MARK BLANCHARD Bristlecone [Italian Spruce | Brazilian Rosewood]

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Really cool Bob! Thanks for sharing.

Dennis, I look forward to seeing your smiling face after you demo it at the next luthier show that we meet up at...

Originally Posted by mhw48

The accursed body hump! I know it too well. On the other hand, I have never seen, heard of, nor even imagined a neck dial indicator tool. It is really fascinating to see how different luthiers work to solve common problems, often with quite individual solutions.

Yes, that is partly to my mind is what the AGF custom shop is all about. They all are kind of the same thing once assembled into a guitar, but the journey from wood to song differs. They also all sound a bit different which unfortunately is beyond the capability of the internet in my opinion (unfortunately recordings are technique, environment and player dependent). Attending luthier exhibitions are best for that. These types of threads can provide a prospective buyer with some insight into a builder’s approach...

[eKat]

Regarding Blanchard's manner by which to shape the fingerboard, as one legendary character in the industry put it, "Blanchard, you're a human PLEK Machine."

CRACK ME UP!

[iim7V7IM7]

It’s always frightening to see a 30 lb. steel contraption on the top of a guitar...

But Mark’s fret buck sure makes the upper frets go in nicely. It provides support to the fretboard extension so that the frets can be hammered in without the extension bouncing and vibrating. There are two “fingers” that push up on the underside of the extension when the big black knob is tightened. The more mass the better. Mark torch cut that beast out of 5/8” steel plate.

[cigarfan]

That sure is a beast of a contraption. Wow!

[dcn]

Wow indeed... that’s practically medieval

I hadn’t even noticed the guitar under there at first.

[iim7V7IM7]

Mark got the idea from Bob Taylor...

[eKat]

Hey, Bob . . . maybe Blanchard thought you were into HEAVY METAL!

HA!

[iim7V7IM7]

Mark sent me a few photos of the completed guitar today. The case from Jeff Hoffee is arriving today as well, so I believe the guitar will be shipped to me next week.

The Italian Spruce top is presenting some beautiful silking and the mottled Koa purflings are visually dancing a bit. You can also see Mark’s angled bone saddle (angled about 12 degrees toward the end block). The faint profile of clear polyester pickguard is also there if you look.





The dark Macassar Ebony binding lighter mottled Koa purflings both contrast and quartersawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. The set is quite sedate in its figure, but is the tight grained, quartersawn stuff we see all to little of these days. You can also see Mark’s continuous curvature Venetian cutaway with a smooth transition between the neck and body.



Here is the book matched Brazilian Rosewood peghead veneer with an Abalone “B”. Again, Mark used Macassar Ebony binding and tuner buttons as well as mottled Koa purfling to aesthetically tie it in to the body decoration.

[Nemoman]

Wow--it looks fantastic!

Beautiful BRW--and the silking in that top really is amazing...

[eKat]

Here’s to you, Bob. May you find untold hours of joy just lookin’ at this sucker - not to mention playin’ it. It is pure understated elegance.

[eKat]

Wow. . . sorry guys, I totally messed up the above post. I don't have the workings of this forum wired and I went in to edit something and lost most of it. Nonetheless. . . the bottom line is, Bob's new Blanchard is beautiful and I've been sharing it with my FB friends. They've been lovin' it. I hope Bob loves it as much as they do.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by eKat

Wow. . . sorry guys, I totally messed up the above post. I don't have the workings of this forum wired and I went in to edit something and lost most of it. Nonetheless. . . the bottom line is, Bob's new Blanchard is beautiful and I've been sharing it with my FB friends. They've been lovin' it. I hope Bob loves it as much as they do.

Thanks Kat...

[mhw48]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Mark sent me a few photos of the completed guitar today. The case from Jeff Hoffee is arriving today as well, so I believe the guitar will be shipped to me next week.

The Italian Spruce top is presenting some beautiful silking and the mottled Koa purflings are visually dancing a bit. You can also see Mark’s angled bone saddle (angled about 12 degrees toward the end block). The faint profile of clear polyester pickguard is also there if you look.

Wow, that is quite stunning — the twisting transition from the neck heel to the cutaway is really impressive.

[eKat]

I asked Blanchard to shoot down the neck onto his compound, contoured Venetian cutaway. A photo like that really shows the grace and perfection of such a complicated interpretation.

If he sends me one, I'll post it up.

[iim7V7IM7]

Mark received the custom case from Jeff Hoffee yesterday and it fits like a glove. Since the guitar has a 1” (3-1/2” to 4-1/2”) Manzer Wedge, a custom case was a must.