Greta Tree Guitar New Build
I'm excited to start up a new custom "Tree" build today. This is my fourth "Tree" guitar and will be the Greta grand auditorium model.
Here is the back set with some closer shots to show the amazing figure on this tortoise shell quilted set: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8ed7ddf7_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a4b6dbe4_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...33e1618a_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...35688b61_b.jpg For the sound board we selected a very old curly Redwood top with a lot of color character: https://live.staticflickr.com/7829/4...b0374dd8_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/7847/4...6ae6bc8b_c.jpg Some additional features decided on so far will be: Florentine Cutaway with access beveled top edge Arm Bevel Sound Port 25" String Scale Length 1 3/4" Nut 2 1/4" Saddle String Spacing There will be more decided on as we are in process. And we're off! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8e330e54_c.jpg Mark |
Looks like an amazing set of woods, Mark!
Looking forward to seeing you perform your magic--will be following along! |
Amazing. I lust after a guitar with this wood. What a treat that you are fortunate enough to get to build several of them!
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That's some of the most 3-D Tree I've seen - WOW!!:eek:
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I'd have trouble spending so much time looking at that gem and not playing the thing!
Mr. Hatcher, you continue to exhibit mastery of your craft! |
That is an incredible set of The Tree. Maybe my favorite. Mark, you have such a great wood collection!
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Impossible
...for me ro not be captivated by this wood. I am anxious to follow, even more so than usual...and that says a lot ;)
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Thanks for commenting! Mark |
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Wow
Now, THAT is The Tree indeed. Stunning. Can't wait to see it finished.
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I mentioned to Mark previously that although the Tree is absolutely perfect in its figure, for me the star of this show will be that curly redwood top. With finish that thing is going to be out of this world gorgeous.
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I wonder how much a set of 'Tree' mahogany like that costs. Stewmac are selling back and side sets of the 'Tree' that aren't as extraordinary as that for $6,000 per set. There are luthiers who will make you a very nice guitar for $6,000.
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SCGC charges $10,500 for The Tree. When it first hit the market, it was far cheaper.
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Mark, you build with some very fine woods! That Tree set is one of the nicest I have seen.
Ken |
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I believe with the better Tree sets, especially ones with the tortoise shell quilting, the best document to verify a Tree sets authenticity is simply a picture of it. That is how rare that figure is, it comes from just one tree. Mark |
More Pictures
Here is the Redwood top being joined:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...196e83d9_c.jpg Then the trick was to find a fretboard that goes with it: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5cb147b4_c.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ed8d9a81_c.jpg Macassar Ebony wins the day! Meanwhile the sides are bending: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...58f94da5_c.jpg And the back is getting it's backbone: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d5abd17b_c.jpg Thanks for looking! Mark |
That is hard to beat
..optically.. what a good looking combo of woods and fretboard!
Curious about what else is coming for appointments and - most of all - how it is going to sound as a pairing. :D |
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We selected this soundboard to go with The Tree back set because of the quick response, especially to a light touch to go with the playing style of the client. The Tree wood is very dense for Honduran Mahogany and sounds and acts more like Cuban Mahogany in my experience. Here's some more pictures. This is a side being laminated. I am using Honduran Mahogany to go with the Tree sides: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...262a1628_c.jpg Here I am shaving down the center back graft. This graft supports the glue joint holding the two sides together. The graft needs to be shaved down leaving just enough cross grained wood to secure the joint and no more. Any more wood left than necessary, especially on the edges, only creates stress lines going right down the grain line of the back. This is a typical example of many in guitar building where we don't want to target as little or as much, the target is the right amount. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...da238994_b.jpg Then comes the "H" logo. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d19ee172_c.jpg Thanks for viewing! Mark |
You can almost see the Startrek 'Live long and prosper' hand sign on the bottom part of the back set! Either that or the Texas Longhorns 'Hook'em horns'
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I'm going to have to stop in more often...I love these woods, and your artistic skills are going to turn this into something truly special. Looking forward!
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The guitar will be trimmed with Macassar Ebony similar to the fretboard. Since we have a lot of darker colored woods here we're planning to lighten it up a bit with some lighter colored flourishes. There is a lot more to come on this one! Mark |
Setting up Sides
The side are laminated and joined:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...11bd872a_c.jpg I have also set up the Spanish Cedar support for the arm bevel and the cutaway comfort bevel: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...eb65553f_c.jpg Meanwhile I have been working on the neck: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...24f6696f_c.jpg The center laminates are cross grained Macassar Ebony with Maple borders. The neck itself is Honduran Mahogany. Thank you for viewing! Mark |
..beauty unbounded.. disguised in a box.
Cool to get those step shots of the process...it seems so natural to see a finished guitar... but all the little things and bits that need to be done in the correct order, always with a picture of the desired outcome (and sound) in mind.. awesome if you can pull that off ! |
Spectacular wood. Looking forward to seeing it come together.
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Mark |
Sides Set
I have the sides pretty well set with the Spanish Cedar support wood in place for the arm bevel and the cut-away bevel. I'm careful to hollow these supports out some to save weight and air volume. This theoretically also helps with bass response. Of course, I have no way to test that so like many things on a guitar I'll put it in the best practices category. In any case, it saves weight and body air volume which is what I want and even though it's on the inside I think it looks cool.
I do have to say that if as builders we only did things that could be absolutely proven, guitars would sound like crap and would stay that way! :) Anyway, here's a picture: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3f575768_b.jpg M |
A very elegant interior, Mark--I'm excited to follow this one along!
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