Hatcher Italian Olivewood and Italian Alpine Spruce

[jessupe]

Very pretty guitar Mark. Does it ship with a pizza?

[Stevien]

A few leaves for fret markers, or none?
Steve

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jessupe

Very pretty guitar Mark. Does it ship with a pizza?

Thanks jessupe, That could be messy, maybe a nice seeded, crusty, loaf?

Originally Posted by Stevien

A few leaves for fret markers, or none?
Steve

I've been considering fret board inlays and leaves would be a strong contender. I'm hesitant to put markers on the fret board because of all of the grain lines already on the fret board. I'm thinking of leaving that option open and will decide after the neck is much further along.

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is the fret board starting to shape up;



Placed on the body:



Here is the sugar Maple neck blank cut out. You should be able to pick out a couple things you don't normally see on a neck blank:



The obvious one is it's got a fret board extension because it is going to have an elevated fret board. The other difference is the end of the headstock has a slight curl up. No, not a mistake. The headstock is going to have a sculpted head plate in the theme of the end graft and yes it is going to curl up a bit to increase the three dimensionality of it. Another reason I'm doing this is I think this is how a head stock should be. I don't like how the bottom edge on traditional head stocks just point down as they do, just begging for a nick or dent. I'm betting it will look a little weird the first time or two you see it but, after a couple times it will be the traditional head stocks that look unfinished.

[Jobe]

Very nice. I love her. And it wasn't just the twist in the headstock that seduced me. But I'm only human. Curves get me. Great!

[TomB'sox]

For what it is worth, I think that fret board would look great with simple ziricote dots. Dark to add contrast and enhance the grain of the olivewood....

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Jobe

Very nice. I love her. And it wasn't just the twist in the headstock that seduced me. But I'm only human. Curves get me. Great!

Well if it's curves that get you hold on till you see how this all plays out! Thanks for your comments.

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

For what it is worth, I think that fret board would look great with simple ziricote dots. Dark to add contrast and enhance the grain of the olivewood....

I'm with you on the dark accents Tom. I have something in the works.

[BrunoBlack]

Looking great Mark. I'm tuned in

[JoeCharter]

Wow this is a pretty guitar... Love the fretboard...

[Steve Kinnaird]

Still digging the rosette, Mark. Very creative!

Steve

[Guitars44me]

Looks good enough to eat, but I would much rather play it!!!

As for the elevated fingerboard, the new John Kinnaird I just received sounds as good as anything I have ever heard. I asked Jk for an elevated FB and some other fun innovations.

I am now a believer in the free floating top!

Your beautiful guitar is a real LOOKER, and I am sure it will sing beautifully too!

Just wonderful work! Thanks for sharing with us all.

Cheers

Paul

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Haasome

Looking great Mark. I'm tuned in

Thanks for following! Maybe you'd like to come up and see it in person when it's all strung up? Or in process, either way

Originally Posted by JoeCharter

Wow this is a pretty guitar... Love the fretboard...

Thanks for commenting Mau. There aren't a lot of lighter colored fret boards in the world of acoustic guitars.

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Still digging the rosette, Mark. Very creative!

Steve

Thanks Steve! I was trying for a bit messy natural look. Took me three months to turn that foggy idea into reality.

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Looks good enough to eat, but I would much rather play it!!!

As for the elevated fingerboard, the new John Kinnaird I just received sounds as good as anything I have ever heard. I asked Jk for an elevated FB and some other fun innovations.

I am now a believer in the free floating top!

Your beautiful guitar is a real LOOKER, and I am sure it will sing beautifully too!

Just wonderful work! Thanks for sharing with us all.

Cheers

Paul

Thanks for you comments and following along Paul! I have a way to go but, am happy to be getting such positive feed back. When you're trying new ideas that are somewhat off the traditional path you can't help but sometimes fear the party is only in your own head. But hey, my motto is "If you aren't scared, your not pushing hard enough"

[Jobe]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Thanks for following! Maybe you'd like to come up and see it in person when it's all strung up? Or in process, either way



Thanks for commenting Mau. There aren't a lot of lighter colored fret boards in the world of acoustic guitars.



Thanks Steve! I was trying for a bit messy natural look. Took me three months to turn that foggy idea into reality.



Thanks for you comments and following along Paul! I have a way to go but, am happy to be getting such positive feed back. When you're trying new ideas that are somewhat off the traditional path you can't help but sometimes fear the party is only in your own head. But hey, my motto is "If you aren't scared, your not pushing hard enough"

Keep doing your thing! You are gifted so fear not! I'm a fan for sure.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Jobe

Keep doing your thing! You are gifted so fear not! I'm a fan for sure.

Thanks you Jobe! I appreciate you following along on this

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a picture of the neck after I split the blank nd am gluing it back together with the laminates in place;



You can see from this picture I am sticking with an Olivewood cross grained center laminate bordered in black;



I chose a straight grained clear sugar Maple piece rather than one with any figure. I just thought figure would be a distraction to the overall look. I am also doing all of the Maple on the neck with satin finish for comfort and I believe the look will be right