Hatcher's Greta GA Cutaway in "The Tree"

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is what the top will look like with the back showing my logo;



I find it much easier to light the interior of the guitar for this shot by building a guitar that doesn't have sides

Speaking of sides, I have a wonderful side set for this guitar. They are perfectly matched;





I wanted to work some of the spalting into the headstock and came up with this little idea;



Thanks for viewing and I hope everyone enjoys the holidays!
Mark

[Aubade Acoustics]

Mark, That is one classy looking piece of work. I liked the first rosette but the second seems to be a different look and I agree about liking it better. It is so frustrating when that happens and the hardest part is having to route it out and start over.

[ukejon]

Great looking guitar. The parts of the new rosette have the kind of balanced scale and eye-catching contrast that really makes the whole thing pop. Are you going to do the 12th fret inlay on this one or keep it pure and plain?

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Are you going to do the 12th fret inlay on this one or keep it pure and plain?

Since we're going with a figured Brazilian Rosewood fretboard there won't be a 12th fret Greta inlay. That inlay looks really great with ebony and you'll see more of them as I am already getting requests.

Thanks
Mark

[gstring]

dgd

[Billy Boy]

Mark, I love watching your build threads! When I first saw The Tree mahogany, I was pretty sure Jay was behind this somewhere. He sure has some beautiful sets, though I understand quite a few of them went out the back of his Prius on his last trip. Those who have purchased some of Jay's sets have some fantastic wood that is getting more rare all the time.

I know you'll build "up" to the marvelous wood you're working with. This is going to be so much fun to watch. And, I think your decision to re-do the rosette just goes to show how you approach your art. Regardless of how nice it looks to many, if it doesn't please you as the artist, you'll re-do it. Good on ya'!

Love your choice of binding as well.

[Mark Hatcher]

Thanks Billy Boy,

This wood truely is a pleasure to work with. Not much to show today
I'm building molds to put the sides into when I laminate them.
It's a much bigger deal to redo a side than a rosette. I'm doing everything I can to put the odds in my favor for getting it right the first time.

Thanks again,
Mark

[ukejon]

That inlay looks really great with ebony and you'll see more of them as I am already getting requests.

Very cool...now please do keep in mind that I want a $0.03 commission on each of these requests.

[BBWW]

I had a few orphan sides that would have worked well for Lam Sets. Sorry about that.

[Mark Hatcher]

I've successfully bent the sides after thinning them down more than I normally do. I am laminating several additional thin layers of mahogany on the inside which will add a great deal of strength and durability. Additionally, the laminate will help secure the sides from developing any waves in all of that wild figure. Here I am gluing up one of the sides;



Thanks for following along!
Mark

[BBWW]

Bending is the scariest part of "Tree" Mahogany. Well, done. I looking at buying 10 more boards, sausage curl, and going to cut a billet or two thin for folks that want to do double sides or lam sides. So for the Tortoiseshell I have left, at least I can offer thins of sausage curl so it can be an "all Tree" double side.

[harvl]

Good Job! now the hard part is over and you can enjoy the magnificence of the Tree! My favorite steps are 1. first coat of finish 2. first strum! (and yes... in that order )

Harv

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by harvl

Good Job! now the hard part is over and you can enjoy the magnificence of the Tree! My favorite steps are 1. first coat of finish 2. first strum! (and yes... in that order )

Harv

Thanks Harv,

It is a bit of a terror bending those sides! Today I glued up the inside of the cut away so tomorrow I can get moving again with the assembled sides.

Happy New Year!
Mark

[mlb3164]

Great work!!!!! That has to be very unnerving to bend the sides of such beautiful wood. I guess experience pays off when working with highly figured woods.

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Thanks Harv,

It is a bit of a terror bending those sides! Today I glued up the inside of the cut away so tomorrow I can get moving again with the assembled sides.

Happy New Year!
Mark

[harvl]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Thanks Harv,

It is a bit of a terror bending those sides! Today I glued up the inside of the cut away so tomorrow I can get moving again with the assembled sides.

Happy New Year!
Mark

Like I keep telling Jay... I'm glad I bent my first set back when I thought $500.00 was outrageous!

Harv