Hatcher's Studio 2022

[Jobe]

Hey! Did somebody say "Bacon". That is as interesting as all get out! Do you find the wood stable and easy enough to work with? Nice.

[Mark Hatcher]

Well judging by the responses I'm glad I ordered the additional set!

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Wow--I like that set even better than the first one!

The veining in the sides is really special as well.

It is a nice set and I really liked those side too!

Originally Posted by canuck7

Wow, that second set is insane!!

Thanks, I can't wait for the sets to get here. It will be about a week.

Originally Posted by Lonzo

NICE !
.. I wonder why those two are not called Bacon Padauk.. someone must have mixed up the names...
Very curious as to which guitars you will transform them into and to their appearance under finish.

The first set is large enough for any of my models. It look like the second smaller set won't be large enough for the Josie small jumbo or the Dryad dreadnought but, four out of six isn't bad.

Originally Posted by Jobe

Hey! Did somebody say "Bacon". That is as interesting as all get out! Do you find the wood stable and easy enough to work with? Nice.

Padauk is a stable wood. I didn't have any issues even with the bacon figured stuff. It also not too bad to work with. I find it a little harder to bend than some woods. My biggest complaint is the red color is water soluble with means the saw dust is like Rit dye.

m

[ukejon]

I asked Greta about that snazzy padouk and she said “No comment!” while Josie just shook her head.

[canuck7]

Originally Posted by ukejon

I asked Greta about that snazzy padouk and she said “No comment!” while Josie just shook her head.

Meanwhile, Pina' kept her mouth shut, being the smallest of the group...

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ukejon

I asked Greta about that snazzy padouk and she said “No comment!” while Josie just shook her head.

Originally Posted by canuck7

Meanwhile, Pina' kept her mouth shut, being the smallest of the group...

Sets like that can cause a ruckus it seems!

Yesterday afternoon those Bariole' Padauk sets were delivered along with my repaired camera from Canon. So naturally I had to try it out on these beauties!





While I was at it I shot some of the new Spruce tops I've gotten in for stock.
This is a large torrefied Sitka set to replace the one I'm currently using on my new Dryad:



A very nice old Italian Spruce top:



And a Lutz Spruce top. Lutz is a hybrid between Sitka and Englemann or White Spruces. In this case it is Sitka and White. I've wanted to work with this spruce because I've heard so many great reviews. Plus, I have a number of White Spruce trees on my property which have been reminding my to keep a eye out for nice sets:

[Mark Hatcher]

This weekend I've been working on tuning up my new lapidary saw. I'm working to be able to cut very thin slabs of stone to use for inlay.
I am currently working with one of the hardest stones: granite and today I've had success cutting Bethel White Granite which is quarried here in Vermont.



I've got slices down to my goal of .050"



That is so thin it is translucent and you can see the shadow of my finger through it:



You can even see the color of my skin through the stone.
The reason it needs to be so thin is if I am using it for a rosette it has to be considerably thinner than the top I'm putting it in. Plus it's important to keep the weight from building up.

[Al Mojo]

Looking good, Mark!

[canuck7]

How durable do you think it is, with the top vibrations…??

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by canuck7

How durable do you think it is, with the top vibrations…??

I bet it will be "incased" in CA glue and will not be a problem. My guess anyway.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Al Mojo

Looking good, Mark!

Thanks Al Mojo! I’m happy it is working out. If I can do granite, I can do most any stone.

Originally Posted by canuck7

How durable do you think it is, with the top vibrations…??

That is a reasonable question. The amount of vibration is something to pay attention to. For instance, I wouldn’t want to do a solid ring rosette with one piece of stone. I can’t cut one anyway. It will be quarters or smaller that make the ring. The area around the sound hole is well braced to add stability for said hole so there isn’t much movement anyway to affect a stone rosette.

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I bet it will be "incased" in CA glue and will not be a problem. My guess anyway.

That is a good guess. CA glue is commonly used to stabilize gemstones in jewelry. It would be a good practice with stonework on guitars as well.

[Mark Hatcher]

I really enjoy planning my spec builds to show my new Green Mountain offerings. My grand auditorium Greta will have a Florentine cutaway, my throated side port, all titanium 2-way truss rod and an arm bevel. The back and sides will be this Bariole' Padauk set:



The top will be this Lutz set:



It will have a Hard Maple neck and the headstock will be the single large opening style. Here are the Scheller tuners I have for it:



I have also been working to get my stone working chops up to par, I'm sure there will be stonework involved in the guitar trim which will likely be Blue Turquoise or possibly some local Black Champlain Granite, we'll see.

m

[The Bard Rocks]

Though that is more eye-catching, I think my Padauk is more interesting. One should love what they have. If it sounds like mine, someone will have something very special. (For those curious, it's between RW and 'hog.)

[GeoffStGermaine]

Mark,
A couple of comments:

That Padauk is amazing.

It's very inspiring seeing the direction you are headed with your guitars. It really seems that you're very successfully blending your artistic and technical style into guitars that really have a lot of aesthetic and musical appeal. I get the impression that, perhaps, some of the elements that you're incorporating like the Scheller tuners, for instance, seem to fit into you being able to market your instruments exactly how you want them to be instead of being constrained by a couple of things that seem to constrain instrument builders such as price point and market appeal.

Cheers,
Geoff

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

Though that is more eye-catching, I think my Padauk is more interesting. One should love what they have. If it sounds like mine, someone will have something very special. (For those curious, it's between RW and 'hog.)

Thanks for commenting. Your guitar is more curly figured where this wood is more about the grain. I like them both and think they will be very close tone wise.

Originally Posted by GeoffStGermaine

Mark,
A couple of comments:

That Padauk is amazing.

It's very inspiring seeing the direction you are headed with your guitars. It really seems that you're very successfully blending your artistic and technical style into guitars that really have a lot of aesthetic and musical appeal. I get the impression that, perhaps, some of the elements that you're incorporating like the Scheller tuners, for instance, seem to fit into you being able to market your instruments exactly how you want them to be instead of being constrained by a couple of things that seem to constrain instrument builders such as price point and market appeal.

Cheers,
Geoff

Thanks Geoff! I work hard to stay on a path of incremental improvements in my building techniques, designs and materials. I keep my eye on quality improvements in the sound, playability and sound of my work.
I frankly don’t spend a lot of time trying to find efficiencies in processes or deals on materials. I leave that to the factories and work at improving my skills through experience and building my relationships with small enthusiastic suppliers.

m

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm just back from visiting my son and family out just south of San Francisco. I went rock hounding with my grand daughter at the shore in Pacifica and came across some nice Green Jasper. I am enjoying this new found pass time treasure hunting for guitar rosette and trim materials!