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  #46  
Old 08-15-2013, 05:18 AM
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Default Progress pics

Hello,

Yesterday I finished setting up the sides and did the final carving and attached the back. Here is a picture of the sound board getting the final round of bracing;



One of my favorite jobs in building guitars is setting up the Spanish Cedar kerf, I love the smell of it which is why I use it on my guitars;





So this morning the guitar body will be ready to receive the top and the top will be ready to be voiced and is in it's tapping mold;



I like to voice the top first thing in the quiet of the morning when I'm fresh and undistracted. Now that I don't have to think about what I am going to post for the work I did yesterday, it's time to give Greta her voice!

Thanks,
Mark
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
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  #47  
Old 08-15-2013, 08:43 AM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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Mark, say more about the "tapping mold". I don't know what this is.
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2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover
2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype)
2018 Maton EBG808TEC
2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar
2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce
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....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment
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  #48  
Old 08-15-2013, 08:57 AM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta 13 Fret

Mark, I want to say '' good luck '' with the voicing but I am sure luck has no room in this part of the build. Patience, experience, talent and a pursuit for perfection work together to remove all need for lady luck.

Have a rewarding morning.

daniel
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  #49  
Old 08-15-2013, 09:11 AM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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Hey Daniel, do you get any sleep or do you just stay up all night in anticipation of your Greta! Looks fantastic.
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2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover
2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype)
2018 Maton EBG808TEC
2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar
2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce
2014 Rainsong OM1000N2
....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment
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  #50  
Old 08-15-2013, 03:36 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta 13 Fret

I wish that guitars were the only thing keeping me awake. There is a long list.
I am enjoying this experience. It is a very short time to wait for many many years of enjoyment.

But........I sure want to get my hands on this beauty and make her sing.

daniel
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  #51  
Old 08-15-2013, 03:43 PM
ross748 ross748 is offline
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Will do Mark. Have you transitioned to NH?
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  #52  
Old 08-15-2013, 06:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ukejon View Post
Mark, say more about the "tapping mold". I don't know what this is.
Hi Jon,

A tapping mold holds an unfinished guitar top around the edge as a simulation of it being on the guitar. It gives you access to the braces so you can carve the braces while you tap the top with your finger in various places to check your progress. It's a wonderful tool to use for the initial voicing for the top.

Thanks
Mark
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Last edited by Mark Hatcher; 08-15-2013 at 06:59 PM.
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  #53  
Old 08-15-2013, 06:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ross748 View Post
Will do Mark. Have you transitioned to NH?
Yes, I am completely moved and up and running in my shop. I now have all the room I could want. Plus an upstairs office and a comfortable guitar playing area. I'm very happy in my new digs:



I look forward to possibly working with you!
Thanks,
Mark
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  #54  
Old 08-15-2013, 06:52 PM
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Default Closing the box

Hello,

Today I voiced the top and am closing up the box here;



While that was drying I started bending the binding and purfling sticks.
Daniel and I considered a number of options for the top purfling and after looking at some marquetry purfling we went full circle and landed back on my standard purfling lines as they seemed to go best with the rosette and body design. Here is the pile of binding and purfling that will go on and what the top purfling lines will look like;





Tomorrow the clamps all come off and we'll see the guitar body all closed up. I will do the end graft and binding etc. and the body will essentially be done.
Next week we'll do the neck, then off to the finishers

Thanks for following along!
Mark
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  #55  
Old 08-15-2013, 06:55 PM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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I've been to the new shop. Fantastic setting and a cool building, complete with upstairs playing lounge!
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My YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ukejon



2014 Pono N30 DC EIR/Spruce crossover
2009 Pono koa parlor (NAMM prototype)
2018 Maton EBG808TEC
2014 Hatcher Greta 13 fret cutaway in EIR/cedar
2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
1973 Sigma GCR7 (OM model) rosewood and spruce
2014 Rainsong OM1000N2
....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment
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  #56  
Old 08-15-2013, 08:07 PM
ross748 ross748 is offline
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Very nice Mark. Glad the move went well. Now your just a little closer to me. RI is not far away at all.
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  #57  
Old 08-15-2013, 08:11 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta 13 Fret

Mark, it is really coming along.
How did you like the float wood Sitka for voicing ?

I am happy we went with what you call your standard purfling. I think it frames the body nicely and more importantly it will not be a distraction from the rosette. As a matter of fact I think it will gently direct the movement of vision back to the rosette and the centre of the sound.

How would describe your expectations for the Sitka / Wenge combination now that you have completed the voicing ?

daniel
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  #58  
Old 08-16-2013, 04:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ross748 View Post
Very nice Mark. Glad the move went well. Now your just a little closer to me. RI is not far away at all.
It looks like I'm under 2 hours from most of Rhode Island. You're welcome to come up and I'll give a quick shop tour and we can sit down and do some serious wood comparisons.

Thanks,
Mark
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  #59  
Old 08-16-2013, 04:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gstring View Post
Mark, it is really coming along.
How did you like the float wood Sitka for voicing ?

How would describe your expectations for the Sitka / Wenge combination now that you have completed the voicing ?

daniel
Hi Daniel,

I found to the top to be very consistent, in that no hard or soft spots showed up. The top has a great stiffness to weight ratio and was easy to work. Both the Wenge and the top are very stiff for their weight. What's great about this is I can thin these quite a bit to get a great sound response that will be quick and crisp from bass though the highs. I fully expect we'll have a very dynamic and full sounding guitar.
The fact that this is already a well aged Sitka means we shouldn't have to wait long for it to open up. I have very high expectations for this one!

Thanks,
Mark
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  #60  
Old 08-16-2013, 12:48 PM
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Default Binding

Hello,

Here are the first pictures with the guitar body all closed up;





Here I am routing the edges to accept the binding and purfling;



Here is the back getting all glued up with black ebony binding;



Thanks!
Mark
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