Hatcher Studio '16 #2
 

This is a continuation of Hatcher Studio '16; http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...411876&page=21

I have four guitars that I have been building as my "Show Spec Series". My first two are sold and the third one is a small jumbo Josie model with a highly quilted maple back and side set, it is currently at the finisher. That leaves my fourth guitar which will be a Penelope Black Ebony guitar with lots of abalone and an elevated fretboard. The back and side set comes from this group of sets all cut from the same billet;

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/...44bc54f2_c.jpg

But this is where a guitar really starts;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1643/...383f46e9_c.jpg

I bring this up because I've recently had an epiphany that I'd like to share.
I've felt guilty because technology has been advancing for quite awhile for drafting plan layouts. There's CAD, Sketch-Up, Illustrator, all kinds of great ways to draw up designs and here I am like an old Luddite sitting at a drafting table. When my brother needs to do a quick sketch he reaches for his laptop not a pencil.
So here's my epiphany; Guitars aren't large, I can draw an entire guitar on this table full scale. I'm going to build it full scale so it's better to draw it full scale. So lets say I'm designing a bridge like so;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1591/...740dfec3_c.jpg

Once drawn I can look at it this way and that until I'm happy with it's lines and size. After that it get's drawn on the wood blank and cut out;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1668/...d1ab79d9_c.jpg

See anything familiar? It's the same pencil drawing and now I'm going to use the band saw and follow those curves again. But it's going to be easier because I've already followed those curves by hand a couple times while drawing them full scale.

I think as builders we all need to be the gate keepers for what and how we let technology in and not just reach for the next new shiny thing.

And we're off!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/...cb7a51de_c.jpg

Thanks for getting through all that!
Mark

"...the degree of attentiveness that we bring to an occasion ennobles or demeans it."
Frank Bruni NY Times


Amen, Bro.

Now back to the hot female divorce lawyers......

unabashedly - Chris

oh, and... "Just when you think it's safe to go back in the water"

Amen to that, Brother Hatcher. One need not be a Luddite to believe in the merits of what your are saying.

Here is an update on the show spec guitars. The BRW Greta model is back from the finisher and I am French polishing the top. Not much to see in that process but, there is enough on there that we can now see the color of the cedar top;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1453/...f28d474a_b.jpg

I'm happy with how well the color goes with the sapwood on the sides;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1588/...0171761a_c.jpg

My Penelope model is coming along. I finished the rosette today and am including another picture to show how I am handling the back strip:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1483/...d4e0465f_c.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1570/...c8f6f00f_b.jpg

The top is Swiss moon spruce.

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Love Ebony with Koa and abalone 👍

That ebony is some striking wood.....looks very elegant with the narrow abalone.

:guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar:

Thanks. There is such an elegance in Black Ebony and it sure makes a little abalone shine! Of the four specs in this series this is the one that's getting the whole abalone treatment. The black ebony just seems to add some dignity to all that sparkle.

Glad you like what you see there!

Mark

Nice rosette! I have a weakness for slim abalone rings to accentuate a wood rosette without being over-blingy. Is that 1.2mm ZipFlex?

Drew

Mark,

If you can just sell the others, You bonus yourself the exhibit and travel expenses.

I'm doing MY part!

:evilgrin:

Chris

Lovely work as usual, Mark. Especially like this shot:


Steve

Hi Drew,

Yes it is. I'll be using it throughout the guitar along with other abalone fpr inlays on the fretboard and end graft. It just take a thin line to really shine on that black background.

Well you won't hear me complain about selling these! It will be awhile before I do my first show so I already am putting together my ideas on how and what to replace these with. And I appreciate the part your doing!

Thanks Steve! I haven't done any French polish in a while. It's great to get back into the groove.

Thank you everyone!
Mark

Show Spec second round ​Piña
 

My ideas are coming together for spec guitars to replace the show specs that have sold. With spec guitars I like to use wood sets that I have more of in case someone says they want one that looks like that but, in a different model or modification of the same.

I am going to start a replacement for my ​Piña on May first. Here is my plan;
I have a couple sets of this beautiful bacon figured Padauk and have been wanting to build with it because it has such a promising tap tone;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1470/...a58a3347_c.jpg

So here goes. Here is the back set;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1554/...bbe3282c_c.jpg

With master grade Swiss Moon Spruce;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1648/...79ba45a2_c.jpg

Black Ebony trim and fretboard, black Schertler tuners for open headstock, flamed Hard Maple neck, and gold MOP;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1577/...172c8eaa_c.jpg

I'm not sure where or exactly how but this gold MOP has got to go in here somewhere. Look at all that iridescent green in there against that red;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1469/...dcd578a6_c.jpg

I'm working on ideas to replace the Greta and will have those up soon!

Thanks for checking this out,
Mark

Mmmmm, bacon! Some beautiful Padauk there, always loved the look of ebony against it. Though I still call it vermillion.

COOL concept. ... on a slab of bacon!

Chris

I have to admit the idea of a bacon Padauk influenced my choice of a Sugar Maple neck. Definitely a morning guitar!

I'm seeing egg shell inlay coming.

Yeah but ( I had to ) The Yoke's on you :D

Looking at this shot again, and thinking about the entandre I have to suggest, Sam-I-Am, Green Eggs and Ham (thank you Theodore, RIP).

Chris

PS - I am WAY over-extended or I would but... someone will actually get the Green Eggs and Ham guitar!!!!

4TH Show Spec Ebony Penelope
 

This is the guitar I am emulating with my Black Ebony Penelope:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8853/...922c423d_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8878/...ffc59b51_b.jpg

This was my ​Piña parlor model. I am using a Black Ebony set from the same wood billet. I am doing my next larger Penelope model this time and a few new features like the ebony and abalone back strip. While most of the purfling lines will be abalone, in places where I previously had maple lines I am switching up to this Holly I just got in:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1464/...dc7a44ac_c.jpg

The thing with Holly is it is whiter than maple and when the cut is orientated right you get a sparkle from it that you don't often see with maple. The whiter those little lines are the blacker that Gabon Ebony will look. It's a very subtle difference.
Other differences we'll see will be the elevated fretboard. This is a comfort feature I am adding as this is a full body guitar. I am also going with my pillow top sculpted headstock. It will have the Koa binding, and abalone purfling. The headplate will be black ebony. I've never done a black ebony sculpted headplate and am excited to see what it will look like with all those curves on a shiny jet black surface.
I went with a spalted Tamarind logo on this one;

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1461/...809b8ce2_c.jpg

Lot's more to come!
Mark

You're killing me. Your guitars are some of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen. Maybe when I strike it rich you'll make me a good strumming guitar. So, So rich.

And he WILL.

As for Les' quote - Maybe he was in the beta-group for .... flag-pole meds!

It was 11 or 12 years ago, it was mid february and I went into manhattan to meet my dad at the iridium room. Les was flirting with his bass player, she laid a zinger at him and that was his response. I'll never forget it. He was wonderful that night. He died not long after that.

And don't say things like he'll make me a strummer. That's not what I want to hear right now. LALALALALALALA NO GAS NO GAS NO GAS LALALALALALALAALA

This deserves a bump. Not just for Mark's work, but the Les Paul quote and story! Some don't know that he largely invented the multi-track recorder. (Les not Mark)

French polish is slow...

Good problems :D

Yes, French polish is slow but, it's coming along. I have photographic proof!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1661/...ca5cd19c_c.jpg

The first leveling is done. I am doing the second build coats, then another leveling, little more build, wait for it to harden some, then shine it some more. Your right, it's slow.

Mark

Mark,

That is stunning! Thank you for the pic.

Chris

Beautiful work Mark, simply outstanding.
Paul
(I worked in Peterborough for a few years. Nice place.)

Thank you Haasome!

We've been here in Peterborough for about three years now and love it. If ever you are coming up this way again call I'd be happy to give you the shop tour.

Mark

Quite a nice piece to emulate. 👍