Hatcher Bacchus model baritone

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Boy, that does have a unique shape doesn't it? Have you held it yet to see if it is meeting your ergonomic goals yet?

Hi Tom,

Yes, I held it trying to imagine a neck being on there and it is working out great! So well, in fact, that I decided the top wasn't good enough and I
threw it out for a redo with a big upgrade! More to come on that.

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I decided to throw out the old top and dig a bit deeper into my wood locker for an upgrade. The old top was coming along OK but, the back is working out so well OK just isn't good enough. The weight, stiffness, rosette, color were OK but as I was voicing the top I was thinking it's time to shine or it's going into the trash.

I am sticking with Redwood and am going with a much better quality Carter set, from the "Singing Tree" Here is how Alicia Carter describes it from the nineties when it was discovered;

ST “Singing Tree” Log

Alicia discovered this log in the vicinity of the Lucky Strike log. It had fallen across a steep slope so that the upper side was embedded in the earth and the downhill side largely free of earth contact. Neighbors helped Alicia harvest this log, which she cut into soundboards and marketed to individual luthiers and companies. When the log was being cut into rounds with a chainsaw, she stood on it some 30 feet from the cutting and heard it ring like a tuning fork. (Thus the name.) The wood is warm in coloration – rust, orange and gold shades, generally striped. Tonal qualities are also warm, more like cedar than spruce. The only sets remaining for sale are those recently repurchased from Martin Guitar.

Bacchus will now have a more robust voice!





Additionally, I love the color of this and how it will go with everything else. I will redo the rosette similar to what I had but better IMO.

Thanks for following!
Mark

[jrmyrnsm]

I love the new top! Cool story to go with it too...

[cigarfan]

My goodness. This is going to be mammoth. And honestly Mark, I can't imagine a better rosette. But I'm sure you will pull it off. Can't wait to see it.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

My goodness. This is going to be mammoth. And honestly Mark, I can't imagine a better rosette. But I'm sure you will pull it off. Can't wait to see it.

Thanks cigarfan! That rosette was a new method and style for me and I was so happy with the first test I just went with it and installed it. Later I kept thinking of tweeks that would improve it and it would become one of those things that every time I looked at it all I'd see was what I woulda and what I shoulda

Originally Posted by jrmyrnsm

I love the new top! Cool story to go with it too...

The Singing Tree top is a major upgrade over the sinker and the story is great from a very well respected source. There are those among us that see the red hooey flag thrown every time a builder starts talking stories and beauty, for those here is some more information;



See all that figure? Do you think this top is well quartered?
The average density of Redwood is around 11 grams per cubic inch which is very heavy as soundboards go. This top is 7.24 grams which is well over 30% lighter! It's that much less energy wasted throwing weight around and making sound and improving response time instead.
The top doesn't give up stiffness though, it has above average stiffness both with and across the grain.
Then there is the sustain. One of the tests I do to determine the quality of a top is to hold it to my ear and tap it. If I can't count to 5 before the sound fades I don't use it. A really good top goes to 6, this one goes to 7!
I also listen for the number of tones I can get by tapping in different places and changing how I tap from hard finger tip to soft palm strikes. This is one of those rare tops that you can play a song on.
More subjectively, I listen for the musical quality of the tones I'm getting and again I am only impressed.

This is a top that is in line with my expectations for the level of performance of Bacchus.

[Mark Hatcher]

OK, now we're getting back on track. The new rosette is going in on the new top;

[jrmyrnsm]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

OK, now we're getting back on track. The new rosette is going in on the new top;

It looks great again!

[Chipotle]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Then there is the sustain. One of the tests I do to determine the quality of a top is to hold it to my ear and tap it. If I can't count to 5 before the sound fades I don't use it. A really good top goes to 6, this one goes to 7!

Meh. It's not any good unless it goes to 11.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Chipotle

Meh. It's not any good unless it goes to 11.

11 would be nice. Maybe even too much of a good thing.

Originally Posted by jrmyrnsm

It looks great again!

Thanks jrmyrnsm. It's nice be moving forward again. Here is the new inlay just installed and not cleaned up yet. The background of the rosette if quilted maple because it have a better color to go with the new redwood top and more figure than the Cherry did. The woods on the leaves and grapes stayed the same but, I went with Black Walnut for the vines;




Thanks for commenting!
Mark

[printer2]

If you don't mind could you pull the old one out of the trash and send it on this way? Out of respect I'll router off the rosette (even if it pains me).

[cigarfan]

I do like the increased contrast. And under finish your grapes and redwood will really compliment each other. Beautiful job Mark. The inlay every bit as nice as the first ... okay ... better.

[jim1960]

I lost count of how many times I said "Wow!" as I read through this thread.

[Mark Hatcher]

It's great to have Bacchus back on track, even better than before!







Thanks for following along!
Mark

[cigarfan]

It is hard to imagine how much of a boomer this will be. Looking absolutely phenomenal.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

It is hard to imagine how much of a boomer this will be. Looking absolutely phenomenal.

Thanks cigarfan!

With the body closed up I can now tap it and confirm what I am going for. I am very pleased!

Today I finished putting Bloodwood binding on;



Thanks for viewing!
Mark