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!

That's wonderful! Do you notice a difference in the sets as you examine them.....LS, versus Singing, etc. Does one seem obviously different than another in terms of build qualities?
Love my LS top Doerr, I was so fortunate to attain that soundboard.
Fred

One thing they have in common is a large amount of sustain when tapped. They do vary greatly in density. What I have goes from 7.5g/cubic inch all the way down to 5.98gr/cubic inch. The Tono Basso being the lightest. They are all exceptionally wonderful soundboards but, I would recommend some over others depending on the model and goals.

Oh man...

Looking at those lovely walnut sets and redwood tops, I wish I could lay my hands on a Hatcher...

You should get yourself a UK dealer!

D

Thanks for commenting DamianL.
There has been a lot of talk about a free trade agreement between the UK and the US. That would certainly help things along!
I am planning to do some hiking in Scotland this Aug or Sept. Wouldn't be too hard to bring a guitar along!

Best Regards,
Mark

Haha, quite possible, however if anyone could make an MDF/Ply guitar gorgeous, it would be you!!:D:D

Domestic Woods
 

One of the things I like about using domestic woods is it's not too hard to see the actual trees that are made of them. If you've been following my posts for awhile you've seen the Koa trees in Hawaii and the Red Spruce from out back behind my shop. Here are a couple pictures of Redwood trees along with a couple including my lovely and ever patient wife Karen;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2927/3...9bba8fdc_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/598/32...9b626500_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3823/3...275279e0_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3840/3...37a87871_b.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Really!

Well it's a lovely country for a hike......but bring some midge repellant.

You may avoid the worst of it in September...but then its' a lottery with the weather.

For a working holiday, pass through the East Nuek of Fife to Pittenweem and drop in on Rory Dowling at Taran guitars...lovely chap and great luthier :)


D

Thanks!

I'm familiar with Rory Dowling's wonderful work. I like his sense of design. It's very clean.

Mark

More Domestic Woods
 

Since I'm been on a domestic wood theme lately, when I got all that Redwood I also found some more of that unusual bear claw Sitka that I am using on Bard Rocks Padauk Josie that is in the finishing process;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/761/33...105cbf19_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/664/32...9fc22011_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/660/33...3873c180_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3729/3...25c29348_b.jpg

These might go really well with these domestic back and side sets I have sister sets of. Like Bastogne Walnut;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1569/2...cb54320e_c.jpg

Or Quilted Maple;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7370/2...e8b7d611_c.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

It's all about the wood!

I have to agree with you on this one. The wood really is the single largest driver when I'm making decisions about and building my guitars.

What's Cooking?
 

I haven't posted in a little while. I've been hard at work developing a new technique and new designs for this latest spec guitar I'm working on. This will be my Penelope model 12 fret guitar with Olivewood back and sides. The whole shop smells like an Italian restaurant as soon as this Olivewood touches sandpaper.

I'll do a separate build thread on this guitar because there are so many new elements but, here is a preview of what I am developing/learning/practicing to create the Olive wreath rosette. I am doing an inlay/marquetry hybrid technique. The colors of the wreath consists of natural woods; Yellowheart, Argentinian Verawood, and Peruvian walnut.

When I titled this post "What's Cooking" I wasn't kidding. This is how I shade the edges of the cut out olives to make them look rounded. I cook them in a pan of sand;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3853/3...cf9b9c67_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2821/3...632ec953_c.jpg

The wreath is set right into the Alpine Italian Spruce;

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2890/3...e4424572_b.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Wow, time to grab the popcorn again!

I always follow your builds as they are consistently amazing, this new guitar is no exception!

My goodness, that rosette is special. Congrats Chef Mark on sharpening your technique. I love the greener slant on the woods (my favorite color). Beautiful work!

BTW, I got to meet Tom Doerr at the Artisan Guitar Show. Really nice guy. I let him play the Penelope I have of yours. He loved it!