Hatcher 100th Guitar! - Page 2

TomB'sox · #16 05-19-2023, 06:27 PM

Congrats. I am lucky enough to know a few luthies and these milestones whatever they may be are always important and significant to the journey and a feeling of success!

cigarfan · #17 05-20-2023, 02:32 AM

Quite the milestone! Congrats. I am happy to own #XXX and will say, it is the bomb. Hard to believe they keep getting better.

Mark Hatcher · #18 05-20-2023, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Congrats. I am lucky enough to know a few luthies and these milestones whatever they may be are always important and significant to the journey and a feeling of success!

Thanks TomB'sox! It's true. When I was first building guitars my dream to one day make as many as 40 guitars and get more than $7,000 for at least one of them. The dream is still alive but someone keeps moving the goal post!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Quite the milestone! Congrats. I am happy to own #XXX and will say, it is the bomb. Hard to believe they keep getting better.

Thanks cigarfan!

Mark Hatcher · #19 05-20-2023, 07:45 AM

The first thing to decide is which model. This is a milestone guitar so the choice is my 000/OM Penelope. It is my oldest model and has served as the test bed for most of my new ideas and innovations. Here are just a few things that the Penelope was a first.

Here I am experimenting burying most of the bridge on the inside of my 9th guitar:

When I wanted a hybrid nylon guitar model with the new lyre design headstock, it was the Penelope:

I chose a new way of building and started replacing power tools with hand tools. I also s l o w e d down and let the guitar set the pace instead of a scheduled time frame. I started my Unlimited Series and the first guitar was naturally a Penelope:

As is my way, this is the time for a new step. I am redesigning this Penelope from a 12 fret to a 14 fret guitar. I am keeping the same body profile but most everything else is changing. I'll admit now there will be a few of my favorite design elements from my past working their way back in.

Aspiring · #20 05-20-2023, 08:26 AM

Congrats on the milestone Mark. It was a pleasure meeting you and trying your guitars at LaConner yesterday.

Al Mojo · #21 05-20-2023, 08:29 AM

Congrats Mark! Semper ad meliora.

Mark Hatcher · #22 05-20-2023, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspiring

Congrats on the milestone Mark. It was a pleasure meeting you and trying your guitars at LaConner yesterday.

Thanks Aspiring except I didn't go to LaConner. The competition is getting tight!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Mojo

Congrats Mark! Semper ad meliora.

Thanks Al Mojo, onward and upward!

KevWind · #23 05-20-2023, 01:18 PM

Very cool Mark... congrats

Nemoman · #24 05-20-2023, 01:35 PM

Looking forward to seeing #100 and the next 100!

Congrats on the milestone, Mark--your work continues to impress!

Aspiring · #25 05-20-2023, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Thanks Aspiring except I didn't go to LaConner. The competition is getting tight!

Thanks Al Mojo, onward and upward!

Doh! Met too many great luthiers at the show.

I have admired your work on the forum though

Mark Hatcher · #26 05-20-2023, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspiring

Doh! Met too many great luthiers at the show.

I have admired your work on the forum though

Thanks Aspiring. I’m familiar with that overstimulation syndrome.

Steve Kinnaird · #27 05-20-2023, 05:05 PM

Congratulations, Mark! That’s quite an accomplishment!

Steve

Mark Hatcher · #28 05-21-2023, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Congratulations, Mark! That’s quite an accomplishment!

Steve

Thank you Steve!

Mark Hatcher · #29 05-21-2023, 04:27 AM

After selecting a model the next step is picking the top. My personal favorite top wood is Western Red Cedar. I'm a bit biased because, like many, I play fingerstyle with the flesh of my fingertips. WRC gives you the most response with the least effort. It's the one that you can hear your fingerprint as you pull a finger across the string.

I like WRC because I'm good with it. I get a lot of headroom from WRC. I have a way to brace and voice my cedar tops that makes a myth of not being able to dig in on Western Red Cedar but still hear that fingerprint.

The cedar top I selected is from an intrepid wood beachcomber in Vancouver Bay:

I like to think of this wood as having a humpback tonerite with years spent adrift and submerged in leviathan song. Then torrefied by the salty sun laying out baking on the rocky island shore.

m

KevWind · #30 05-21-2023, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

After selecting a model the next step is picking the top. My personal favorite top wood is Western Red Cedar. I'm a bit biased because, like many, I play fingerstyle with the flesh of my fingertips. WRC gives you the most response with the least effort. It's the one that you can hear your fingerprint as you pull a finger across the string.

I like WRC because I'm good with it. I get a lot of headroom from WRC. I have a way to brace and voice my cedar tops that makes a myth of not being able to dig in on Western Red Cedar but still hear that fingerprint.

The cedar top I selected is from an intrepid wood beachcomber in Vancouver Bay:

I like to think of this wood as having a humpback tonerite with years spent adrift and submerged in leviathan song. Then torrefied by the salty sun laying out baking on the rocky island shore.

m

"Hear your fingerprint " ha I like that

But I think you are correct about WRC and response. I was a dyed in the wool flat picker for 50+ years . But since getting my Josie with the Redwood B&C and WRC top I have actually started using bare thumb and fingers (not actual fingerpicking style) but a combination of rhythm strumming and sometimes single note embellishments . And I still alternate that with flat picking . And I have noticed with the flat pic I can use much less energy to get loads of projection .

For example here I am using it "bare fisted" to strictly drive the rhythm section.