Hatcher Parlor - a Custom for J.R.

J.R. Rogers · #1 04-02-2014, 02:19 PM

Mark Hatcher is pretty brave to build a guitar for me. The last few builds I've posted have included alien meteorites, double-bodies, a copper-clad top, and one nylon-string with a neck joint that moves completely up and down.

so....

Pina Sketch by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

theEdwinson · #2 04-02-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.R. Rogers

Mark Hatcher is pretty brave to build a guitar for me. The last few builds I've posted have included alien meteorites, double-bodies, a copper-clad top, and one nylon-string with a neck joint that moves completely up and down.

so....

Pina Sketch by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

Hey, J.R., if anybody can do it, Mark can. He's got MAD SKILLS!

CoolerKing · #3 04-02-2014, 04:36 PM

This is a very cool design, a mini arch top but I assume it's a flat top? Can't wait to see this one come together.

Mark Hatcher · #4 04-03-2014, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.R. Rogers

Mark Hatcher is pretty brave to build a guitar for me. The last few builds I've posted have included alien meteorites, double-bodies, a copper-clad top, and one nylon-string with a neck joint that moves completely up and down.

so....

Pina Sketch by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

Brave? More like scared

. I think I've said before on the forum that you are just not really challenging yourself and it isn't really fun unless your a little scared!
I'm doing a lot of research for this one and trying out a few practice runs on things like binding an f-hole and optimum saddle height for a flattop parlor with f-holes and a trapeze tail pc. So far so good!

Thanks,
Mark

J.R. Rogers · #5 04-03-2014, 01:49 PM

Thanks! Here are some of the dimensions...
38 1/2" long
14" lower bout
8" waist
10 1/4 upper bout
4 1/8" deep at tail block
3 1/4" deep and neck

Specifications:
African Blackwood back and sides
163yr old Black Walnut for the neck
Western Cedar soundboard stained walnut
Macassar Ebony fretboard, bridge, tuner buttons and head plate
Maple binding everywhere
12-frets clear
F-holes, no soundhole
Sound port on the side
Short scale length (24.875?)
1 3/4" nut width, 2 1/4" string spacing
Bone nut and saddle
Tailpiece material(?)
Gloss finish
K&K Pure Mini Passive pickup

IMG_7509 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7510 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7512 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7513 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7515 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7521 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

IMG_7524 by hatcherguitars.com, on Flickr

Dru Edwards · #6 04-03-2014, 02:47 PM

Another great build thread, J.R. - looking forward to seeing the completed guitar! Looks like some great, aged, walnut. Going to sound amazing.

Berf · #7 04-03-2014, 05:18 PM

This is going to be a really interesting build... I'm really looking forward to seeing it come together and hearing what it sounds like one completed. What a beautiful design. All the best, berf

Nemoman · #8 04-03-2014, 06:19 PM

Looks like killer woods for this one! I'm not sure about staining that top walnut--that cedar looks pretty amazing as is. Should be a great one, J.R.!

ukejon · #9 04-03-2014, 07:47 PM

Guess where I was yesterday.....

Yep, with the great luthier Mark Hatcher at his shop in New Hampshire:

JR, I got to see the build in progress. This will be a fantastic guitar. The blackwood is stunning and I love the streaked soundboard.

I would strongly suggest that any of Mark's custom buyers and others as well should visit Peterborough. It is quite amazing to see what Mark does in this modest sized shop.

theEdwinson · #10 04-03-2014, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Brave? More like scared

. I think I've said before on the forum that you are just not really challenging yourself and it isn't really fun unless your a little scared!
I'm doing a lot of research for this one and trying out a few practice runs on things like binding an f-hole and optimum saddle height for a flattop parlor with f-holes and a trapeze tail pc. So far so good!

Thanks,
Mark

I'm very curious about how you plan to brace this top. This is a great opportunity to break out some new engineering concepts. I'm wondering what sort of sound and tonal palette you guys are looking to get with this interesting design. I'm thinking of that 1920's Epiphone Olympic archtop that David Rawlings has played for years now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8chFVi0EN0
Is this sort of what you guys are doing with this guitar?
Very cool concept! I'll be watching this build. A Hatcher/ Rogers collaboration!

Mark Hatcher · #11 04-04-2014, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theEdwinson

I'm very curious about how you plan to brace this top. This is a great opportunity to break out some new engineering concepts. I'm wondering what sort of sound and tonal palette you guys are looking to get with this interesting design. I'm thinking of that 1920's Epiphone Olympic archtop that David Rawlings has played for years now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8chFVi0EN0
Is this sort of what you guys are doing with this guitar?
Very cool concept! I'll be watching this build. A Hatcher/ Rogers collaboration!

Hi Stephen,

I know enough about archtops to know that I don't know anything about archtops other than I really like the way they look. This is definitely a flat top parlor. People are often surprised by how much projection a parlor guitar has.
I think you have to do a lot wrong to not get projection from a parlor. The challenge is to turn what could easily sound "harsh" into "lush". I'm starting the bracing design off close to the X-brace lattice hybrid system I normally use. The challenge is to work that with sound porting consisting of f holes and a side sound port.

Mark

Mark Hatcher · #12 04-04-2014, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukejon

Guess where I was yesterday.....

Jon,

It was great having you out. I've been building guitars full time for a year now which is truly the fulfillment of a dream for me. I have discovered that, being a fairly social person, running a one man shop really does set me up to welcome visitors!

Mark

J.R. Rogers · #13 04-04-2014, 10:33 AM

Jon, thanks for the great pic! Very cool that you got to spend some time with Mark at his magic shop.

Steve - Thanks and yes! Actually my idea on the aesthetic is very much inspired by the vintage parlors guitars. Many years ago I saw this beat-up old Washburn parlor that had f-holes and a walnut-shaded top. It was in terrible shape but I thought it looked cool anyway. The ones I've played have tended to sound more trebly (is that a word?), maybe a little brittle. I'd like to have the tone closer to a more modern fingerstyle instrument so, as Mark noted, he may have a challenge with the voicing.

Mark's design looks very graceful to my eye with the headstock matching up so nicely with the shape of the body. I also really like how the fretboard extension is kind of shaped to match the bridge. Beautiful lines throughout this whole design. I'm excited to see this materialize.