Hatcher Greta Unlimited Series

[cigarfan]

Oh my, that new headstock looks incredibly interesting. Excited to see what your changes will be in the neck.

Very nice bone as well. Looking good!!!!!

[jaymarsch]

It has been amazing to watch this guitar come into creation. I love that collection of saddle blanks. So looking forward to hearing clips of this beauty after it gets decked out with strings.

Best,
Jayne

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Oh my, that new headstock looks incredibly interesting. Excited to see what your changes will be in the neck.

Very nice bone as well. Looking good!!!!!

Thanks cigarfan! It’s been fun working out the details on this neck. I believe I have a few new twists on this kind of headstock. I’m eager to see it too!

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

It has been amazing to watch this guitar come into creation. I love that collection of saddle blanks. So looking forward to hearing clips of this beauty after it gets decked out with strings.

Best,
Jayne

Thanks Jayne! I’m enjoying the process on this one too! I have high expectations on the sound and player experience with this guitar.
Thank you for following along.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a peak at how the head stock is coming along



Sorry it's not a better picture, still a long way from prime time

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a better picture of where we're going. Of course that is not the fret board that's going to be used and the arm bevel isn't near finished. It will be Padauk with black borders and Holly inlay.



I am using Gotoh Stealth tuner machines embedded in the side rails because they allow me to set the string posts perpendicular to the length of the guitar. They also clean up the head. I'm going for a very clean overall look contrasted with the Holly wood tribal flourishes (if that makes sense!)

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I knew I was going with the Gotoh Stealth tuners. They come in a couple colors and there are several button styles available. Here are the ones I've decided on:



The longer style buttons have a better feel to them on an open headstock and I prefer the look of these with this guitar.

[ukejon]

That is not a Greta....more like Fantasmorelda! Beautiful design work and craftsmanship, Mark.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ukejon

That is not a Greta....more like Fantasmorelda! Beautiful design work and craftsmanship, Mark.

Thanks for commenting ukejon, It's been slow going putting all the elements together on this guitar but, I'm thrilled how it's coming along! Thanks

[Zandit75]

Mark, could you possibly post a photo of how the tuners are mounted on the headstock?
Its doing my head in! I can't figure how you have done it!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Zandit75

Mark, could you possibly post a photo of how the tuners are mounted on the headstock?
Its doing my head in! I can't figure how you have done it!

Here you go Zandit75. This is a picture of the very unfinished headstock:



The side is an access plate. Here a picture with it removed:



The floors of the cutouts inside where the tuners mount are stepped so the string posts are perpendicular to the length of the guitar.

Thanks for following along!
Mark

[Nemoman]

Wow--love the installation and the look of those tuners, Mark!

Do you have to leave the wood cover plate detachable in case anything ever goes wonky with the tuners?

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Wow--love the installation and the look of those tuners, Mark!

Do you have to leave the wood cover plate detachable in case anything ever goes wonky with the tuners?

Thanks Nemoman! Yes, the cover plate will be removable. It probably never would need to be opened up but, it wouldn't be wise to just glue 'em up in there.
Thanks for commenting
Mark

[jessupe]

As always, pretty freekin amazing functional art dude!

[mikealpine]

I find I run out of superlatives when I look at your guitars, Mark. You push boundaries in design with a keen artistic sense that is bold, yet never ostentatious. It's a fine line and you seem to walk it without even seeing how thin it is, as if it were a city block wide. The effect is amazing. This is a draw-dropping display of art meeting function and I feel lucky to be watching it happen. Thank you for pushing the whole stack of envelopes and sharing that with us.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jessupe

As always, pretty freekin amazing functional art dude!

Thanks Jessupe! "functional art" You know I think about that name sometimes and how it might apply to guitars. A switchblade on a pedestal might be presented as functional art. Certainly many functional objects can be artistically designed, but what is it if the function of the object is designed to be an object for artists to create and perform art?
Sorry, as you know we builders spend a lot of time alone in our studios!

Originally Posted by mikealpine

I find I run out of superlatives when I look at your guitars, Mark. You push boundaries in design with a keep artistic sense that is bold, yet never ostentatious. It's a fine line and you seem to walk it without even seeing how thin it is, as if it were a city block wide. The effect is amazing. This is a draw-dropping display of art meeting function and I feel lucky to be watching it happen. Thank you for pushing the whole stack of envelopes and sharing that with us.

Wow, thanks! My wife tells me I should be save comments like these for my the new website I'm working on. I really appreciate your kind words.

Mark