Hatcher Studio '24

[Brian55]

Mark, I don't post a lot here ... mostly because I am a hobbyist guitar player and simply want to learn about the guitar 'universe'. But I have owned a custom cabinet shop and been a woodworker all my adult life ... I'm 68. I am not unacquainted with exotic woods and specialty techniques, but I have to chime in here and tell you how incredibly amazed I am at this creation of yours. Mostly, along with the level of skill, is knowing the level of patience and perseverance to achieve the detail work you exhibit. Couple that with the eye for design (which is a gift more than a learned trade) and the ear for the same level of detail in the sound .... I am truly amazed.

I am sure someday soon I will own one of your guitars. If I didn't know your reputation for acoustic voicing, I would own one just to hang on the wall and stare at it. I get the feeling that every 'next' guitar you build will be a journey finding a way to be better than the last.

Stunning work ... let me know if you need some cabinets!
Brian

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Brian55

Mark, I don't post a lot here ... mostly because I am a hobbyist guitar player and simply want to learn about the guitar 'universe'. But I have owned a custom cabinet shop and been a woodworker all my adult life ... I'm 68. I am not unacquainted with exotic woods and specialty techniques, but I have to chime in here and tell you how incredibly amazed I am at this creation of yours. Mostly, along with the level of skill, is knowing the level of patience and perseverance to achieve the detail work you exhibit. Couple that with the eye for design (which is a gift more than a learned trade) and the ear for the same level of detail in the sound .... I am truly amazed.

I am sure someday soon I will own one of your guitars. If I didn't know your reputation for acoustic voicing, I would own one just to hang on the wall and stare at it. I get the feeling that every 'next' guitar you build will be a journey finding a way to be better than the last.

Stunning work ... let me know if you need some cabinets!
Brian

Thank you for your kind words Brian. I’m not far behind you (68 in two months). It was a custom cabinet maker who introduced me to scrapers and how to sharpen hand planes.
I feel fortunate to do what I do and am grateful for the success I’ve had. For me it is all about incremental improvements and keeping myself challenged. As my ideas and skills improve I can work faster and faster while taking longer and longer to build a guitar.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Here is a progress shot of the neck. The neck blank is joined, the fretboard is pretty much done and we have the beginnings of the headstock overlay:


It's hard to see the contours of the sculpted Desert Ironwood overlay at this point. It has the maple purfling line and pomelle figured binding to match the fretboard.

[TomB'sox]

Cool headstock overlay, looks like a flame paint job on a 57 Chevy!

[Mark Hatcher]

On a different track. My Green Mountains studio is the walk out basement of my home. I have several windows and a sliding glass door that all look out across a little bit of lawn to the woods. I get a lot of animal traffic that tends to check in on how I'm doing:



I have to say I find my audience quite inspiring.

Mark

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

On a different track. My Green Mountains studio is the walk out basement of my home. I have several windows and a sliding glass door that all look out across a little bit of lawn to the woods. I get a lot of animal traffic that tends to check in on how I'm doing:

I have to say I find my audience quite inspiring.

Mark

Critter visits are such a life affirming event

Curious Forkie checking out my wife's crystal collection and her pipe and wire start for a sculpture


Shot from my office window our resident Martens come by periodically for supplemental dog food when the hunting is particularly scarce


Foxes get some dog food also

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Critter visits are such a life affirming event

Curious Forkie checking out my wife's crystal collection and her pipe and wire start for a sculpture


Shot from my office window our resident Martens come by periodically for supplemental dog food when the hunting is particularly scarce


Foxes get some dog food also

Looks like you have plenty to keep you busy!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm doing the final prep before gluing on the headstock overlay and fretboard:


The bound Desert Ironwood burl is book matched and the truss rod cover is sunk into the sculpted surface.


Removing the truss rod cover allows easy access to the full titanium 2 way truss rod

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Cool headstock overlay, looks like a flame paint job on a 57 Chevy!

Thanks Tom. This burl is fascinating stuff!

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm doing the last big round of gluing for this guitar before I start carving the neck and and generally cleaning it all up for finish:


Here I am gluing in the Desert Ironwood inlays on the body up near where the fretboard will be. I am also gluing the backstrap laminates which are Desert Ironwood on Maple.

[Treenewt]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

I'm doing the final prep before gluing on the headstock overlay and fretboard:


The bound Desert Ironwood burl is book matched and the truss rod cover is sunk into the sculpted surface.


Removing the truss rod cover allows easy access to the full titanium 2 way truss rod

Mark

I’ve said it before, but your headstock overlays are absolutely beautiful, Mark. The contour plus your wood selection is always super classy. Well done!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

I’ve said it before, but your headstock overlays are absolutely beautiful, Mark. The contour plus your wood selection is always super classy. Well done!

Thanks Treenewt. This has become my signature headstock. It has gone through many iterations but this sculpted one is a keeper.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

My favorite step building a guitar is carving the neck:


The neck is held in our hand when the guitar is played, it should be made by hand.

[Mark Hatcher]

I have got the top inlays placed:



Thanks for following along!

Mark

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

I have got the top inlays placed:
Thanks for following along!

Mark

Love the lighter color wood fret markers very classy