Hatcher Italian Olivewood and Italian Alpine Spruce

[GeoffStGermaine]

Another stunning instrument. Your ideas never disappoint, Mark. The rosette is brilliant!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by GeoffStGermaine

Another stunning instrument. Your ideas never disappoint, Mark. The rosette is brilliant!

Thanks GreoffStGermaine,

I'm glad to hear that as I have a lot more ideas for this guitar to do yet!

Thanks for commenting,
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I worked up this sound port sketch over the weekend;

[Mark Hatcher]

I started working on the sculpted end graft today;





I'm going to put an Olivewood end pin in there. I'm sure no one makes them so one job on tomorrow's list will be to spin my own.

Olivewood is such a pleasure to carve. A bit of foreshadowing for the headstock and bridge.

[Jobe]

Oh. (that was my first thought.) Just when you think it can't get any better...Oh...

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Jobe

Oh. (that was my first thought.) Just when you think it can't get any better...Oh...

Thanks Jobe!

I hope to have a few more ...Ohs... before we're done. Hopefully no Uh-Ohs

[Zandit75]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Thanks Jobe!

I hope to have a few more ...Ohs... before we're done. Hopefully no Uh-Ohs

You've already mentioned going through a couple of tops, do you have many stuff-ups that need replacing of main components, or can you hide/fix most issues?
I'm assuming the loss of a couple of tops is not something you normally take into account with the costs of a guitar?

[ukejon]

Spectacular!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Spectacular!

Thanks for commenting ukejon!

Originally Posted by Zandit75

You've already mentioned going through a couple of tops, do you have many stuff-ups that need replacing of main components, or can you hide/fix most issues?
I'm assuming the loss of a couple of tops is not something you normally take into account with the costs of a guitar?

In the basement of my studio I have what I call, "The Rack of Shame". It has my first guitar and various prototypes as well as the crumpled injured bodies of experiments. "How thin can I actually go with a top? Lighter bracing?" It's not part of my presentation when I open my studio for art tours

I believe that, like most professions, in lutherie you don't charge for what it costs you to learn. You have to take the longer view and as your skills, experience, work, and reputation improves you charge for what you've learned

[Mark Hatcher]

Making a Olivewood end pin on a drill press;






That was fun!

Cutting out an Olive Sprig sound port;



That was not so much fun;



That was hard!

[BrunoBlack]

YIKES! Nerves of steel.

[Nemoman]

Nerve-wracking, no doubt!

Looks great--a fantastic complement to the rosette!

[Jobe]

Oh. My. (I know I need to extend my vocabulary but still.) Beautilicious. I want garlic bread and a good Red for some reason.

[TomB'sox]

That makes so much sense to use to drill press as a lathe. I'm sure other people know that but that would not be inherent to me. But what a great solution. Now cutting that sound port, I might have had to have had a few glasses of Port before I even thought about attempting that.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Haasome

YIKES! Nerves of steel.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Nerve-wracking, no doubt!

Looks great--a fantastic complement to the rosette!

Thanks Nemoman! Trying to hold the theme where I can.

Originally Posted by Jobe

Oh. My. (I know I need to extend my vocabulary but still.) Beautilicious. I want garlic bread and a good Red for some reason.

Glad you're feel'n it! The smell of working this Olivewood is intoxicating.

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

That makes so much sense to use to drill press as a lathe. I'm sure other people know that but that would not be inherent to me. But what a great solution. Now cutting that sound port, I might have had to have had a few glasses of Port before I even thought about attempting that.

Yea, the drill press is a flexible tool; lathe, pin router, circle cutter, and it's even good for poking holes in things!