Hatcher Studio '24

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Loggerenguitars

WOW!!! Mark, you are really a man of your word!! Really enjoying watching this one!!

Thanks for following along Loggerenguitars!

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I have tunnel 15 Redwood top and Mad Rose back set with the bracing. They haven't been voiced yet. That comes after the sides are set up:



You can see the bound pomele figured Sapele is inlayed. The Desert Ironwood inlays won't be done until the body is all closed up with the binding all on:



Thanks for following along!
Mark

[Guitars44me]

The video of Michael Lille playing Dustin’s guitar is LOVELY.

both the guitar, and the playing are amazingly beautiful

Way to go.

Paul

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Dustin Furlow just sent me this sound demo of his Greta being played by Michael Lille. Since I'm starting this thread off with a Greta build I thought I should pass it on:



Thanks Dustin and Michael!

Mark

This is worth repeated listening!!!

Paul

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

This is worth repeated listening!!!

Paul

Thanks for not letting this one just slip by!

Mark

[nootis]

Wonderful build thread and beautiful designs Mark. However, the video of Michael Lille playing Dustin's guitar really stole the show for me. His playing and this tune are the stuff I dream of being able to do. Maybe someday.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by nootis

Wonderful build thread and beautiful designs Mark. However, the video of Michael Lille playing Dustin's guitar really stole the show for me. His playing and this tune are the stuff I dream of being able to do. Maybe someday.

Thanks nootis, I'm very impressed by Michael's playing too! I like how he keeps the bass notes so clear and full using just the flesh of his thumb. Actually, he keeps it all so evenly balanced. I dare to take a little bit of credit for that, to be honest

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm bending and setting up the Mad Rose sides:





Mad Rose is a pleasure to work with and is easily bent. You can see I am bending the treble side in the side bender. We are going with a Florentine cutaway which will be bent separately.

Thanks for following!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

We landed on what we're doing with the fret markers for this Desert Ironwood Fretboard:



The fret markers will be the side shoulder style markers and we're sticking with wood as this is part of the theme for this guitar. We're selecting a hard wood that offers nice contrast against the dark Desert Ironwood face and the medium toned pommele figured Sapele binding which will be on the sides.
I've already been using the Desert Ironwood sapwood in the decorative pieces and it is light enough to provide the easy visibility we want for fret markers.

I have a section of Desert Ironwood burl sapwood that provides the visibility and has nice up close details to keep it interesting:



We have a winner!

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I have the sides bent and before I put the bender away I am making the pommele figured Sapele binding. After I cut it roughly to size I hand plane it to final dimensions. I hand plane it because when planned glue adhesion is greatly increased. Nobody likes to have binding separate!
Also a planned surface will show off that beautiful pommele figure:



This little plane when well sharpened make the job a cinch with no grain pull out:



The thickness adjustments on the sides make the work extremely accurate and easily repeatable.

From here I'm ready to run all the purfling and binding through the bender:



Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

We have the the sides coming together. Here the end block is in place and the heel block and cutaway wedge are being glued:



Here the side braces are on and the finger and arm bevel supports and the kerfing are being glued on:



Thanks for following along!
Mark

[SaintClarence27]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

We landed on what we're doing with the fret markers for this Desert Ironwood Fretboard:



The fret markers will be the side shoulder style markers and we're sticking with wood as this is part of the theme for this guitar. We're selecting a hard wood that offers nice contrast against the dark Desert Ironwood face and the medium toned pommele figured Sapele binding which will be on the sides.
I've already been using the Desert Ironwood sapwood in the decorative pieces and it is light enough to provide the easy visibility we want for fret markers.

I have a section of Desert Ironwood burl sapwood that provides the visibility and has nice up close details to keep it interesting:



We have a winner!

Mark

I really love your design choices, Mark, but being an amateur woodworker, I'm a big fan of just celebrating the beauty and versatility of the wood itself. This design seems to do that perfectly!

[Treenewt]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

This little plane when well sharpened make the job a cinch with no grain pull out:



The thickness adjustments on the sides make the work extremely accurate and easily repeatable.

From here I'm ready to run all the purfling and binding through the bender:



Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Mark, what brand/model of plane is that? Super cool!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by SaintClarence27

I really love your design choices, Mark, but being an amateur woodworker, I'm a big fan of just celebrating the beauty and versatility of the wood itself. This design seems to do that perfectly!

Thanks SaintClarence27, I'm with you! I find the woods I get to work with are a constant inspiration for my work. Infinitely variable, surprising and a pleasure to work, wood deserves celebrating.

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Mark, what brand/model of plane is that? Super cool!

Hi Treenewt, that plane is a Bridge City HP-8 mini block plane. Bridge City has a number of contemporary, innovative woodworking hand tools that have found a home in my studio.
As always, I do not sponsor or receive incentives to endorse companies. I do endorse the current movement in woodworking toward innovative contemporary hand tools because I make better guitars with them.

Thanks for commenting!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is the back kerfing being glued up:



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