Hatcher Studio '16 #2

[Mark Hatcher]

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;



But this is where a guitar really starts;



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;



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;



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!



Thanks for getting through all that!
Mark

[lizzard]

"...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

[lizzard]

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

[ukejon]

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.

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

[Mark Hatcher]

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;



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



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:





The top is Swiss moon spruce.

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[ross748]

Love Ebony with Koa and abalone 👍

[Nemoman]

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

[lizzard]

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ross748

Love Ebony with Koa and abalone ��

Originally Posted by Nemoman

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

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.

Originally Posted by lizzard

Glad you like what you see there!

Mark

[dlowry]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

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

[lizzard]

Mark,

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

I'm doing MY part!



Chris

[Steve Kinnaird]

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

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Steve

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by dlowry

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

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.

Originally Posted by lizzard

Mark,

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

I'm doing MY part!



Chris

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!

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

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

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

[Mark Hatcher]

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;



So here goes. Here is the back set;



With master grade Swiss Moon Spruce;



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



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;



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

Thanks for checking this out,
Mark

[LouieAtienza]

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