Hatcher's Studio 2021

[Lonzo]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

The blue paua looks amazing with the desert ironwood!

I completely agree, that combo has a nice and unobstructive contrast to it and a very pleasing sparkle. Taste again, but this looks very tasty imo

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

The blue paua looks amazing with the desert ironwood!

Originally Posted by Lonzo

I completely agree, that combo has a nice and unobstructive contrast to it and a very pleasing sparkle. Taste again, but this looks very tasty imo

Thanks for the comments Nemoman and Lonzo. I agree! I've glued on the Ironwood burl headplate and started setting it up. We haven't decided on the color of the tuners yet but here it is with black:



When the finish is on it will show more depth and the coruscating gold fleck will really come to life in direct light.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Gluing up the center laminates which are:



Two Maple layers bordering a Desert Ironwood cross grained center. All sandwiched between 40yr old Honduran Mahogany



Black Ebony fretboard with blue Paua abalone Martinesque snowflake fret markers. This gets Black Ebony binding with blue Paua purfling:



And a Maple laminate is glued on the bottom.



Then all of that is glued onto the neck. You can also see the Desert Ironwood backstrap.

[Mark Hatcher]

I have about a day's worth of final clean-up and this guitar will be ready for finish:



While the guitar is in the finishing process I'll start posting on a 00 I have recently started.

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a new start I am doing for a local client. Actually, he is the owner of the landscaping company we have who are redoing our front yard. After he told me he plays guitar it didn't take long for me to lure him into my studio. So with a little bartering everybody wins .

This guitar will be a 00 with a Western Red Cedar top and Bocote.
I have some Western Red Cedar float wood that I have been eager to use. It has some striking color variations and wonderful tap tone.

Here are a couple pictures of the original billet I received. I am squaring it up with a jack plane:



Look at the colors in this wood!:



I was able to re-saw 11 top sets from this one billet because the diameter of the original tree was so large. Here they are from when I stickered them to be sure they were stabilized:



Here is the top we selected out:



And we're off!

Mark

[Joel Teel]

Hey Mark,

I love the variations of color in all those shavings, and the picture of the stickered tops is quite pleasing to the “ordered nature” of my brain…..

…..but most of all I wanted to say, “that top is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!”

joel

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Joel Teel

Hey Mark,

I love the variations of color in all those shavings, and the picture of the stickered tops is quite pleasing to the “ordered nature” of my brain…..

…..but most of all I wanted to say, “that top is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!”

joel

Thanks Joel, I agree they are beautiful. I couldn’t wait to get started with them!

Mark

[canuck7]

That is an amazing top…like a sinker redwood…love the color variation!

[Lonzo]

Originally Posted by canuck7

That is an amazing top…like a sinker redwood…love the color variation!

.... for lack of a “like” button.

Really nice! Lots of character.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Lonzo

.... for lack of a “like” button.

Really nice! Lots of character.

Thanks Lonzo!

Originally Posted by canuck7

That is an amazing top…like a sinker redwood…love the color variation!

Thanks canuck7. It is like sinker Redwood with the color variation but instead of being sunk it was driftwood.

Here is a YouTube about where it comes from:

[cigarfan]

That top is something else. Wow!

[canuck7]

I wondered about driftwood…great little video. There’s a lot of driftwood around Whidbey island and San Juan’s…always wondered if any of it was salvageable.
Thanks!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

That top is something else. Wow!

Thanks cigarfan!

Originally Posted by canuck7

I wondered about driftwood…great little video. There’s a lot of driftwood around Whidbey island and San Juan’s…always wondered if any of it was salvageable.
Thanks!

I suppose it's a matter of picking the right logs. Seems a number of the logs fall from barges along the shipping lanes.

Here is the top being joined:



With the top halves joined I have installed the Woodsman style Bloodwood rosette:



From here it's time to start on the first round of braces:



Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

We landed on a Bocote back and side set for this 00. The closer you look the more interesting the wood!



It will make a great sound and color match with this tri-color cedar top:



Joining the back:



The center graft:



And braces:



With a branded Bloodwood logo chip this is all coming together:



Thanks for following along!
Mark

[The Bard Rocks]

I've always thought Bocote looks exactly like a guitar back and side should look.