a case and have this amp incorporated into it,,,,great for grab,,,go,,,and play!!!!

[Stephen Cowell]

Hey Stephen,,,thanks for the kind words!!!! Yes,,,,it being the first keyed guitar I've built,,,and a new design, I have a couple of little modifications/adjustments to make. I hope to to have this one and and a couple more at the Dallas (actually Ft. Worth this year) show in March. I think these 3-4 guitars will be the only ones I'll build,,,,cost have been more than what I had hoped.
(snip)

Excellent! Looking forward to seeing you (and your guitars) in Cowtown.

[Sonny Jenkins]

I will have a couple of my new design at the TSGA in Ft Worth this weekend,,,,probably in the non pedal room,,,,come by and take a look

[Stephen Cowell]

I will have a couple of my new design at the TSGA in Ft Worth this weekend,,,,probably in the non pedal room,,,,come by and take a look

It's just as nice in person.

sonny.jpeg

[Rick Trolinger]

That was a beautiful guitar! I was privileged enough to be able to see it in person in the non-pedal room. It was nice to meet you.

[Stephen Cowell]

Well.... it's mine now. Almost got it for free!

Sonny brought two to the show... a tea-colored one and Red. My other SJ is tea colored so I favored the red. Sonny put the tea one on a table (Hill?) in the lobby and left the red one with me. So... I took it upstairs for the night. I didn't even play it... but I did sleep with it!

The next morning I let Sonny know I'd buy it. Then during the first non-pedal session (I'm videoing the whole thing) a friend of Sonny's comes up to me and lets me know Sonny was in a bad car accident, his car was totaled. An 18-wheeler dragged his car for a 1/4 mile, he said it felt like 10 miles! Of course we were concerned.

We hadn't heard from him until I was going to dinner with friends... he called me and told me he'd sold the guitar to Steve Palousek! That's when I knew he was OK, because he was messing with me. His car was totaled, he got a rent car and came back to the show, I had his money for him.

But I almost got the damn thing for free!