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  #1  
Old 07-31-2013, 06:52 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta guitar build / Mark Hatcher

Mark Hatcher has started my 13 Fret Greta.

We are going with Sitka and Wenge. Mark has a wonderful selection of master grade Sitka......something for everyone. At first I was a little intimidated by the thought of choosing the best set for my needs but Mark explained the subtle and not so subtle characteristics of each set and the choice quickly became obvious.

Mark calls this particular set '' Floatwood Sitka '' and I will let him describe a little about it.

It will be matched with some very nice straight grained Wenge.

Mark will be jumping in from time to time with comments and pictures as he progresses. And of course you are warmly welcome to follow along and please comment freely.

daniel
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Old 07-31-2013, 08:39 PM
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mikealpine mikealpine is offline
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Enjoy the process! Mark has been displaying some beautiful work lately, so yours will be a pleasure to follow.
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Old 07-31-2013, 08:40 PM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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Tell me more about your rationale for going with a 13 fret model. I'm intrigued....
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Old 08-01-2013, 06:42 AM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default 13 Fret Greta

I originally asked Mark for a 12 fret Greta. He did a design layout and found the bracing pattern could not fit the bridge placement. It could however work with 13 frets.

A little less stretch makes a big difference in comfort ( for me ).

daniel
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Old 08-01-2013, 12:07 PM
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Mark Hatcher Mark Hatcher is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gstring View Post
Mark Hatcher has started my 13 Fret Greta.

Mark calls this particular set '' Floatwood Sitka '' and I will let him describe a little about it.

It will be matched with some very nice straight grained Wenge.

Mark will be jumping in from time to time with comments and pictures as he progresses. And of course you are warmly welcome to follow along and please comment freely.

daniel
It is always exciting to start a new guitar. Daniel and I have been discussing this design for a couple months now and have worked out many of the details.
Choosing the sound board, I believe, is the most important part of the design.
Sitka seems to be underrated, I suppose because it is more accessible than other choices and I think sometimes people ask themselves why would they go with Sitka since they can get that with any of the manufacturer's production guitars.
One of the great advantages of a wood that is more accessible is the great variety of choices within the species that the shear numbers provide.
Daniel and I compared very lightweight Sitka to some that was so finely grained it was much harder and stiffer than Adirondack. We compared Sitka taken from a tree that stood dead for over 60 years to Sitka that had been used as floats to hold up a dock in Alaska for over forty years.
After carefully comparing the weight, stiffness, and tap tone of these and others we landed on this float wood set:





Want to guess what color that float was painted?

Here is the top being joined and the basic woods going into this Greta:





Thanks,
Mark
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Old 08-01-2013, 12:18 PM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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Mark, does the 13 fret design alter the position of the bridge in any significant way?
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2017 Hatcher Josie fan fret mahogany
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....and about 5 really nice tenor ukuleles at any given moment
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Old 08-01-2013, 12:20 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta

Hey Mark.....is that actually my guitar in the making !!!
I just went from nervous to excited.

dgd
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Old 08-01-2013, 12:33 PM
ukejon ukejon is offline
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Yup, and I just went from passive to jealous!
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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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  #9  
Old 08-01-2013, 01:02 PM
ewh2 ewh2 is offline
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Mark's a very talented luthier, his work seems to progress with every build.

Also, an amazing photographer.
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  #10  
Old 08-01-2013, 01:28 PM
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Mark Hatcher Mark Hatcher is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ukejon View Post
Mark, does the 13 fret design alter the position of the bridge in any significant way?
Hi Jon,

Going to a 13 fret moves the bridge back the distance between the 12th and 13th frets. You can nudge that around some using a different scale length.
But the short answer is no. A 12 fret is yes.

Thanks
Mark
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  #11  
Old 08-01-2013, 01:29 PM
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Mark Hatcher Mark Hatcher is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gstring View Post
Hey Mark.....is that actually my guitar in the making !!!
I just went from nervous to excited.

dgd
It's got your name on it!
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  #12  
Old 08-05-2013, 05:31 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default Greta 13 Fret

Mark sent a rough layout of the rosette. I think that means he will be posting a few pics showing his progress.

It's true, waiting to start a build takes forever, but when it begins it seems to move along in leaps and bounds.

dgd
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  #13  
Old 08-07-2013, 02:44 PM
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Mark Hatcher Mark Hatcher is offline
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Default Setting up the back

Here are some progress pictures of the back getting set up:

















I'll finish up on the back tomorrow and will be working the rosette and top.
More pics to come!

Mark
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  #14  
Old 08-07-2013, 08:37 PM
gstring gstring is offline
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Default !3 Fret Greta

Hi Mark

That Wenge is going to finish to rich brown. I am very glad you suggested it for the sound that I am looking for and..........the color and grain are an exceptional bonus. Also, I could not have hoped for a better set of Sitka. It is truly master grade all the way.

I am holding my breath in anticipation of seeing the rosette.

Mark, you must truly love working with wood.

daniel
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  #15  
Old 08-08-2013, 07:23 AM
Tony_in_NYC Tony_in_NYC is offline
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You are going to be a happy guy. Mark make some killer guitars. He also takes outstanding pictures of the build process, which is nice.
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