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I look forward to seeing more of that bandsaw setup.
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Mark |
Koa
About a year ago I was fortunate to pick up a very nice old billet of Koa from a retiring luthier:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/...4d6598d7_c.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/...1ceea527_c.jpg Wonderfully quarter sawn: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8686/...9e0ab282_c.jpg Very nicely figured: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/...c900bcfe_c.jpg https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/...d1e42bcc_c.jpg I've been waiting to get my re-saw equipment and my chops up to bite into this billet and I'm there finally. I was able to get 8 back sets from billet by cutting it in half and making 8 slices from each piece: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4770/...f0007c75_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4724/...77816411_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4671/...98d9bd95_b.jpg I'm very satisfied with the look and especially the tap tone I'm getting from the very hard old Koa billet! The domestic wood locker deepens. |
My my! That is some scrumptious Koa. You really know where to hit a guy Mark.
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Unlimited Series
I have mentioned before I have been working on my Unlimited Series of one of a kind guitars that I intend to display as I start doing guitar shows this year.
Things happen slowly in this world of guitar making and I am really taking my time with each of the four current guitars I want to have ready this year. I have limited the number of custom orders I am taking to help make time but, I do need to keep money coming in to "keep the lights on" The first guitar in this series is finished and I had done a build thread here on AGF. This is my Olivewood Italian themed Penelope Guitar; https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4386/...a179d643_h.jpg The second guitar is currently on the bench which is a Black Walnut/Redwood Greta. This guitar is introducing a new concept with it's throated sound port system; https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/...7204f9f0_c.jpg The next guitar will be an all Koa Josie small jumbo. I am doing a Hawaiian theme with this one and am currently doing the groundwork for it. This is why you are seeing me do so much re saw work lately. I had the Koa billet but needed to buy better equipment to reliably cut the wood and needed to train the tool (me) to reliably operate the tools to get the best Koa cuts for this guitar. I've managed to get the 8 guitar sets from the billet and am able to pick the best among them for this all Koa guitar. I was very happy with the performance of the all mahogany, wedge, fan fret Josie I had made for Ukejon: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/...9f70b399_c.jpg I plan to greatly build upon this design and am currently doing quite a bit of research in preparation. Lastly, I will have my Piña parlor model. Wait till you see what I have planned for this one! |
Mark, what is the scale lengths of the fan fret Josie? I have a 12 string guitar with a 25.5" - 27" fan and it feel perfectly natural to me, and anyone who has played it, some not even realizing it was a fanned fret guitar until I mentioned it! They must have been looking at that woman across the room when they grabbed the guitar to put in their laps. :D
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I think a 1 1/2” spread is longest fan you’d want to go with. For this next Josie I’m thinking 24.75”-25.75”. Mark |
Wow, nice koa billet.
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That is some amazing koa. Can't wait to see how the guitars made from that look. That's probably my favorite wood.
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Thanks for commenting. |
That olivewood Penelope is probably my new favorite from you; love how you tied the motif in the rosette and sound "port."
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Mark,
What are the specs on your re-saw blade? I’m in the market for a new one. My current blade is a 1”-3 tpi skip tooth carbide .035”. I think it’s a Lennox from Hastings. It’s lasted a long time but it’s time... |
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I just wanted to pull this post up again because the company I got the wood from has just become a sponsor here on AGF. You'll see the listing on the sponsor list as Chordwood. It's run by Glenn. Great guy, great premium mahogany!
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Greta ready for finish
I'm just wrapping up this Greta for finish. It's cedar over Black Walnut with a walnut neck and Venetian cut away. Trimmed with Black and Macassar ebony with abalone all around. The rosette and arm bevel inlays are spalted Tamarind. I made a very similar one for Cigarfan a couple years ago. I've got a little more clean up work to do and it will be ready to go Monday:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4695/...8a336cb3_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4749/...23ddfe15_c.jpg Thanks for viewing! Mark |
That is a very stunning guitar, Mark!
Love the inlays in the arm bevel and the carry-through to the soundport. Awesome! Hope you'll do a video of it when finished... |
Do something bad for a change. ;)
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10 out of 10 on this one!
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That abalone looks great against the fingerboard, classy.
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There are some clips in this thread. Post #176 |
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I'm getting very excited about my guitar and look forward to its completion. Mark has been awesome to work with. |
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Mark |
[QUOTE=Mark Hatcher;5609074]
Thanks for commenting Tom. A guitar like this might look nice in that beautiful cabinet you’re having made! Haha, yes, there is no doubt about that....Walnut in Walnut, red cedar with white cedar....hmmm, I might have to give that more thought!!!!! |
That's nuts!
I've got this idea to do an all New Hampshire guitar. I have a number of local Red Spruce tops. Backs could be Black Walnut, Hard Maple, and I've got a bunch of wild Black Cherry. Cherry would make good internal parts like kerf, heel and tail blocks. Shagbark Hickory would make a decent fret board and bridge.
I just got what seems like a natural for the nut and saddle, Moose antler: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4740/...23802195_c.jpg The trick is whether it is strong enough and has a nice ringing ping when I tap it on my granite block: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4701/...ef1e8e55_c.jpg Well, this is going to be a bit. The inner core is just too porous and probably not strong enough. It pings nice. The outer layer seems great and it polished up very nicely. It's going to take a lot of antler to find outer layer material suitably large enough to get a nut and a saddle but, I don't need more than one of each to make a guitar. |
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How much of a geek am I, when the first thing I think of when I look at the shot at the top of the page is, "cool truss rod cover"?
Gorgeous instrument Mark! |
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Not really a geek, just an eye for detail! Can’t build great guitars without one. Doing a quick mental inventory of all the individual pieces I come up with roughly 150 parts that a builder uses to make a guitar. The vast majority of which are fashioned on all six sides and set into place to make a guitar. Lot’s of room for the devil in all those details, so you got to keep your eye on them! Mark |
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