Thanks for the shots of the woods behind your shop - beautiful place!

Hey Mark,
I'll veer off of the beaten path of replies, and venture down the road less traveled...
This natural scenery is magnificent. I can see where, with a stroll through your natural surroundings, you can return to the shop energized and filled with creative ideas. Even though a guitar is an engineering marvel, requiring technical perfection in order to produce a desired tone, and also withstand the immense forces placed on it.....it is also an organic and natural wonder. A luthier must wear the hats of both Engineer and Artist, being proficient at both. It's easy to imagine, seeing the natural beauty that you are surrounded by, that the artistic flame inside of you is continually fanned. Nature has always been the most influential instructor to my creative endeavors...especially when I slow down, become aware, and allows it to encompass all of my senses.

Yeah, it does look a bit like light reflecting on water especially when it moves.
Thanks!

You're welcome, New Hampshire is 96% covered in forest. Only Next door in Maine is there a higher percentage of cover.

Thanks for your comments. A good walk in the woods is a great way to clear my head and think about the bigger picture of my designs and direction.

Mark

Traffic
 

Traffic is really backed up for my commute to work today!;

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Those turkeys don't know how to drive. Call animal control.

Ready for finish
 

I have this Greta ready for finish today. It's EIR with Alpine Swiss Moon Spruce and Cocobolo trim (a little bling on the heel cap). It's left handed, has an arm bevel, and large sound port.
Other features include;

Semi-hemispherical fret end dressing
25" scale
Lattice braced active back
Hybrid lattice braced top
Rosewood neck
and more to come!

https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5694/3...c8b4b35a_c.jpg

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Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Now that is a fantastic headstock veneer!

Thanks Tom! It will redden up along with the rest of the Cocobolo with finish on it. The EIR back and sides will darken so there will be a lot more contrast. I'm looking forward to seeing this come together.

Mark

Parlor update
 

I'd hoped to have this guitar already strung up by now but I've been a bit delayed making a new top for Bacchus, and getting ready for Friday's Sharon Art's exhibit reception and the Monadnock Studio tour Saturday and Sunday. Plus, I've started my October guitar. I did get some time in on this though and have set the neck, made and glued the Black Ebony bridge, mounted the tuners, and installed the strap pins;

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8275/3...69889860_c.jpg

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8394/3...77446309_c.jpg

Want a quick peek at what I'm starting for my October guitar?

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https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5789/3...87d8eafd_b.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Olivewood? If so, olfactory heaven!

You got that right nootis, it's Olivewood. When that wood hits a sander the whole studio smells like an Italian restaurant. I never had a wood make me hungry before!

Mark

Art Tour
 

Setting up for the Art Tour tomorrow and Sunday. Here we are putting out the shingle;

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Last year was the first time we opened the studio, joining 50 other local artists and it was surprisingly busy. I even got a couple orders. So we're taking it more seriously this year. The only down side is I don't get to visit all the other artists. There is some real talent out here. For instance, there is Lita Judge right down the road who illustrates and writes children's books. One of her books (Flight School) is currently running as a Broadway play.

Mark

Looks good Mark, if I were in town I would drive over, but alas, I am not. I hope it goes well....I assume you will have three guitars in various states of repair for display including Bachus, the padouk, and that new olivewood, wow, wow, wow. That should be good for a couple more orders I would think!

Mark, how do you find the rosewood neck as far as how the instrument's balance is at this stage in construction? This may be the only acoustic guitars with a rosewood neck I've come across and I've been searching around for people sharing any experience with them - most people discussing them suggesting it'd be too heavy on an acoustic guitar. They're not uncommon on boutique electric guitars (EIR, cocobolo, kingwood, etc) but I can't say that I was able to find an acoustic example. Thanks for any input you have.

By the way, it's another beautiful guitar! I can't say I've seen anything less than extremely well thought out and executed in the choice of top, back/sides, neck and appointments on your instruments.

-Geoff

Thanks for the kind words Geoff. I like and can hear the difference using a rosewood neck. Objectively, it adds more sustain. Objectively/subjectively, it gives fuller trebles. Subjectively, it feels better on the fretting hand.
Weight wise it adds 2 to 3 ounces if the wood is chosen wisely. This is easily offset by open back tuners and an oversize or heavier tail block. Which, by the way, the additional weight on the tail block also adds to sustain. I am a big advocate of building very light guitars, though, I am not at all against putting weight where it belongs. I should add that these are incremental improvements and are not of the scale of change you hear on an electric guitar.

Hope that's helpful!


Sorry you can't make it out Tom. We were packed yesterday. I got several very interested customers and the beginnings of a custom order.
We set up the back wall with matted prints of some of my photography (for the non-guitar players) which also sold very well;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8140/2...6a063691_c.jpg

I met a new source for Black Walnut and some really great folks. This is one of the premier art tours in New England and draws from all over. It's also just the beginning of peak autumn colors so it makes for a wonderful experience. The tour also runs today with an option to stay open Monday. If I don't completely lose my voice we'll probably stay open on Monday as well

Awesome! I see my Penelope made the wall. Love it. Really like your shingle too Mark. Eye catching.

Glad for your success with the tour. I love my Hatcher's and I'm sure your new customers will feel the same. :)

All looks great....have a wonderful event this weekend.

I appreciate the detailed response, Mark. It's certainly helpful. Thanks!

Thanks Fellas! It was time well spent. Sunday was a little slower due to rain and Monday wasn't killer either but, frankly the whole weekend was a success by the end of the day on Saturday. This being my second year on the tour, word had gotten out that there was a guitar builder showing so there were a lot more seriously interested folks coming through. I was also interviewed by the local newspaper and a Southern New Hampshire magazine so this isn't over yet. One of the nice things that appealed to possible buyers, besides being here to select the woods, is the offer of a seat right next to me when I carve the neck "How's this feel?" "How about now?" "A little more here?" :)

Great! You're welcome

Black Ebony
 

One of the great things about participating in the local art tour has been meeting the local people. A number of nice leads from woodworkers are panning out very nicely. I just picked up this 100lb billet of old black ebony from a cabinet maker who is downsizing. He's had if for 20 plus years. At the very least I'm good for black ebony fretboards and bridges for awhile. At best there may a few guitars in there too! It's over 40 inches long and 9 inches thick;

https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8409/3...8461673b_c.jpg

Wow--that is some chunk of wood! Nice find--looking forward to seeing what treasures you find and make out of it!

um.....maybe like 4 ukulele fret boards max.

Me too! I haven't had the opportunity to get a billet this large before. I got a smaller one that I got four guitar back and side sets from;

https://c2.staticflickr.com/3/2925/1...44bc54f2_c.jpg

I've used two of those sets so far but, they are only large enough to do my smaller two guitar body styles, the Pina parlor which sold;

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The second one I built and have for sale is the Penelope model;

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Even as smaller models they both have that strong "piano" tone so I jumped at the opportunity for more and possibly larger sets

Wow, that is some chunk of ebony. Can't wait to see what it produces.

Be careful not to take out your back lifting that thing.

Thanks fellas, It's a challenge to work out how to approach this log. It's a quartered log so the grain arcs 90 degrees. My current thought is to go for two billets first, one for backs, then cut a sides billet. I'm thinking I can easily get 2 inch thick billets which will give me a good yield of sets. There will be plenty of cut off for fretboards and bridges. I'll end up making some sort of sled to get this monster through the band saw

Pina
 

Is that my Pina #1?

Alan

Sure is.
Hope you are enjoying it!

Mark

Absolutely Mark.
An amazingly awesome guitar. The little guitar with a large voice.
So much eye candy as well. The feel is superb.

Why just yesterday Alex and I were applauding your stuff as one of the two best kept secrets for price and value.

Cheers...as I tip my glass to you.

Well Thanks! Glad to hear that

Mark