Hatcher's Studio '19

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Yes, the neck is fully laminated but, it isn't all Cocobolo. The cross grained Cocobolo sticks go into the neck blank about 3/16ths deep and the rest is usually Cherry or some other wood. The Black-Maple-Black purfling goes all the way through too. I make sheets of that and cut out the blanks.
I am not comfortable doing an entire cross grained center laminate because end grain glue joints aren't particularly strong.
It is a good look that is worth the extra work. I believe it is one of my little details that I was the first to do.

M

It's a great look and I've never seen it before.

Having made furniture for a living for 30 years, when I first saw that center strip with the grain running at 90 deg to the neck, I was shocked. In my experience, there'd be a structural problem if it were solid but not how you've done it.

Beautiful work.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by runamuck

It's a great look and I've never seen it before.

Having made furniture for a living for 30 years, when I first saw that center strip with the grain running at 90 deg to the neck, I was shocked. In my experience, there'd be a structural problem if it were solid but not how you've done it.

Beautiful work.

Thanks runamuck, I offer a variety of headstock and bridge designs which are typically branding designs with builders. I consider this feature one of my signature designs.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

All ready for finish! I shot all these picture dry. I wanted a nice set of the before finish to compare to the huge change we'll see in the after finish pics!











Thanks for following along!

Mark

[TomB'sox]

That looks beautiful, yes, I predict a huge difference with finish!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

That looks beautiful, yes, I predict a huge difference with finish!

Thanks Tom, that “Fiddleback Tree” really is special. I’m looking forward to finishing this one up!

Mark

[runamuck]

I, almost always, prefer the look of raw wood and have wished there was some way to finish that didn't change it.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by runamuck

I, almost always, prefer the look of raw wood and have wished there was some way to finish that didn't change it.

I agree that well worked unfinished wood has a great look and feel. Some resinous woods like Rosewood can be buffed on a dry cotton wheel and the heat will draw up enough resin to give if a gloss but essentially raw finish.
I also like the look of well handled wood that is worn with use like you’ll see on tool handles.

[Naboz]

I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds,
I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds,
I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds...

...and then I do. I think of myself as a humble man, but I'm having a hard time keeping covetous thoughts away; I want that guitar!

Next time I visit Hatcher's Studio build thread, "I want THAT guitar!"



Your work is so very nice, Mark.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Naboz

I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds,
I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds,
I'm not going to look at any more Hatcher builds...

...and then I do. I think of myself as a humble man, but I'm having a hard time keeping covetous thoughts away; I want that guitar!

Next time I visit Hatcher's Studio build thread, "I want THAT guitar!"



Your work is so very nice, Mark.

Thanks Naboz,

Guitar building is an adventure for me. I find inspiration in so many different ways and directions. Often it comes as a complete surprise from completely unexpected sources. I've been at it for almost 20 years now and I still feel I'm just scratching the surface. How lucky am I?

[mikealpine]

It is most unfortunate that my money supply runs out before the number of wood combinations I want to own, especially when combined under your expert and elegant designs. That's simply beautiful!

[Nemoman]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

It is most unfortunate that my money supply runs out before the number of wood combinations I want to own, especially when combined under your expert and elegant designs. That's simply beautiful!

+1 to this and well said--expert and elegant designs!

I'm not normally a hog fan, but this build is definitely making me rethink my opinions. Really looking forward to some videos of this one!

Well done once again, Mark...

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

It is most unfortunate that my money supply runs out before the number of wood combinations I want to own, especially when combined under your expert and elegant designs. That's simply beautiful!

Thanks Mike, There are some great combinations of woods out there! Thanks for commenting.

Originally Posted by Nemoman

+1 to this and well said--expert and elegant designs!

I'm not normally a hog fan, but this build is definitely making me rethink my opinions. Really looking forward to some videos of this one!

Well done once again, Mark...

Thanks Nemoman, wait till you see this one under finish. We’ll make you a Mahogany lover!

Thanks for the comments!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

While the Fiddleback Tree guitar is away for finish I thought I'd catch you up on another build I have going. This one started a couple years ago when I came across this old billet of Koa that a retiring luthier had:





Nicely figured and well quartered:



I was afraid to re-saw it and so there is sat along with a 100lb log of Black Ebony waiting for me to get enough confidence up to dig in. So I got a much better saw for re-sawing:





After months of tuning up the saw and my skills I was ready to bite into some expensive woods:



I was able to get about 6 guitars worth of wood from this billet. A custom order came through for a Koa Penelope and its start date finally came up on the build list. We picked out this set:





We matched it up with a super lightweight Western Red Cedar top and Amboyna burl is going to be in there:



We're going to use a dark trim wood for the binding etc. and there's going to be bacon figures African Padauk cross grained purfling in there too:



So that's how it started and there is more to come!

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[amohr]

Always enjoy your builds Mark, Looking forward to seeing the finish on the Fiddleback. Nice band saw! I own a Grizzly 14" such a great value. I assume the blade hanging on your peg board is the one that came with the saw... I changed to a Timber Wolf first thing myself.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by amohr

Always enjoy your builds Mark, Looking forward to seeing the finish on the Fiddleback. Nice band saw! I own a Grizzly 14" such a great value. I assume the blade hanging on your peg board is the one that came with the saw... I changed to a Timber Wolf first thing myself.

Thanks amohr, I like to use the Timber Wolf blades too and I did, in fact, change that blade out first thing. I have a 14" Grizzly also. So I now have a bandsaw set up for straight cuts and one for curves. That's convenient.

Onto the guitar at hand. Here is a close up of the back halves and them being glued up:





The center graft being glued up and shaped:





And the Amboyna burl logo:





On the Fiddleback guitar I used a special piece of Cocobolo for the trim and let its unusual grain carry a subtle theme in the overall look of the guitar. I am doing something similar with this cedar topped Koa guitar using this chunk of Amboyna burl to draw from:





There is a lot of contrast and interesting figure to work with here. I'm also using bacon figured Padauk for most of the purfling. No problem matching up colors because Amboyna burl is actually Padauk burl. I have no idea why they have different names. You can easily see the colors of the Padauk on the back of this guitar:



More to come!
Mark