A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Jason Rodgers
Posts: 1554
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:05 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Jason Rodgers »

Mark, remind me: is this the same model as the one you brought to Tacoma, or was that an X-braced guitar?
-Ruining perfectly good wood, one day at a time.
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Nope, this is a different model of guitar. They are both X braced guitars though.
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Jason Rodgers
Posts: 1554
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:05 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Jason Rodgers »

Oh, I thought you used the A-frame on the Fatboys. But, duh, it has a traditional soundhole, so of course it's X-braced!
-Ruining perfectly good wood, one day at a time.
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

I have done different bracing on some guitars. The ones I build with two soundholes often have different bracing but not always.
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Don Williams
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:11 pm

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Don Williams »

Sweet.
Thomas Dooher
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:18 pm

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Thomas Dooher »

Very nice...makes me want to buy it... ;)
User avatar
Waddy Thomson
Posts: 270
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:11 pm
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Waddy Thomson »

Great looking guitar, Mark! Amazing looking wood!
Warren May
Posts: 246
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:00 pm

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Warren May »

Great looking guitar, Mark.
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Hey, thanks you guys!
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Ron Daves
Posts: 182
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:39 pm
Location: Southern California Desert

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Ron Daves »

Very nice. I hope some day to build something that beautiful.
Frustrated luthier wanna-be
Jonathan Conder
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:37 pm

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Jonathan Conder »

Very nice, stylish, and wow! Great job, Mark!
Samuel Hartpence
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:32 am

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Samuel Hartpence »

Perhaps I'm alone in this or it's a function of the perspective of the photo, but on the photo of the back, the lower bout looks way out of proportion with the upper bout. I have an affinity for jumbo or larger guitars, both visually and how they sound, but there is something about the the lines of this guitar that is a bit of a turn-off for me. I'm not sure if is' that I think the upper bout is too narrow, or that perhaps the waist should be located a little closer to the lower bout, and I also think that the cut-away may be accentuating this.

I know you can't please everyone, but wanted to see if I'm the only one seeing this. Also, was the shape a modeled of another model, or did you draw it up yourself.
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Well, not all shapes appeal to everyone, or all guitars would be the same!
As I said in the first post, I called the guitar a "fatboy" because of the strange shape. I didn't draw the shape myself, but I used a guitar made by Regal in the 40's as a model. Here is a photo of the original guitar- I really love the original one, so I used it as a starting point to design the one I call the Fatboy.
Attachments
front2.jpg
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
John Rice
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:09 am

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by John Rice »

Hi Mark I'm just admiring your beautiful guitar and wondering what is the benefit of using a zero fret ?
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Opinions vary on them, but the good points are that it's very easy to get perfect action at the first fret, and all of the strings sound equal as they all play off the metal fret, open strings and fretted.
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Michael Lewis
Posts: 1474
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:22 am
Location: Northern California USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Michael Lewis »

Mark, have you got enough brackets on that banjo?
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Ha ha, that's funny isn't it? That's an old banjo, I don't know the brand but I think it is a Supertone...it has 39 hooks, I have never seen a banjo with that many hooks!
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Claude Misukiewicz
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 2:16 am

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Claude Misukiewicz »

What an elegant and distinctive guitar. It's an inspiration. Mark, would you mind telling us how you finished it? I'm especially curious about how you handled the mahogany.
Thanks,
CM
User avatar
Mark Swanson
Posts: 1991
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:11 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
Contact:

Re: A Redwood and Mahogany guitar From Mark Swanson

Post by Mark Swanson »

Well Claude there isn't much I can tell you other than the standard finishing process, I did nothing special. I sanded and prepped well, sealed with Shellac and then filled the grain, and sprayed on the lacquer. Wetsanded, buffed....here she is. Thanks for your comments!
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
Post Reply

Return to “Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars”