Which Kit?

[mmukav]

I know this questions been asked before, but which mando kit would you suggest? I'm not a beginner with woodworking and have done some repairs on stringed instruments, and I'm thinking of putting together an F model. Stew-mac was what I had in mind. Any input would be appreciated.

[Luthier]

you have a few options for the F model
Simminoff: http://www.siminoff.net/
LMI: http://www.lmii.com/Default.asp
Stewart McDonald: http://www.stewmac.com/

(I have kits but not for what you are looking for, sorry)

Don

[futrconslr]

Ratliff used to have a kit.

I dont know if he still does or not.

www.ratliffmandolins.com

[Dedian]

I've made a stew-mac A (sorry, can't comment on the F-Style, though I've heard it's all good quality), and am currently waiting for my siminoff kit (another A). Comparing the two kits (from what I've read), Stew-mac's wood is more "finished" but I'm not sure what that means for the builder..

[mmukav]

I've looked at the stew-mac and the Siminoff kits and both look great. But one Siminoff kit is more finished(truss rod installed, f-holes cut, etc.). That would help me out more. Anyone notice much difference in wood quality? They both seem pretty good.

[Yonkle]

They are both good. I like Siminoff better because you can pick your back and front out. The one thing that is a lot easier on the stewmac is....it comes with the rim already in one piece, which saves a lot of work. Both have their pros and cons but both are made with good wood,and if done right you can have a (A+)Mando for under a grand!

[om21ed]

Yonkle and (all others with this experience) what would you recommend for the novice with no wood working experience. I know Luthier's kits are said to be great. I don't care a hoot about a scroll--I am looking for a woody tone and a solid chop

[folms]

I don't know about kits cause Im making my first f5 as we speak from scratch. Although I'm a greenhorn at building mandolins or for that matter any stringed instrument (I.ve had to fix all of the getfidles Ive owned in my life). I've been a carpenter for 33 years. (custom homes mostly) Then it happened, I decided to build a mandolin cause my kentucky just dont sound that good to me any more.(maybe its my flattened out broke up fingers). To me this new love makes me feel like a kid again, like the first time I hired on with a frameing outfit to build my first home. For me going through the process of picking out your wood (Internet) reading every thing you can, ordering plans,talking to all the wood guys on the phone,getting new tools, sharpening them up like you've never done before,why heck, I'm like a kid with a new toy. I just dont like anybody doin my work, I'm not saying that the kits are poor ,I'm sure they"re all top notch stuff(theyd have to be). I just want to carve one. My dream is to get this sucker done by next time sammy comes to Bozeman and see if he'll put a strum on it.(just dreaming). What ever you do, Have fun, Think ahead,Keep pickin even with flat fingers.
sorry for buttin in
Good talkin to ya,
now back tomy neck. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Km1000seth]

I know I can only talk from"one side of the story" but Im loving my siminoff, I havent noticed anything I dont like about it, Now, When I first started it, I thought I would have prefered the Stewmac, Cause the rim was built. But lookin back, Im glad I built it, cause that some experience I can see that I might need later, or WILL need if i start doing this more often, which I am. But I Would have to agree with JD, in the fact that its nice to be able to pick your wood selections.for instance, I ordered High Fig back, and a German Spruce top. But I would Suggest the Siminoff.

Seth

[John Soper]

As a novice with NO experience in woodworking (other than deck carpentry) and a scattered collection of mis-matched hand & power tools- my 25 year old Sears power drill died over the winter in the trunk of my son's car... I elected to go with the Siminoff A-5. #I'm having a blast, learning with every baby step of the way, and with each new tool that I acquire. #So far, I've resisted the temptation to buy the 14" Delta bandsaw, drillpress, mega router, etc because a) no place to put them in the garage, b) hard to hide them from my wife among instrument cases (my usual modus for bringing in new gear), c) I realize that my enthusiasm coupled with lack of experience might well result in the loss of one or two fingers (or other vital parts) if I tried the heavy powertool route.

The Siminoff wood is good, the new book covers most vital steps (but skimps on details of alot of the jigs, forms, etc), and there is alot of info & help online. #Go SLOW and know where the midline is at all times...

I finally got my body form right on the 3rd try- 3/4" MDFE roughsawn with a coping saw & shaped with a combination of microplane & rasp to fit, with as smooth & vertical walls as possible- glued the tail & neckblocks to the rims. Fitted & glued the tonebars & now carving to guesstimate size before topping the rims... Can't wait for the first FUBAR moment (which I am sure will come).

[Yonkle]

Just hope that "Fubar" does not happen! I just finished #3 and in all three, I had at least 1 OH S-*7% moment! But the up side is the Oh No moments are the learning steps, and all my oh no's set me back a few days and I figured out a way to fix them and also learned how and why I screwed up so it would'nt happen on the next one. But then on the next one I think to myself "I'm a pro now" I'll just do this instead of that and then....OH NO! In short you will have some of these moments just hope they are not "Fubar". Before any permanant work such as Gluing, drilling, routing, sawing ect. Always check, re-check,re-check again and then once more and go for it, if not sure what you are doing with 100% faith or knowledge..STOP and re-think it before going forward and you will be A-O-Tay! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Have Fun....its addictive so beeeeee careful!

[Ed Ashley]

OM21ed, you can get an excellent chop and "woody" tone from a StewMac kit. Excellent! Can't speak to the Siminoff kit, no experience.