Malachite Machinga Meridian--New Baranik Build!!! - Page 4

Michael Watts · #46 03-11-2020, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Haha--yeah, we need to sway him away from his Super-Surf Electrics back to his Totally Awesome Acoustics!

I love Mike's electrics... such beautiful ideas and for someone with a massive surf jones they give me goosebumps

cigarfan · #47 03-11-2020, 06:32 AM

In the end it will be beautiful. Patience my man.

Nemoman · #48 03-11-2020, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Wow, that is quite a story, so if I am following, top numero 3?

Correctomundo! Although I don't believe the first top saw much time on the bench after the run out was detected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Hang in there!

Thanks, Matthew!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

I love Mike's electrics... such beautiful ideas and for someone with a massive surf jones they give me goosebumps

Mike's electrics are works of art with an awesome surf vibe to them!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarfan

In the end it will be beautiful. Patience my man.

Thanks, Dennis--no worries. It's all good!

riorider · #49 03-24-2020, 10:09 AM

With the (in my case self-imposed) lock down, I have more time to browse around... and I wondered so what's going on with K's build??? Thanks for the updates...

(I wonder if that pitch pocket can be avoided for a parlour top??? hee hee...)

Blue Spruce is such a special top, and I think Mike has 99% of the world's supply, at least in guitar sized pieces (they are typically small diameter trees...). With fresh strings it has a crystalline "chime" overtone that will blow your mind.

Very excited to see the rosette and how the malachite will be integrated into the build design elements..!

Also happy to have seen your original drawings when we were at Mike's in the fall. For me, the "story" is the "heart" of the guitar.

Thanks for posting!! Best, Phil

justonwo · #50 03-24-2020, 06:44 PM

Such a cool guitar!

Hi Phil!

Nemoman · #51 03-26-2020, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorider

With the (in my case self-imposed) lock down, I have more time to browse around... and I wondered so what's going on with K's build??? Thanks for the updates...

(I wonder if that pitch pocket can be avoided for a parlour top??? hee hee...)

Blue Spruce is such a special top, and I think Mike has 99% of the world's supply, at least in guitar sized pieces (they are typically small diameter trees...). With fresh strings it has a crystalline "chime" overtone that will blow your mind.

Very excited to see the rosette and how the malachite will be integrated into the build design elements..!

Also happy to have seen your original drawings when we were at Mike's in the fall. For me, the "story" is the "heart" of the guitar.

Thanks for posting!! Best, Phil

Hey Phil--I am really looking forward to having a guitar with what I consider to be Mike's signature top wood, Colorado Blue Spruce. I really loved the sound I heard when playing his guitars with that wood--very much like your description, "crystalline chime overtones". I can't wait...

...but I must. Shortly after selecting and joining our 3rd top, the California shutdown was imposed. So like all of us, Mike is sheltering in place as we await what the latest craziness brings us. I'm happy he is following the order and is staying safe at home with his family. Guitars can always come later...

So I'll post more once again as I have it when progress resumes. I'm really excited to see how all of the design elements play out. As I mentioned before, I feel fortunate that Mike is willing to incorporate some of the wacky ideas that were in those original drawings you saw. As such, it will be a special guitar for me.

Regarding the pitch pocket top, it may work for a parlor, but you'd be stuck with an already installed rosette that may or may not be to your liking!

Thanks for your continued support and for following along...

Quote:

Originally Posted by justonwo

Such a cool guitar!

Hi Phil!

Thanks Juston--playing your Meridian was one of the primary influences in my commissioning of Mike to build me this guitar!

riorider · #52 04-19-2020, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justonwo

Such a cool guitar!

Hi Phil!

Agree fully this will be an outstanding guitar!

And Hi Juston!!!

Phil

y'all will have to excuse us "baraniaks".... past, present, and future...

Deft Tungsman · #53 04-20-2020, 12:50 AM

Hey, Kevin.

While you're probably enjoying being surrounded by beautiful golden poppies, I remember your saying how much you like green.

So I thought I'd share a few shots of some faux malachite Baranik goodness to help tide you over until you take delivery of your fabulous MMM.

Phil's right, you know. Although we're apart, we Baraniaks have to stick together !

Nemoman · #54 04-20-2020, 09:05 AM

Thanks for that, Marc--Mike has definitely done some cool stuff with acrylics over the years.

And though I'm not yet officially a Baraniak (aka Baranuts?), I appreciate being welcomed into the society! Should be official one of these days soon...

OK, now I've got to go look back at my pics of this beauty so far!

Stay safe out there...

colins · #55 04-21-2020, 02:50 AM

Baranerds? Great to have you as an almost member Kevin!

Nemoman · #56 04-23-2020, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colins

Baranerds? Great to have you as an almost member Kevin!

That could work too!

Hopefully there's no initiation I need to go through?!

Nemoman · #57 04-23-2020, 04:18 PM

So like a kid on Christmas morning, I got all giddy after receiving a notification this morning that Mike had uploaded some new pics onto our shared build photo drive!

We're off to the races again. I'll preface this by saying that the rosette has been successfully installed and looks fantastic. But the epoxy is still setting up on the Malachite pieces, so no pictures of that for you all yet. But not to worry, we do have other build photos to share!

Mike has a process that's been documented before where he uses a plug in the soundport in order to create the binding. It gets cut back later. The plug used is Rocklite--we plan on using Rocklite binding and fretboard for this build...

I'm really digging the looks of wenge interior lams on the sides. Not that they'll be seen much, but we are using wenge for some of the decorative elements so it makes a nice tie into that--and it's a great tonewood. Not that it's being used for that in this instance necessarily, but all the elements contribute in some way, right? A few pics of the kerfed lining installation...

https://i.imgur.com/mdW2pdJ.jpg?1

And yes, somewhere under the torture chamber of clamps lies our hero, the Machinga back patiently lying in wait...

And lest we forget our hero, here he is again prior to entering the above ECV chamber of horrors...

To say I'm excited again again to have the MMM back in action is an understatement to say the least--a welcome diversion from the current chaos in which our world is immersed.

Thanks for following along...much more to come!

riorider · #58 04-23-2020, 07:33 PM

Excellent!! Thanks for the pics... as you say - a nice diversion from the (vewy vewy qwiet) strangeness surrounding us!

Best,
Phil

colins · #59 04-24-2020, 02:21 AM

I'm sure the luthiers use all those clamps to make the finished guitars tough!

Great to see some progress.

Nemoman · #60 04-24-2020, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorider

Excellent!! Thanks for the pics... as you say - a nice diversion from the (vewy vewy qwiet) strangeness surrounding us!

Best,
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by colins

I'm sure the luthiers use all those clamps to make the finished guitars tough!

Great to see some progress.

Thanks guys--progress is good indeed! Glad to see that Elmer is watching...