Really neat to hear the logic and see the process behind these custom tuning pins. Fantastic looking and certainly they must make the guitar have better tone!

Hey Mark,
I for one am following along and soaking this up like a sponge. Thanks for taking the time to go through some of your processes. Your attention to detail and use of wood amazes me. Not to mention your photographs. Thanks
Travis

Thanks ukejon, While the obvious advantage is working with the looks of the guitar, having improved control tuning the strings certainly is an advantage to the sound.

Thanks Travis, If you make something that pretty much looks like a guitar out of woods that are usually used to make guitars it will probably pretty much sound like a guitar. From there how good that guitar sounds and how comfortable it is to play compared to other guitars is all in the details.

Thanks for commenting,
Mark

Wonderful stuff, Mark--thanks for all the insights into your process!

All these awesome little details combine to truly make your guitars the works of art that they are!

I really hope to get to play one some day...

Your welcome Nemoman. You’ll have to tell me what you think when the opportunity arises to play one of my guitars. It’s easy to show what my guitars look like on the forum. It’s harder to show how they sound and a whole lot harder to show playability.
Thanks for commenting,
Mark

Mark,
Thanks for sharing all of the background on your design thoughts and processes. While I find all of your threads fascinating and inspiring, I found this part to be even more inspiring. I'm going to take a crack at some wood tuner buttons as I've always liked using wood ones but have been limited by what's commercially available for the 510s.

Many thanks for taking the time to make all of these great posts.

Thanks GeoffStGermaine, I think offering custom buttons is a great option and adds just another reason for someone to buy from a custom builder.

Mark

It's the myriad of little touches that you add that helps make your creations so special. Tuner knobs are a good example of this, something you wouldn't normally expect, but they contribute to completing a perfect look.

Thanks for your comments! Guitars offer so many opportunities for creativity. It makes my work a true pleasure!

Really fine work and such creativity. I down load many of your pics to my inspiration file.

I would like to see how you make that brass ferrule and I am curious how you treat the recess in the peghead where the tuner washers rest. Do you finish those surfaces so that the washers are over the finish, or is that area bare with washers resting on wood. Ive tried it both ways and was not really satisfied with either.

I'm complimented to have pictures in your inspiration file, thanks for saying that. I'll send you a PM this week about how I make those ferules but, only if you write back with any better ways you come up with :)

The recess is finished. My reasoning is dust doesn't build up as easily in the recess when it has finish.

Thanks Mark

Fiddleback Tree Guitar
 

Here are a couple pictures of the Greta Fiddleback Tree guitar with the first gloss coat on:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...738aafcb_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...24549d0c_b.jpg

Mark, This wood looked amazing without finish. Now, it is spectacular and is not even under full finish at that. The vertical banding on each half of the back adds interest and I like how balanced the flame figure is between the back and sides. For me of all the beautiful woods to chose from, comparing all the top sets, a top Fiddleback Mahogany for me would be at the top of my list. I noteiced quite a few really nice sets being used recently, so others must have the same feeling.

I can imagine that you must feel a little bit of frustration, knowing what you have when you purchase a special set like this and then having to wait until someone decides that they want you to build with it. Likely this is mitigated somewhat by your builds in general. Still, it must be an itch that you really can't scratch at times ... lol 😎

Thanks IBKuz, The top does look good at this stage with only the beginning of the gloss, shot with an Ipad, and under bad light. We're seeing a number of these sets out recently because they are mostly coming from a single source. The Fiddleback Tree produced about 400 sets which got snatched up quickly.

The list of guitars and wood sets I would love to build with is growing faster than how fast I build guitars. I hope to keep it at this pace till the day I die. What could be better than that?

Thank you for commenting
Mark