Bella, a radically different acoustic bass for Hatcher Guitars

[heavyg]

what type of string options are you considering Flatwound? roundwound? other?

[Mark Hatcher]

Thanks for your comments Jeff!

Originally Posted by fitness1

Just sent the link to a buddy who's a great player.

I appreciate you helping to get the word out. I have a sister back and side set to this one and all of the other materials on hand to make another bass just like this one (or a little different)

Thanks!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by heavyg

what type of string options are you considering Flatwound? roundwound? other?

We're going with flatwound medium lights

Mark

[Clydeslide]

Hi Mark,

You may have been asked and answered this before, where do your model names come from? Are they just names you like or think fit?

[Berf]

The bass is looking great Mark and this is a very interesting build to follow.

I really love the look of the f-holes and this build has got me thinking about why acoustic guitars are traditionally made with a central round sound-hole and archtops with f-holes? Would it be possible to make a "traditional" sounding flat-top guitar but with f-holes or would the f-holes have a major effect on the sound?

Cheers, berf.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Clydeslide

Hi Mark,

You may have been asked and answered this before, where do your model names come from? Are they just names you like or think fit?

Hi Clydeslide,

There aren't too many hard and fast rules I have for selecting names. It's always a female name and I try to select a name that in a quite subjective way seems to connect with the personality of the model. Generally, the names go with the model size as well;

Greta Grand Auditorium
Josie Jumbo
Bella Bass

There's a little more to it than that with the Greta and Penelope models. Rosewood guitars made to emphasize a more crystalline tone are sometimes referred to as having a German sound and I feel the German Greta name is a good telltale of how I like to make this model. Softer woods, like mahogany, tend to emphasize the fundamentals more and have more of a sweet wood tone. This is sometimes referred to as a more Spanish sound. My 12 fret Penelope model seems to shine there.
Certainly, either guitar can be set up differently, but that's my personal preference for them and, well, I get to name them.

I'm designing a parlor guitar now and the leading name contender is "Pina"

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Berf

The bass is looking great Mark and this is a very interesting build to follow.

I really love the look of the f-holes and this build has got me thinking about why acoustic guitars are traditionally made with a central round sound-hole and archtops with f-holes? Would it be possible to make a "traditional" sounding flat-top guitar but with f-holes or would the f-holes have a major effect on the sound?

Cheers, berf.

There used to be a lot of flat top guitars with f-holes. A lot of them had tail pieces. The round sound hole grew to be the standard and I'm sure it wasn't because of looks. I believe you get more volume with the sound hole configuration. There are a lot of vintage guys on this forum that could probably answer this question better than me.

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I slotted and roughed out the profile for the fingerboard today. This is Makassar Ebony and it will have black ebony binding with a maple purfling line.
The neck will join the body at the 15th fret and will have 25 frets. Here's a pic;



Thanks!
Mark

[aknow]

Nice explanations for your naming choices Mark!

[gstring]

Mark, where did you find that Adirondack ?? It's crazy.

Do you have more ??

[Berf]

Thanks for the reply about the f-holes Mark... they certainly look a treat. Cheers, berf

[Coffeeaddict]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

I slotted and roughed out the profile for the fingerboard today. This is Makassar Ebony and it will have black ebony binding with a maple purfling line.
The neck will join the body at the 15th fret and will have 25 frets. Here's a pic;



Thanks!
Mark

My wallet is screaming no, but the less rational part of me says I must have one of these beauties.. You are like the serpent in the Garden, leading me to sin. Serious case of lust and envy!

Colin

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by aknow

Nice explanations for your naming choices Mark!

Thanks aknow,

I forgot to mention that when working with Graham on this design when we got to the naming stage Graham had recently gotten a cat and named her Bella.
So this one was easy!

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Coffeeaddict

My You are like the serpent in the Garden, leading me sin.
Colin

Wow! uh thanks?

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by gstring

Mark, where did you find that Adirondack ?? It's crazy.

Do you have more ??

Hi gstring,

Yes, I have another set or two. I don't use it often as it doesn't really work for me on a fingerstyle guitar. I'll pick sets up from time to time when I like them and I keep them for exceptions, this bass being one. If a hard strummer were to commission a guitar from me these are good options.

Thanks,
Mark