That is a beautiful picture, wow, such color...

Very cool photograph Mark.

Awesome photo! It really does look like mother of pearl. Peterborough skies ... amazing.

Thanks! Here is a picture of the mother of pearl I'm using for the inlays. The pink shell I believe is fresh water shell that I got from a retiring knife
maker:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2943/3...d07e7f70_b.jpg

Here is the 12 fret cut shell getting ready to be inlayed. We were concerned that all of the grain in the Macassar Ebony fingerboard would obscure the inlay. Using shiny shell helps and it ties in with the headstock inlay. Another way to make it stand out is to take advantage of the directional grain lines and go against them. In other words if the grain all goes one way have the inlay go hard against it;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/329/32...a8bc3c26_c.jpg

And we're in!;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/672/32...5e34bc25_c.jpg

Thanks for viewing and commenting!
Mark

Great looking inlays, Mark!

That fretboard is crazy-cool as well...

Thanks for commenting Nemoman and for following along!

Mark

Nice, love your shapes

Thanks for commenting jessupe!

I got the Gold Evo frets in today. It's just about ready for finish!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/681/33...4643ce97_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/666/33...9319873f_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3710/3...555f0ddd_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/657/32...414c1867_c.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Amazing craftsmanship; beautiful guitar!

Thanks and thank you for commenting Stevie63. I have a finished parlor guitar in the shop now that has a sister set of this Padauk wood so I know how much this guitar will light up when it's under finish. I also expect to see a lot more figure in that Maple neck. The bear claw on the spruce is the one we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It has some red in it that I think will come out more which I'm betting will look good with the back and side set.

Mark

shop pic
 

is this your shop Mark?

Yes it is. We've been here in beautiful Peterborough NH for going on four years now. My commute consists of walking across the driveway. Sometimes with the snow blower!

Mark

Domestic Woods
 

With the restrictions on exotic woods increasing I have been on the lookout for exceptional domestic woods. With the right choices these new sets are as good or better than available exotics. Sometimes even at a better price, sometimes not as is the case with the Carter Redwood soundboards. I have recently been able to expand my inventory and now have tops from 4 of their best known trees; Lucky Strike, Singing Tree, Totally Awesome, and Tono Basso.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3686/3...b5b685ed_c.jpg

They would go great with a number of other domestics like Koa;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8639/1...60cbabfe_c.jpg

Or Claro Walnut:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1569/2...09bdc2fd_c.jpg

Or even plain ol' Black Walnut :):

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5615/1...f7ed31ba_c.jpg

I don't believe we will run out of great guitar wood choices anytime soon!

How about you try out something different Mark?
Maybe some standard Plywood, or even MDF for a challenge?!!!:D:D

:) Zandit75,

I don't know if the world is ready for that different!