Hatcher Greta - 13-fret Black Walnut / Old Growth Western Red Cedar

[Nemoman]

Killer fretboard! I also love how Mark does the cross-grain laminate on the neck--really looking awesome.....

[cigarfan]

During my visit to Mark's shop I asked that we consider something other than a round hole for the soundport. Something unique and interesting but not distracting from the overall design. A soundport should be heard and not seen, so to speak. I really like what he came up with. Ties in nicely with the binding scheme and rosette. Design wise, quiet and classy.

The soundport(s) bound in BRW.



Back attached to the sides.

[Treenewt]

I'm not a big soundport guy...but that is very cool! Love that design! This is going to be an incredible guitar!

[TomB'sox]

Hey Cigarfan and Mark. It looks great. I have had a similar conversations with Steve as well. He and Ryan have been bouncing ideas off each other and I don't think we know yet what is coming. That being said, this looks super nice. I really like them. As you said, they are there, but look subtle and add beauty and class to the look all at the same time.

Looks like you just snuck ahead a little, we are at linings and then side braces and sound hole construction next.

Again, this works really well. Great job!

[invguy921]

WOW!! What a gorgeous instrument coming together here! I love some of the personalized appointments you've chosen! This should be a fantastic guitar!

[TomB'sox]

Please excuse my ignorance, but are the sound ports bound in the same way as the regular binding on the box is? Does he cut the shape and then router a channel and fit the BRW in? I ask because it looks to go all the way through from the top surface of the sides to the inside of the sides so that no end grain is exposed?


Thanks...Tom

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Please excuse my ignorance, but are the sound ports bound in the same way as the regular binding on the box is? Does he cut the shape and then router a channel and fit the BRW in? I ask because it looks to go all the way through from the top surface of the sides to the inside of the sides so that no end grain is exposed?


Thanks...Tom

Hi Tom,

The BRW goes all the way through the side however, inside I have three .020" laminates of Black Walnut to check splits and support the side there. The BRW doesn't go through that but it is faceted away from the hole.

Mark

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Hi Tom,

The BRW goes all the way through the side however, inside I have three .020" laminates of Black Walnut to check splits and support the side there. The BRW doesn't go through that but it is faceted away from the hole.

Mark

Thank you Mark for the explanation. I am sure it is one of those things that if I was there and saw it, it would make perfect sense and I would not have had to ask. It looks really good though!

Tom

[cigarfan]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

I'm not a big soundport guy...but that is very cool! Love that design! This is going to be an incredible guitar!

Thanks Matt. I have become a real fan of a soundport. Especially when I'm playing by myself.

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Hey Cigarfan and Mark. It looks great. I have had a similar conversations with Steve as well. He and Ryan have been bouncing ideas off each other and I don't think we know yet what is coming. That being said, this looks super nice. I really like them. As you said, they are there, but look subtle and add beauty and class to the look all at the same time.

Looks like you just snuck ahead a little, we are at linings and then side braces and sound hole construction next.

Again, this works really well. Great job!

Thanks Tom. I think both of us are at the same excitement level though.

Originally Posted by invguy921

WOW!! What a gorgeous instrument coming together here! I love some of the personalized appointments you've chosen! This should be a fantastic guitar!

Thanks Mike. I believe you are right about that fantastic guitar thing!

[cigarfan]

More pics from Mark. Today the body has come together.

The back is on.





The luthier signature inside the top.



Top attached to close the body.

[Nemoman]

Very nice, Cigarfan! Really love the wavy grain pattern on the sides--that backstrip is looking mighty fine as well...

[TomB'sox]

WOW just look at that walnut. I really like the abalone on each side of the back strip as well. Is that going on the top also as the purfling?

[cigarfan]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Very nice, Cigarfan! Really love the wavy grain pattern on the sides--that backstrip is looking mighty fine as well...

Well thanks Nemoman. I was taken with this Walnut set from the first time I saw it. Mark gave me some options during my visit but I ended up hanging with this one. Looks schweeet!

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

WOW just look at that walnut. I really like the abalone on each side of the back strip as well. Is that going on the top also as the purfling?

Walnut = WOW ... works for me!

Abalone everywhere. I told Mark there couldn't be too much ab. Right now it's top, back, sides and rosette. I'm thinking we could extend that to headstock and sides of the fretboard. Waiting to hear from Mark on that. I've asked for an ab "something" (Mark's design) at the 12th fret but no other fret markers on the face of the fretboard itself. That lets the striped BRW fretboard shine!

[cigarfan]

The endgraft is in. There is a K&K going into this guitar so nothing fancy in the middle of the endgraft but I love the fretboard/bridge matching piece of BRW. Mark proposed Tamarind inlays in the BRW arm bevel in a shape similar to the soundport. I think that would be awesome!

[TomB'sox]

You don't need any fancy inlay in that end graft when you have a fantastic piece of wood like that!!! Wow. Curious to see the arm bevel results, that sounds cool.