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  #16  
Old 01-08-2022, 05:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Jamiejoon View Post
Mark, you have such an amazing wood collection, and fantastic taste and artistry to go with it.
Thanks Jamiejoon, I appreciate your kind words. I’m proud I get to work with so many inspirational materials and being able to do what I do for a living.

m
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
  #17  
Old 01-10-2022, 01:30 PM
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Default Bracing the Back

Here are the braces going onto the back:



I am doing lattice style bracing which is great for making an active back. This style of back allows better base response and a very lightweight back that can be felt moving when played.

Meanwhile I am also starting on the Western Red Cedar top:



m
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
  #18  
Old 01-12-2022, 06:34 AM
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Default More Pics

Here is the back with the braces in place:



Back and top:



I am selecting and preparing brace wood for the top. I have a good stash of very well seasoned spruce for this. I typically use Sitka for tone braces and ADI for structural braces. The tone brace billets start out by splitting out squared up boards. These are split to eliminate run out on both the top and sides.

Let me correct what I just said there. Splitting out brace wood doesn't eliminate run out as much as it eliminates a lot of spruce that isn't straight grained enough to qualify as decent brace wood.
From here I split out the basic brace sticks which then get cleaned up and have the cross grain profile cut.

Here is a billet earmarked for X braces:



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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
  #19  
Old 01-12-2022, 07:12 PM
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Wow, it’s looking great [emoji106] just thought I would add this interesting tidbit!
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Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar
Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce
Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood
Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce
K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar
  #20  
Old 01-12-2022, 09:45 PM
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That Redwood top is simply beautiful.

If the article is true, I should live to about 110! Good news for sure.
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  #21  
Old 01-12-2022, 11:15 PM
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Well, I'm told that this is an old Howard Stern joke!!
But, I'm convinced that you're going to live past 110 years, given the rate of your commissioning!! I did want to ask you, though, do you have a rotational system to playing your guitars!!
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Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar
Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce
Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood
Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce
K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar
  #22  
Old 01-13-2022, 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by canuck7 View Post
Wow, it’s looking great [emoji106] just thought I would add this interesting tidbit!
I'm going to put on my "Just one more!" T-shirt.
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  #23  
Old 01-13-2022, 07:45 AM
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Well I hope anyone who reads this fine article takes note. If I can help anyone take advantages of this wonderful discovery please don't hesitate to reach out

In the meantime, in my mission to extend canuck7's days to play I have started bending the sides on this guitar:



m
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
  #24  
Old 01-13-2022, 12:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher View Post
Well I hope anyone who reads this fine article takes note. If I can help anyone take advantages of this wonderful discovery please don't hesitate to reach out

In the meantime, in my mission to extend canuck7's days to play I have started bending the sides on this guitar:



m
Awesome!! Life-extending for sure!

Poetry doesn't do it justice!! (not to take away from the poetry I've been reading on another thread!)
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Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar
Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce
Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood
Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce
K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar
  #25  
Old 01-13-2022, 02:28 PM
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Yes, the poetry, started on a whim, not I feel obligated to continue.

A strict rotation no, but one will get pulled out and played steadily for a week or more and then another one will make a visit. I usually change strings at that time and give them a general once over and clean up at that time also.
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  #26  
Old 01-13-2022, 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
Yes, the poetry, started on a whim, not I feel obligated to continue.

A strict rotation no, but one will get pulled out and played steadily for a week or more and then another one will make a visit. I usually change strings at that time and give them a general once over and clean up at that time also.
That makes sense, but just walking into that room!! You start drooling wanting to play every one!!
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Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar
Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce
Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood
Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce
K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar
  #27  
Old 01-15-2022, 09:54 AM
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Default Pocket Full of Rocks

I've been working away testing new candidate gemstones to use as inlay material. I've already posted my first blue Lapus Lazuli rosette and fretboard on the guitar currently in the finish process. The Lapus Lazuli has a great ultramarine blue color:













The ideal stone offers colors you don't find naturally in wood and it is soft enough to work without having to set up a separate lapidary shop.

Chrysocolla has a variety of nice blues and will be fun to be able to vary the shading with it:



A more traditional stone (or at least stone color) used with guitars is Turquoise, both blue and green:





I've looked long and hard to find a good workable red. Red Coral has a great color and is easily workable but like Brazilian Rosewood it is heavily cites regulated. Since I'm just starting out with stonework I figured I should find something else so I don't get spoiled by it (like I am with BRW).

I landed on Red Jasper which has a wonderful earthy red color:



I am working out the best abrasives and techniques while my mind is swimming with new ideas and possibilities. Just the way I like it!

m
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
  #28  
Old 01-15-2022, 10:31 AM
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Really interesting, Mark, and great colors! I'm partial to Jasper as I have a son named Jasper

How do you go about making them usable for inlay?
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  #29  
Old 01-15-2022, 09:00 PM
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I’m still thinking green turquoise…but don’t have anyone I know named after it!
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Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar
Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce
Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood
Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce
K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar
  #30  
Old 01-16-2022, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by morgankelsey View Post
Really interesting, Mark, and great colors! I'm partial to Jasper as I have a son named Jasper

How do you go about making them usable for inlay?
.

Thanks Morgan, It seems Jasper comes in a lot of colors. I don’t know if one color of Jasper is harder or softer than another but certainly one thing I’m saying about making gemstones usable for inlay is to be sure they are soft enough to work with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck7 View Post
I’m still thinking green turquoise…but don’t have anyone I know named after it!
Great! I’m thinking the green Turquoise is the best candidate for your guitar too! I am working to put together my ideas into a form I can send you a picture of. I’m hoping to have that by Weds or Thurs.

m
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“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”. Andrew Fletcher
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