Hatcher's Studio 2018

[mikealpine]

Mark, that guitar is so elegant! Your work, the artistry, never ceases to amaze me.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

Mark, that guitar is so elegant! Your work, the artistry, never ceases to amaze me.

Thank you mikealpine, I love what I get to do and hope it shows!

[quentinjazz]

Congrats, mark!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by quentinjazz

Congrats, mark!

Thanks Quentin!

[Mark Hatcher]

I made a bass guitar about five years ago for Graham Maby, the bass player for Joe Jackson (and many others). Graham just sent me a YouTube of a current project he is doing with Freedy Johnston. It's nice to see that bass is hanging in there!

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a recent start. It's my Josie small jumbo with an Ovangkol back and side set and an Engelmann Spruce top:



You can see the Macassar Ebony in this picture which will be used for the trim, fretboard and bridge.

So let's get started, shall we?














Bunch more to come!

Mark

[Nemoman]

Whoa--that is some sweet ovangkol!

Almost like koa or aussie blackwood.

Looking good so far, Mark!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Whoa--that is some sweet ovangkol!

Almost like koa or aussie blackwood.

Looking good so far, Mark!

Thanks Nemoman!

The figure and grain really are a bit like Koa. What I'm not capturing very well yet (depending on your computer screen) is there is more of a green cast with Ovangkol.
Tone wise, it is more toward the rosewood spectrum of weight and sound.
We're thinking of pairing Gotoh gold antique finish tuners with it. These tuners have a bit of that gold, coppery (is that a word?) look:



Thanks for commenting!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Today was about a rosette. We're playing off the colors of the Ovangkol and also the guitar is going to have Ovangkol radial purfling on the top so we'll border the rosette with it also.

First thought was some highly figured Olivewood:





Then we decided on this spalted Tamarind:





Here I'm routing the rosette pocket with my new Foredom set-up (which I'm just loving):



Gluing it in:



Cleaning it up:



A shot with the sound hole cut:



All set to begin bracing the top.

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Stevien]

That rosette is reminiscent of an old world mariner's map you'd find in a library. Very rustic looking!
Steve

[cigarfan]

Really cool Mark. Love the matching spalted Hatcher oval thru the soundhole. Classy.

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Today was about a rosette. We're playing off the colors of the Ovangkol and also the guitar is going to have Ovangkol radial purfling on the top so we'll border the rosette with it also.

First thought was some highly figured Olivewood:





Then we decided on this spalted Tamarind:





Here I'm routing the rosette pocket with my new Foredom set-up (which I'm just loving):



Gluing it in:



Cleaning it up:



A shot with the sound hole cut:



All set to begin bracing the top.

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

I’m concerned the back and top are too close to each other.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Stevien

That rosette is reminiscent of an old world mariner's map you'd find in a library. Very rustic looking!
Steve

Thanks for that observation Stevien. I agree it does an old look, another reason to go with those antique gold tuners!

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Really cool Mark. Love the matching spalted Hatcher oval thru the soundhole. Classy.

Thanks cigarfan, I was happy to see how much the brown in logo chip came up as I sanded it in the end. It was one of those nice little surprises that wood throws at you from time to time!

[swiftz07]

That rosette is beautiful, Mark! Am constantly amazed by your creativity and execution. Thanks for sharing!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by swiftz07

That rosette is beautiful, Mark! Am constantly amazed by your creativity and execution. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for commenting and for your kind words swiftz07!
Mark