Nylon String Electric Guitars
The amplified acoustic/electric nylon string guitar* is definitely Kirk's specialty. Although he still builds several steel string acoustics and classical guitars per year, the classical electric is his forte. He has been a pioneer in raising the bar in the amplified nylon string guitar world.
Chet Atkins once said, "Besides being an accomplished builder, Kirk Sand is an innovator. He has designed and manufactured a nylon stringed electric guitar which has a beautiful sound, is fun to play, very futuristic and is utilized by some of the very best players. I predict Kirk will be in the forefront of design and meeting the needs of guitarists for years to come."
Kirk's electric nylon string guitars can be put into two categories. Those with the slim line routed-hollow mahogany body and those with the rosewood bent sides and braced back acoustic box style construction. Both have the same master quality spruce sound board, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard.
* Sand electric nylon string guitars are the culmination of innovative design, craftsmanship and the knowledge of classical guitars. The idea for this particular instrument grew out of Kirk's life-long love of the classical guitar and his desire to find the best way to amplify it. He consulted with clients, friends and nylon string players of all styles and made one prototype after another refining the design. The result is an instrument with pure tone, even sound, subtle dynamics and inspirational to play.
Nylon String Electric Guitars
The amplified acoustic/electric nylon string guitar* is definitely Kirk's specialty. Although he still builds several steel string acoustics and classical guitars per year, the classical electric is his forte. He has been a pioneer in raising the bar in the amplified nylon string guitar world.
Chet Atkins once said, "Besides being an accomplished builder, Kirk Sand is an innovator. He has designed and manufactured a nylon stringed electric guitar which has a beautiful sound, is fun to play, very futuristic and is utilized by some of the very best players. I predict Kirk will be in the forefront of design and meeting the needs of guitarists for years to come."
Kirk's electric nylon string guitars can be put into two categories. Those with the slim line routed-hollow mahogany body and those with the rosewood bent sides and braced back acoustic box style construction. Both have the same master quality spruce sound board, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard.
* Sand electric nylon string guitars are the culmination of innovative design, craftsmanship and the knowledge of classical guitars. The idea for this particular instrument grew out of Kirk's life-long love of the classical guitar and his desire to find the best way to amplify it. He consulted with clients, friends and nylon string players of all styles and made one prototype after another refining the design. The result is an instrument with pure tone, even sound, subtle dynamics and inspirational to play.
Description—Mahogany
The Mahogany Model guitar is one of Kirk's original designs. Chet Atkins' love of Kirk's guitars (this model in particular) really put it on the electric classical guitar map. This instrument has a 2¼ inch thick body made of Honduras Mahogany that is routed completely hollow, allowing for the delicately braced spruce top to resonate like a fine classical guitar.
Neck widths and scale lengths are the personal specifications of each customer, as are the various cosmetic options, which include abalone or mother of pearl inlay and wood purfling of many designs.
Mahogany Model
Routed hollow Honduras Mahogany body with Sitka spruce
top
Body depth 2" - 2 1/2".
Wood Trim Mahogany
Various wood purfling available abalone or MOP inlays on fingerboard ($4,500)
Abalone Trim Mahogany
Abalone trim on top and bridge with various fingerboard inlays available ($5,000 with case)
Description—Mahogany
The Mahogany Model guitar is one of Kirk's original designs. Chet Atkins' love of Kirk's guitars (this model in particular) really put it on the electric classical guitar map. This instrument has a 2¼ inch thick body made of Honduras Mahogany that is routed completely hollow, allowing for the delicately braced spruce top to resonate like a fine classical guitar.
Neck widths and scale lengths are the personal specifications of each customer, as are the various cosmetic options, which include abalone or mother of pearl inlay and wood purfling of many designs.
Mahogany Pictures
Description—Rosewood
The Rosewood Model is a unique blending of acoustic classical and electric guitar. It has a delicately braced spruce top, RMC electronics, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The body is built like an acoustic guitar with bent sides and a two piece braced back. The body can be from 3" to 4" in depth. This gives the Rosewood model a slightly more acoustic classical guitar feel and sound over the Mahogany Model.
The "sit down" classical style player may find this model a little more comfortable to hold than the Mahogany Model, although this design is also great for the "stand up" player that uses a strap.
Every Sand Guitar allows for neck widths and scale lengths to be the personal specifications of each customer, as are the various cosmetic options, which include abalone or mother of pearl inlay and wood purfling of many designs.
Rosewood Model
Bent rosewood* sides with two piece rosewood* back.
Sitka or
Engleman spruce soundboard.
Body depth 3" - 4".
Wood Trim Rosewood
Wood purfling, abalone, MOP inlays on fingerboard. ($5,500 with case)
Abalone Trim Rosewood
Abalone inlays on top and bridge with MOP or abalone fret markers. ($6,000 with case)
Brazilian Rosewood
An addtional $2,000 for a Brazilian rosewood upgrade.
Description—Rosewood
The Rosewood Model is a unique blending of acoustic classical and electric guitar. It has a delicately braced spruce top, RMC electronics, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The body is built like an acoustic guitar with bent sides and a two piece braced back. The body can be from 3" to 4" in depth. This gives the Rosewood model a slightly more acoustic classical guitar feel and sound over the Mahogany Model.
The "sit down" classical style player may find this model a little more comfortable to hold than the Mahogany Model, although this design is also great for the "stand up" player that uses a strap.
Every Sand Guitar allows for neck widths and scale lengths to be the personal specifications of each customer, as are the various cosmetic options, which include abalone or mother of pearl inlay and wood purfling of many designs.
Rosewood Pictures
Classic Guitars
Following an early career in folk and rock style guitar, Kirk moved from his hometown of Springfield Illinois to California to study classical guitar. He studied with Manuel Lopes Ramos in Redlands CA, and Michael Lorimer at the San Francisco conservatory of music. His love of the classical guitar developed during this time.
He studied the design and construction of all the master classical guitar builders. Kirk's classical guitars are a culmination of his in-depth study of these instruments.
All Sand Classical guitars are custom made to the individual player's specifications. Of course, any combination of tone woods, neck size, scale length, and cosmetic options are available. The standard classical guitar is one of Kirk's favorite instruments to build.
Classic Guitars
Following an early career in folk and rock style guitar, Kirk moved from his hometown of Springfield Illinois to California to study classical guitar. He studied with Manuel Lopes Ramos in Redlands CA, and Michael Lorimer at the San Francisco conservatory of music. His love of the classical guitar developed during this time.
He studied the design and construction of all the master classical guitar builders. Kirk's classical guitars are a culmination of his in-depth study of these instruments.
All Sand Classical guitars are custom made to the individual player's specifications. Of course, any combination of tone woods, neck size, scale length, and cosmetic options are available. The standard classical guitar is one of Kirk's favorite instruments to build.
Classic Guitars
Steel String Guitars
Kirk's very first instruments (1979) were steel string acoustic guitars and he is still building them today. His vast experience in playing, repairing, and designing enables him to build a world class acoustic guitar that rivals or surpasses anything on the market.
All Sand Guitars are custom made to the individual player's specifications. Of course, any combination of tone woods, neck size, scale length, and cosmetic options are available. From parlor size to jumbo, the steel string acoustic guitar is one of Kirk's favorite instruments to build.
Steel String Guitars
Kirk's very first instruments (1979) were steel string acoustic guitars and he is still building them today. His vast experience in playing, repairing, and designing enables him to build a world class acoustic guitar that rivals or surpasses anything on the market.
All Sand Guitars are custom made to the individual player's specifications. Of course, any combination of tone woods, neck size, scale length, and cosmetic options are available. From parlor size to jumbo, the steel string acoustic guitar is one of Kirk's favorite instruments to build.
Steel String Guitars
Signature Guitars
More Models yet to come.
Richard Smith Model
An Acoustic/Electric - Classical/ Jazz/ Country/ Fingerstyle Nylon String Guitar
Kirk Sand (Luthier) and Richard Smith (Fingerstyle Virtuoso) have collaborated on the new model of Sand Guitar.
Richard Smith is one of the finest guitarists the world has ever seen. Kirk knew this immediately when they met at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville TN in 1991.
Richard ordered a guitar just like the Sand guitar that Chet was playing. He used this first instrument for many years. When Richard approached Kirk for a new guitar Kirk asked him if there was an instrument that he would like to have custom designed. Richard wanted a slim line rosewood body guitar with all the great electronics, but one that has a sound hole for playing acoustic gigs. The guitar they came up with is this very cool instrument. It has become one of Kirk's most popular designs.
The body depth is 3 ½” deep so the electronic controls can easily fit on the side. The hex pick up system is designed by Richard McClish. As in the Sand electric classical guitars there is an individual volume control for each string. This is a very versatile instrument as Richard demonstrates on his many recordings and performances.
The Richard Smith model, which is built in a very traditional concert classical guitar style, features a Brazilian Rosewood slim line body, and a choice of master grade Englemann or Sitka spruce top. The guitar is beautifully trimmed in abalone shell, with complimentary purfling borders. All necks are custom-shaped of Honduras mahogany with an ebony fingerboard. Various low-profile neck sizes and scale lengths are available. The special design onboard preamp and pickups by RMC Electronics, feature an individual volume control for each string. Midi is also available.
Richard Smith Model
An Acoustic/Electric - Classical/ Jazz/ Country/ Fingerstyle Nylon String Guitar
Kirk Sand (Luthier) and Richard Smith (Fingerstyle Virtuoso) have collaborated on the new model of Sand Guitar.
Richard Smith is one of the finest guitarists the world has ever seen. Kirk knew this immediately when they met at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville TN in 1991.
Richard ordered a guitar just like the Sand guitar that Chet was playing. He used this first instrument for many years. When Richard approached Kirk for a new guitar Kirk asked him if there was an instrument that he would like to have custom designed. Richard wanted a slim line rosewood body guitar with all the great electronics, but one that has a sound hole for playing acoustic gigs. The guitar they came up with is this very cool instrument. It has become one of Kirk's most popular designs.
The body depth is 3 ½” deep so the electronic controls can easily fit on the side. The hex pick up system is designed by Richard McClish. As in the Sand electric classical guitars there is an individual volume control for each string. This is a very versatile instrument as Richard demonstrates on his many recordings and performances.
The Richard Smith model, which is built in a very traditional concert classical guitar style, features a Brazilian Rosewood slim line body, and a choice of master grade Englemann or Sitka spruce top. The guitar is beautifully trimmed in abalone shell, with complimentary purfling borders. All necks are custom-shaped of Honduras mahogany with an ebony fingerboard. Various low-profile neck sizes and scale lengths are available. The special design onboard preamp and pickups by RMC Electronics, feature an individual volume control for each string. Midi is also available.
Richard Smith Model guitar closeups
Jose Feliciano Model
One of Kirk's first celebrity guitar customers was Jose Feliciano. Jose wanted a nylon string guitar that was like no other. He wanted the traditional classical guitar neck size and scale length, but the acoustic body was to be the size of a dreadnaught steel string guitar.
Nothing was available like this at the time, so Kirk made him a custom guitar to his specs. Over the past 20 years Kirk has made Jose several guitars, and refined the design to what is now the "Jose Feliciano Model."
This instrument is a rather large body acoustic electric nylon string guitar. The body depth creates a powerful bass response that Jose loves. The elegantly curved body incorporates a cutaway design that allows for endless access to the upper fretboard.
The hex pick up system has a master volume and 3 band EQ onboard for easy access. This is the same system that has become a trademark for the Sand electric classical guitars. 
The back and sides are made of Indian or Brazilian rosewood, with a Sitka or Englemann spruce soundboard. Traditional Spanish classical guitar construction is utilized on this model including an ebony-reinforced neck and ebony fretboard.
