Hatcher Guitars Quilted Maple Small Jumbo

[Mark Hatcher]

This is the third in my series of show spec guitars. It is my Josie model small jumbo with highly figured Western Big Leaf Maple back and sides and a quilted and bear claw Sitka top.





Specifications; Price $7,500

Lower bout 16"
Waist 9 1/2"
Upper bout 12"
Heel block depth 3 1/2"
Tail block depth 4 5/8"
String scale length 25"
Nut width 1 3/4"
String space at saddle 2 1/4"
Bone nut and saddle
Gotoh 510 minis
Cocobolo arm bevel
Cocobolo rib bevel
Florentine cut away

The neck is flamed Sugar Maple with a burled maple back strap;

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The headstock overlay is quilted Maple with Cocobolo bevel trim pieces;



The rosette is spalted Tamarind bordered with multi wood purfling lines;



The binding and trim is Cocobolo including the strap pins. You can also see the front strap button is recessed to be out of the way;



Here is a picture of the top purfling at the cut away;



And an attempt to capture the top figure;



Here is a sound sample;



Feel free to contact me if you have any questions

Thanks for looking!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a better picture to show that very comfy rib bevel;

[Mark Hatcher]

Here's a better picture of the burled Maple back strap;



MArk

[Mark Hatcher]

I did lattice bracing on the back of this guitar. After the braces are glued on I tune the back to a target tap tone by carving the braces. This results in a lightly built active back that improves the players experience in two ways, it creates a more surround sound that encompasses the player and the vibration of the back is felt while playing. The active back makes to guitar feel more alive and responsive.
Additionally, a more flexible back lowers the body tone of the guitar, it's like adding inches to the depth of the guitar;



With all that figure on a relatively thin back it is an advantage to have the support well spread out to avoid the skeletal look of traditional ladder braces showing through.

[Mark Hatcher]

The guitar has a bound fret board with maple purfling lines. In this picture you can see how I finish the fret ends. They're semi-hemispherical finishes. This is a lot more work than just snipping then off and filing a bevel but, after I finished the process on the first guitar, frets just looked unfinished to me without the rounded ends. The bounded fret board and rounded fret ends also increase comfort of play;

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[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a little detail I haven't mentioned. I matched the center back strip with the neck laminate. They are the same width and are aligned. I thought it would be good design wise to have a nice straight line going the length of the guitar to contrast all the crazy curves going on;



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[SJ VanSandt]

Good golly, Mark, that is a gorgeous guitar! Good luck with the sale.

[Nemoman]

The continuous flow from endgraft to back plate is one of my favorite details on this guitar, Mark. In addition to the crazy maple on it and the cool fretboard! Absolutely gorgeous guitar--were it one of your smaller models, I'd have a hard to resisting this one! GLWTS--somebody's gonna get a beauty...

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by SJ VanSandt

Good golly, Mark, that is a gorgeous guitar! Good luck with the sale.

Thanks! And thanks for commenting.
Mark

Originally Posted by Nemoman

The continuous flow from endgraft to back plate is one of my favorite details on this guitar, Mark. In addition to the crazy maple on it and the cool fretboard! Absolutely gorgeous guitar--were it one of your smaller models, I'd have a hard to resisting this one! GLWTS--somebody's gonna get a beauty...

Thanks Nemoman,

There are two more quilted maple back and side sets where this one came from! I'd be happy to build different model with a sister set. Just Say'n

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I should mention this guitar comes with a custom fit Cedar Creek guitar case;

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is another sound sample with Charlie Chronopoulos;



Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I use Spanish Cedar for the kerfing inside the guitar. It costs a little more but tends to be a little lighter but, the real reason I use it is it just smells so good!

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[Mark Hatcher]

You can pack a lot of detail work into a guitar. I loved the wavy figure of the Big Leaf quilted Maple and a wanted to keep those curls alive in this guitar's design. This end graft and the little top dome accent were done specifically for this reason;

[Mark Hatcher]

The guitar has a quilted Western Big Leaf Maple headstock overlay but wait, there is additional opportunities for a few more Cocobolo accents!;

[Mark Hatcher]

We had a small AGF get together last weekend and I brought this guitar. Here is what TomB'sox had to say about it:

"I had the fantastic opportunity to see this amazing guitar in person yesterday. I have seen some really nice guitars in my days, but this one made my mouth drop!!! As good as it looks in the pictures, it is 100 times more impressive in person. That back is truly 3 dimensional, you have to touch it to prove to yourself that it is a flat surface!!!! The absolute best thing is WHEN YOU MOVE THE GUITAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR END TO END JUST A HALF AN INCH, THE FIGURE MOVES AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is amazing. It reminded me of one of those pictures that changes as you look at it from different angles. Then the DETAILS, the curves, the Cocobolo trim, the end graft, GEEZ it is all amazing.

Let me just say, I also think it is a steal for the price and am a little surprised that Mark did not price this higher. The sound is a nice full balanced sound, not anything like the bright sound maple gets maligned for. It is a steal for someone, and some of the most amazingly beautiful wood you have EVER seen.

addendum: I am not a paid spokesman for Hatcher Guitars hahaha!"