3rd saddle

[tackmaker]

this is our third saddle.its a 17"Deep Pocket Cutter.17" Black Mesa tree.close contact bars,3and one-half inch horn,FQH bars'S.S. horse shoe brand conchos'all the drings ares.s.handtooled basketweave.what do you think?? Judy

[jwwright]

Looks good, congrats on your accomplishment.

[bruce johnson]

Judy,

The old three things rule here. First off - what I like. The seat shape looks good, I like the deeper profile rather than the old Biily Cook board seats. I like the contrasting colors. It adds a lot of visual interest. Looks like you did a good job finishing it off.

Now for the "here's what I would have done differently", keeping in mind this is all personal preference. I would use different latigo or dye it darker. That red color and raw edge just looks distracting to me, and I am not sure I like the shorty strings. They look alright on a bronc saddle, but tradition tells me to make them longer and usable like on the ranch cutters or use screw conchos and leave them off. On my arena saddles, I use screw conchos and put a single strap and dee under the near back concho to buckle splint boots onto. I try to make my basket stamping have a "theme". It is horizontal on the wear strip, vertical on the rear billet, and angled on the rear jockey. I normally angle it all in the same direction. I am a big fan of horizontal basket stamping on a lot of things, but to me, saddles are more forgiving angled. Final thing is that I would work on making the fork cover welt more vertical. I think they look more balanced when they end at the screw and follow the slope of the fork if they are put out there on the side. My thoughts.

[grumpyguy]

Nice saddle. Not being a cutter myself I like the seat better than most cutters you see around. Nice contrast in colors and I 'am certain this saddle is not done justice by the florecent lighting in the photo. I agree with Bruce as to the strings both color and length, however keep in mine the customers prefernce must come first above our own. It is simple enough and such a minor thing to change if need be. It reminds me of the old Bob Marshals that were "the thing" with penners and cutters in the mid eighties and early ninties. They were a custom maker, but went semi custom, (Similar to Mc Calls, better than most production saddles but not fully custom.) I don't know if theyare still around.

[gtwister09]

Judy,

I like the color contrast on the saddle. I agree with Bruce on the length, color and edges of the strings. Bruce mentioned using angles for basket stamping due to the forgiveness of the angles. This is true because it is easy to see a mistake with the stamp either being plumb or level. One of the things to remember with using angles is to make sure that you continue a stamping line between various components like the fender, jockeys, etc. An easy way to do this is to take a straight edge from one component to another to continue the stamping line.

Regards,

Ben

[Hidemechanic]

Judy, very nice work.

Since the conversation is leaning toward 'tuning you up' for #4, I would like to add a couple things for your consideration.

First about strings, I like to order(for utility saddles) a hot stuffed waxy latago in burgandy. It's deeper colored to start, but then I put the end of a string in a vice and rub mink oil into it. I hold with one hand and vigorously rub back and forth with the other hand in such a way to create some heat. This allows the mink oil to liquify and pernatrate plus it spreads the die to the edges and you get a uniform color. It also makes the strings more supple for pulling through when applying to the saddle.

Second, lines and directionality was discussed as well as distration to the eye. We see the main lines of the saddle are determined by the bottom of the skirt, in this case the ware leather, then the seat, and jokey, as well as the rigging.

It may just be the angle of the photo, but it appears the front rigging is a bit off angle to the front jokey line, and the rear jockey is running up hill toward the front jockey.

These are things that may be more noticable to other saddles makers rather than most customers, but to me that's part of what helps me fine tune my eye when laying out and fitting. I ask myself if I am willing to leave something that another saddle maker would spot but usually a customer wouldn't.

When it comes down to it, when dealing with angles or other estetics, most customers can tell when something isn't quite right even if they can't spot exactly what it is. But all customers do know when things are right when they see something they really like.Good job and good luck on the next one, they continue to be a learning process. GH