Hatcher's Studio '19
Happy New Year everyone! I'm starting this year out with a Greta grand auditorium. This is a custom build with some wonderful woods. The back and sides are Honduran Mahogany from the "Fiddleback Tree".
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4852/...c02c3e75_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7860/...995f4f9d_c.jpg The top is a mildly quilted old Sitka Spruce: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7908/...97cfabf9_b.jpg I think they are well match both for color and tone: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4803/...741cd050_c.jpg The trim will be mostly Cocobolo. I am using the last headstock overlay, fretboard, and bridge set from a board I bought quite awhile ago. I love the spiderweb grain patterns on this. It will keep up well with the amazing fiddleback Mahogany on this guitar: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4915/...1ea0dbc3_c.jpg Much more to come! Mark |
That's a fantastic Mahogany B&S set, Mark. Such tight flaming. This is going to look great!
And of course I love the Cocobolo as well. If I'm not mistaken, the fretboard on my Greta is from that same board. |
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https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/...4a9d9bb1_c.jpg Mark |
Wow! That Honduran Mahogany is stunning Mark.
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Stunning woods and photography as usual, Mark!
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Thanks for commenting! Mark |
Joining the Back
I thought I'd write a few things about joining a fiddleback set. First, it's important to get a clean fit between the two sides. A window comes in handy for checking that:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7849/...1b967a39_b.jpg With this much figure it really shows how well you line up the sides. There's a problem doing this though. Flamed figure is a series of peaks and troughs as reflected by the wood grain actually rippling up and down. When you book match the two back pieces where there is a peak one side of the joint there is a trough on the other. Now if you work the light and view angle you can make them line up fairly well like this shows: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7812/...78a7eb6b_c.jpg Now without moving that penny and changing the viewing angle a picture of the exact same area appears to be mismatched: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7834/...ca6f69e3_c.jpg So even though the woods are perfectly matched the appearance of the match is a moving target! A reasonable solution to this is to use a center graft which puts a little space between the two sides of the back and greatly reduces this effect. |
I like the look of peaks and troughs lining up. that's the way it's done in the violin family and to my eye it looks right.
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I guess it never occurred to me that I could just like that look :) Now that I think about it, it’s pretty common to see on carved back instruments, including arch top guitars. When I see it on these I don’t give it a second thought. Somehow when it’s on the much less arched back of a regular guitar I’m not comfortable with it. I’ll try liking it and see how I do. Mark |
Every time I see a fiddle back style, I want a centre strip...it’s great either way, but I can’t help but think it looks unfinished with out one...and having had this explanation maybe now I know why!
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Snazzy wood indeed!
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Back Strip
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Thanks Ukejon! Speaking of snazzy wood I picked out the wood and designed the back strip today. I am doing a Cocobolo back strip. Typically, I do cross grained center laminates on the necks. I thought I'd carry that arrangement right through to the back laminate. This fiddleback is such a strong and uniform figure doing something a little more random for the back strip would really stand out. So then it was time to pick the actual piece of Cocobolo wood: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4886/...87f74c5b_c.jpg This is a little piece I'd been saving for something special. The block is about 3" x 5" and 3/4" thick. The figuring in the top left corner is called "cloud figuring" which brings just the kind of randomness I'm looking for. That cloud is about 2" long and goes all the way through. I can slice this down into enough pieces to make both the back strip and the center laminate on the neck. Here is a close up for the back: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4827/...f970bf73_c.jpg And a broader view: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4868/...76a38b86_c.jpg I'll have purfling on either side when I lay it in. Glad I saves that piece of wood! |
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Wow ... that fiddleback mahogany ... and that cocobolo ... you'll definitely make something spectacular from that Mark!
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