Hatcher 100th Guitar!

[Treenewt]

Simply stunning Mark. Beautiful work!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by rule18

Wow Mark, that's beautiful!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Simply stunning Mark. Beautiful work!

Thank you Treenewt.

[Mark Hatcher]

The finish for the back, sides and satin neck is done. I will be starting the french polish on top next. Here are some update photos:











m

[j. Kinnaird]

I love this peg head Mark. The sculpted snakewood really looks great. Is this guitar destined to have silk and steel strings or nylon strings or is it braced for steel strings. The reason I ask is the post on the tuners. I inadvertently ordered the same posts for a steel string guitar and sent the tuners back to get the posts swapped out. Seeing what you have done I am wondering if I should not have bothered to do that.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

I love this peg head Mark. The sculpted snakewood really looks great. Is this guitar destined to have silk and steel strings or nylon strings or is it braced for steel strings. The reason I ask is the post on the tuners. I inadvertently ordered the same posts for a steel string guitar and sent the tuners back to get the posts swapped out. Seeing what you have done I am wondering if I should not have bothered to do that.

Thanks John, i really like these posts and they are good for both steel and nylon strings. In this case the guitar will have steel strings.

Mark

[Hexcore]

Congratulations, Mark, not only for the milestone, but for helping us all see that milestones are markers on a continuing journey, not destinations themselves. There is no destination. I am a lifelong painter, and what I have come to respect and love about my peers is that they work in a practice where virtually no one repeats themselves, and virtually everyone is relentlessly seeking challenge, and to do something they have not done before. Sure, there are numerous hacks who just coast along producing whatever comes with relative ease, but among real painters, not all of whom succeed in the market (by any means), this innate seeking after something new that is hard to do is wonderful to see. Some of us seek what is easy and comfortable to do, and some of us seek to "make it new" every time we go to work. Your guitars are beautiful, and your work is a contribution to the musical life of many, and that's a great way to make a better world.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Hexcore

Congratulations, Mark, not only for the milestone, but for helping us all see that milestones are markers on a continuing journey, not destinations themselves. There is no destination. I am a lifelong painter, and what I have come to respect and love about my peers is that they work in a practice where virtually no one repeats themselves, and virtually everyone is relentlessly seeking challenge, and to do something they have not done before. Sure, there are numerous hacks who just coast along producing whatever comes with relative ease, but among real painters, not all of whom succeed in the market (by any means), this innate seeking after something new that is hard to do is wonderful to see. Some of us seek what is easy and comfortable to do, and some of us seek to "make it new" every time we go to work. Your guitars are beautiful, and your work is a contribution to the musical life of many, and that's a great way to make a better world.

Thank you for your thoughtful insights. I agree it is the new challenges that keep the work inspiring. My motto is, “If you aren’t scared you are not pushing hard enough”.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I haven't posted much on this guitar for a bit. I am French polishing the top and it, while not particularly time consuming, is a slow process:



Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

While the French polish process is going on I can do a couple of the other remaining jobs for my 100th guitar.

I started making the finger rest:



One advantage of an elevated fretboard is there is room to suspend a finger rest above the soundboard. This way the tone is protected and the fragile French polished Western Red Cedar top won't get beat up.
This is one of my goals which is to never have a reason to touch the guitar top. The finger and cutaway bevels are part of this plan as well.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm working away getting my guitars ready for the Woodstock show. I've finished the french polishing on both the Shasta Special 100yr 00 Woodsman and my new 14 fret OM Penelope model otherwise know as my 100th guitar.

I have the strings on and and have mounted the suspended finger rest:





Thanks for viewing!
M

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

I'm working away getting my guitars ready for the Woodstock show. I've finished the french polishing on both the Shasta Special 100yr 00 Woodsman and my new 14 fret OM Penelope model otherwise know as my 100th guitar.

I have the strings on and and have mounted the suspended finger rest:





Thanks for viewing!
M

Oh my, that is a ridiculously beautiful guitar. I've been following along since the beginning, and the big reveal here at the end made it worth the time it took to get here!!! Congrats on your 100th guitar, it truly reflects your master level skill, and thanks for documenting the build with such great photography!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

I'm working away getting my guitars ready for the Woodstock show. I've finished the french polishing on both the Shasta Special 100yr 00 Woodsman and my new 14 fret OM Penelope model otherwise know as my 100th guitar.

I have the strings on and and have mounted the suspended finger rest:

Thanks for viewing!
M

Wow what a striking guitar Mark
A bit more bling than I personally like but tasteful non the less

I do however really like and could see me opt for the sting pins.

So since it's a suspended finger rest (very cool BTW) I assume one is stricktly prohibited from flat picking it juss kiddin'

[Guitars44me]

Very VERY beautiful

Love the dyed burl? accents and the snakewood bits especially

Way to go Mark!!

Have FUN at the show…


Paul

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Wow what a striking guitar Mark
A bit more bling than I personally like but tasteful non the less

I do however really like and could see me opt for the sting pins.

So since it's a suspended finger rest (very cool BTW) I assume one is stricktly prohibited from flat picking it juss kiddin'

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Very VERY beautiful

Love the dyed burl? accents and the snakewood bits especially

Way to go Mark!!

Have FUN at the show…


Paul

Thanks for the comments Paul and KeyWind,

The wood that I used for the top purfling and rosette is not shell, burl or dyed. It is naturally occurring White Pine from my backyard. There is what is called the Mountain Pine Beetle in my area that eats White Pine. The beetle carries a fungi that infests dead pine and helps break it down into something the beetle can eat. The fungi leaves a permanent coloring called Blue Stain and around where I live it is particularly colorful and bright. It's a perfect contrast to most top woods.

Here is an old branch with the Blue Stain Fungi:



I hunt around for it and dry it out for my own purposes:



Once the wood is dried I stabilize the best cuts:



From there I can cut sticks for purfling and thin sheets for rosettes:





OK, I do have two little strips of abalone on the rosette border but, well, it is my 100th guitar and all

Mark

[K20C]

I personally like guitars with a little bling if it’s tasteful. Yours is absolutely gorgeous.