Hatcher's Studio '20 #2

[Treenewt]

Mark, that Pina turned out amazing! Really love the tone in that sample clip, and I’d imagine that doesn’t begin to do it justice. Well done, sir!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Lonzo

Wow!
..it sounds BIG. Very warm and shimmery to my ears - matching her looks !
Thanks for the sound sample..

Thanks! and you’re welcome!

Originally Posted by doodahdoug

Stunning looks and sound on that Pina...I love it!

Thanks doodahdoug. This was a fun build. It was easier to re-saw and bend that roasted curly Sugar Maple than I thought it would be. A very pleasant surprise indeed. It even sounds as great as I hoped for!

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Sounds great, incredible sustain and prominent bass....another maple guitar blowing the stereotype out of the water.

Thanks Tom! Yeah, the roasting does make Maple a different animal. I like the color and it certainly adds to the highlights and sustain.

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Mark, that Pina turned out amazing! Really love the tone in that sample clip, and I’d imagine that doesn’t begin to do it justice. Well done, sir!

Thanks Treenewt! It does have a great sound and is well balanced, especially for such a small guitar. I see myself making more of these!

Thanks for commenting everyone!
Mark

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Sounds great, incredible sustain and prominent bass....another maple guitar blowing the stereotype out of the water.

Love it!


Paul

[Mark Hatcher]

Here are some pictures of my Red, White and Blue Piña parlor with the first gloss coat on. Should be about two more weeks before the finish is all on and cured:







Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Treenewt]

Mark, that Red, White and Blue is turning out quite lovely! The first few coats are really letting that wood pop!

[ukejon]

That neck strip is outrageously gorgeous!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Mark, that Red, White and Blue is turning out quite lovely! The first few coats are really letting that wood pop!

Thanks Treenewt it is coming together nicely!

Originally Posted by ukejon

That neck strip is outrageously gorgeous!

Thanks ukejon, it was a good day when I first tried using Amboyna burl!


Thanks for commenting!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I've been busy splitting, matching, gluing braces for the top and back on the "Tree" Josie:





Next steps will be carving and voicing the top and back. In preparation for that it's time to sharpen up the chisels.

I've mentioned earlier that I am working my way out of power tools. The first one to go is the Grizzly Tools electric grinder sharpener.
When you're committing to manual handwork your chisels, planes. etc. need to be sharp, really, really sharp. So I'm going back to hand sharpening but these days I can afford quality Ohishi waterstones and a very accurate honing guide:



Thanks for following along!
Mark

[Lonzo]

Hi Mark,
interesting to see how different top bracing can look - this one seems so slender (but possibly higher ?) than others you see..
is that a particular wood (you mention you choose; pick and match the braces) or more an 'architectural' thing ?

also: what is the wood you use for the bridge plate here ?

and then the back.. looks gorgeous like that, cant wait to see it flipped around ;o)

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Lonzo

Hi Mark,
interesting to see how different top bracing can look - this one seems so slender (but possibly higher ?) than others you see..
is that a particular wood (you mention you choose; pick and match the braces) or more an 'architectural' thing ?

also: what is the wood you use for the bridge plate here ?

and then the back.. looks gorgeous like that, cant wait to see it flipped around ;o)

Thanks Lonzo, At the same weight, tall and thin is a lot stiffer than short and fat. That means you can have a much lighter tall and thin brace that is the same weight as an equally stiff short and fat brace.
Tone wise it means you get a sufficiently stiff braced top with tall thin braces that is much lighter than one braced with short fat braces.
The lighter top will tend to have a quicker and louder response with better definition and balance.

I mostly use Sitka for my braces. The choosing I do is for particular pieces of Sitka whose characteristic vary within that species. I match braces in pairs, for instance, the two braces that make up the X brace are made from brace blanks that weigh the same and have the same deflection under a given weight.
Same goes for finger braces on the left to fingers on the right. On my larger guitars like the Josie the lattice braces between the lower legs of the X brace are matched.

Before I start voicing a Josie I have a symmetrically braced top. It is symmetrical in pattern, weight, and stiffness. This is the starting palette I strive for before I start voicing a guitar.

For structural braces such as the top transverse brace and the sound hole support braces I tend to use Adirondack. In these cases strength verses stiffness may be a little more important with weight being a lesser concern.

I use either Indian Rosewood or Hard Maple for bridge plates. In this case I’m using Hard Maple. I use them interchangeably. If I know a guitar is likely to be crossing International borders, I tend to use Maple.
Sound wise they both do exactly what I want them to.

Sorry, that may have been more than you were asking for! I tried to keep it short.

Mark

[Lonzo]

....

Sorry, that may have been more than you were asking for! I tried to keep it short.

..

not at all, very informative and interesting, thanks a lot !
Lonzo

[Treenewt]

Mark, thanks for sharing that info on bracing. I love discovering the different methods and thoughts behind your design. Nothing is left to chance!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Mark, thanks for sharing that info on bracing. I love discovering the different methods and thoughts behind your design. Nothing is left to chance!

You're welcome Treenewt. I try to control what I can and there is always more to know. That's what keeps guitar making so rewarding!

[Hanter]

That ambonya burl center strip down the back is crazy good looking!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Hanter

That ambonya burl center strip down the back is crazy good looking!

Thanks Hanter, I really like the look of Amboyna burl too and I keep finding new places to employ it. This is the first neck center laminate. I’m thinking it won’t be the last!

Thanks for commenting
Mark