Hatcher Penelope Crossover

[Mark Hatcher]

Hello,

I've been running a build thread in the Custom section on two Koa Penelope models, one steel string and one nylon string crossover; http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=237196
I thought I might post some of the pictures of the crossover here. I would be interested in your comments as this is my first nylon crossover model;





The specs are;

Koa back and sides
Swiss Spuce top
25.5" scale length
Cocobolo trim
Ebony finger board
Ivory nut and saddle
Knilling Planetary tuner pags 4 to 1 gear ratio
1 7/8ths" nut
2 5/16ths" string spacing at saddle
Lower Bout 14 7/8“
Waist 8 5/8”
Upper Bout 10 7/8”
Body Length 19 3/4”
Depth at Tail block 4 1/8”
Depth at Neck block 3 1/4”

I kept pretty traditional on the sound board bracing and I used lattice bracing on the back;







The Knilling tuner pegs allow for some real fun designing an open headstock;





I'm sticking traditional with the bridge;



Currently I'm French polishing the sound board and neck and will get to hear it soon!





Thank-you for viewing,
Mark

[ross748]

Just beautiful.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by ross748

Just beautiful.

Thanks ross748!

Mark

[googoobaby]

It's very lovely, especially the headstock. How do those tuning pegs work?

[J.R. Rogers]

Very nice! I really like your headstock design and the detail on your bracing work. Clean.

JR

[Barb1]

That is one beautiful guitar! I'd love to hear sound clips when it is strung. I feel a gas attack coming on:-)
Barb

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by googoobaby

It's very lovely, especially the headstock. How do those tuning pegs work?

Thanks for your comments googoobaby and JR!

The tuning pegs have a set of internal planetary gears that give the 4 to 1 ratio. They are set in such a way that you can change the resistance to turning by pushing or pulling on them similar to regular friction pegs. Knilling has a good website that explains it pretty well.
The pegs weigh about the same as regular Ebony pegs do, which is not much. You may have noticed that I have a torsion bar that isn't normal for a nylon string guitar. I added it to replace some of the weight lost by not having regular tuners on the head (if the neck is too light it can effect sustain). I figuered if I'm going to add weight it may as well do something.

Thanks Again!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Barb1

That is one beautiful guitar! I'd love to hear sound clips when it is strung. I feel a gas attack coming on:-)
Barb

Thanks Barb!

i really enjoy building this model and would be more than happy to help you out with that gas!
Danny Combs is getting this guitar. I'll be sure to post some sound clips of him playing it.

Thanks,
Mark

[alma_shortscale]

It's very pretty. I love the rosette and headstock. But it looks naked. Where's the bridge? And I don't care for the way the tuning pegs stick out so far. (Eye of the beholder.)

[acousticjazz]

Beautiful guitar, love to hear a sound clip when she's ready.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by alma_shortscale

It's very pretty. I love the rosette and headstock. But it looks naked. Where's the bridge? And I don't care for the way the tuning pegs stick out so far. (Eye of the beholder.)

Hello Alma and Acousticjazz,

Thanks for commenting. It will be a couple weeks before it's finished, the bridge is on, and I can get some sound samples. I know the "open hand" look of the tuner pegs won't be for everyone and I appreciate your thoughts. What I do like about them is the ability to have curved sides on an open headstock. It opens up a lot of room for design creativity. Plus, I like the feel and function of these pegs. As you say, "eye of the beholder"

Thanks Again for Your Comments,
Mark

[jkwrpc]

Very very very nice.

I would be interested to learn how many hours it takes to create something like. Like the others I will be looking very forward to hearing a sound clip (or two).

I am curious about the 4:1 ratio on the tuners. Given today some are as high as 21:1 perhaps you can share why you went with this ratio? I suspect there is some history to this decision. By the way the tuners and headstock are impressive! Thanks for sharing the photo.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jkwrpc

Very very very nice.

I would be interested to learn how many hours it takes to create something like. Like the others I will be looking very forward to hearing a sound clip (or two).

I am curious about the 4:1 ratio on the tuners. Given today some are as high as 21:1 perhaps you can share why you went with this ratio? I suspect there is some history to this decision. By the way the tuners and headstock are impressive! Thanks for sharing the photo.

Thanks for commenting jkwrpc,

I can't say how many hours. Typically, I spend about 3 months start to finish on a guitar but I'm not working on it the whole time. There are many breaks especially in the finishing proccesses.
I guess the way I look at the tuners is comparing the ratio to a regular tuner peg, which of course, is a 1 to 1 ratio! What really draws me to them are two things, how light they are and the flexibility of design that they allow. You can't make an open headstock like that with standard tuners and I love the open hand look. I do seem to get a mixed reaction to the design. I'll just have to see how many orders I get.

Thanks,
Mark

[jkwrpc]

I truly hope you get a lot of orders! This is one very beautiful guitar. While I have no real point of reference on the tuners, I really love the headstock.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jkwrpc

I truly hope you get a lot of orders! This is one very beautiful guitar. While I have no real point of reference on the tuners, I really love the headstock.

Thank you very much jkwrpc.
Mark