Hatcher Greta Unlimited Series
 

You may have seen my recent Penelope Olivewood build thread. I wanted to see what I could do without a time schedule. It was an Italian theme with a retro vintage approach. I had a ball with that one and will be continuing this series with my Greta grand auditorium model. I've got a theme and an approach. I'm not saying what those are, I'm going to show you and it's going to take as long as it takes.

First the woods;

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The top is old growth Oregon Redwood cut from a railroad tunnel beam. The tunnel was built in 1835 so this wood is very well seasoned. 72 grain line per inch, stiff, light, and a beautiful tap tone;

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You can see from the above shot there is a cutaway.

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This is heavily figured Eastern Black Walnut. If you look closely you'll see a couple bug holes. I'm not making any attempt to hide them, they are where all that beautiful dark streaking comes from.

The back center line is Black Ebony and red African Padauk;

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The inlay is Holly;

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Here I am cleaning up the back center graft;

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The center graft, as well as the back braces, will be the same 180 year old redwood the top is made from.

Lot's more to come!
Mark

Oh boy. I’m buckled up for this one.

Love that Holly inlay and how you made it pop out of that figured back.

new one
 

I like that inlay but am not sure if I like the red against the brown of the Walnut. But I'll bet by the time you are done, I will have changed my mind. You have a way making disparate things come together, the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts.

Uh-oh - this is going to be different:D

Now my interest is peaked, I just signed on to this build thread - - -

thongs
 

Get your minds out of the gutter. Thongs are for feet. Or should I say, "Oops"?

I love your "Italian" themed guitar. Beautiful! This one makes me feel more at home. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve this time! Good wishes.

And you told me you weren't sold on redwood.

This looks like another fun ride. I'm on board.

Glad that one worked itself out. I wasn't too sure how to answer that!:)

Greta this will be a long ride!

Holly is a wonderful inlay wood. All you have to do to make it pop is just use it!

Thanks Jobe. I will say this guitar will be very different from the Olivewood Penelope :)

You got me there cigarfan. I really didn't like it. I wasn't sold until I came across some offers I couldn't refuse. Redwood is more variable than what I've seen in other top woods. My experience had mostly been it was too heavy, or brittle, or dead, or a combination of these. When I had two opportunities to buy "the good stuff" there was no doubt that it had the qualities I look for in the soundboards I work best with.
This is a case where I'm more than happy to be proven wrong!

Well, don't go too crazy. I just pulled the cushions from my couch and there was a penny and two dimes. The budget is tight...but I'm interested.

Yes indeed!

Seriously Mark, you build some of the most beautiful instruments we get to lay our eyes on here.....

No matter what thong you choose:roll:

Thanks fitness1 :)