View Full Version : Chris Thiles, Dude
Does anyone know all or most of the specs on Chris Thiles Dudenbostels? Like the fret size, thickness of the sides, what type of bridge, neck shape, What the top is tuned to, what type of wood was used on the soundboard, nut width and material the of the nut? Thanks again fellow pickers.
Km1000seth
Jun-21-2004, 5:10pm
wont you just ask Mr. D himself, he's on this site "dudenbostel" i think
Rob Powell
Jun-21-2004, 5:18pm
Well, until Lynn weighs in, here a link to both Chris' and Gary Hedricks' mandos in process...
http://www.buddyscustoms.com/dudenbostel/index.html
Damnation Gulch
Jun-21-2004, 5:58pm
Ok, so you'll never see me complain about the price of US or Pac Rim mando's again...LOL!
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-21-2004, 8:06pm
I know all the specs! <G> Briefly, I'll tell you the frets he prefers are "banjo" sized frets (the banjo wire from StewMac is what I use), all of my bridges are from www.cumberlandacoustic.com, the top on both of Chris' mandos are Englemann spruce, standard Loar neck width with a slight vee shape, and I think #5 is a pearl nut and #14 is ivory. I'm in the process of shooting an instructional DVD on mandolin building ( and another on guitar building) that should be available within a year. Sounds like a lot of your questions would be answered in that. It will be very detailed. Part of the reason I'm doing this is that I get so many requests for help from new builders and I really can't take much time out of my work day to answer questions. After all, when I'm talking on the phone or with a visitor in the shop, work comes to a complete stop. It's tough to get in a good 8 hour work day most days. So, a detailed instructional DVD seemed the way to go. I'm sure it will be at least two DVD's, maybe three. I'll just have to see what is needed to get all the points across. Pardon the commercial plug.
Lynn
evanreilly
Jun-21-2004, 8:10pm
Pardon granted!! Anyone doing such a good job building instruments and repairing vintage ones has unlimited latitude to talk about it.
Great news Lynn!!! I really enjoyed watching you build the guitar and mandolin on DIY, although my wife couldn't understand why I watched it so often. The DVD will be something to look forward to.
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-21-2004, 8:35pm
Thanks Evan..... pardon accepted! <G>
Albert Whiting
Jun-21-2004, 9:01pm
i was curious what chris' setup is, as far as action height.
Brookside
Jun-21-2004, 9:43pm
This is wonderful news! I (among many others I'm sure) have been hoping for a builder of your reputation to provide us amateurs with some instructional material. I'll be one of the first in line.
Lynn and I are working out the details, but I expect to star in this video. Sex appeal, yeah, that's it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Rob Powell
Jun-22-2004, 7:36am
Hey Lynn,
Plug on! And if you need any help (plugging not making) I'm sure that eveyone at the cafe would be more than eager. I'm not sure you can even consider it a plug when so many of us were pushing you to make these videos...
Hey Joe..didn't Lynn already address that issue of you and the videos?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Thankyou Lynn for the specs on Thiles mandos. I am having a mandolin made for me and out of all the specs I chose the fret size completely slipped my mind. So for now I guess it'll be regular sized frets. Is their a huge difference between the two? espeacially in the way of playability? Were both of thiles mandos banjo frets or just one? If I decide in the near future to change them over to banjo frets, is it a very difficult process for a luthier? and is it a costly process?
Thanks a bunch everyone,
There are pages of threads on this subject. Just search a little.
Just curious what radius Chris T plays with, if anybody knows. #I can't make out by the pics in above link if the sanding with the 14" radius block is Chris' or Gary Hedricks' fingerboard.
I believe its a 14'ich radius,
I looked on here and did not find all that info you were talking about reguarding banjo frets.Other than people saying it does or doesnt feel as good.or that it sustains better , while others disagree. Nothing mentioned about cost and difficulty of procedure for luthier.
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-22-2004, 1:00pm
F5Joe does have a cameo appearance in the show, carrying out a full garbage can from the shop. The shot only shows his back. Not much of a budget for make-up, and Joe needs a bunch! <G>
I think Chris' radius was about 9 or 10 inches. As for fret size, just try several differnt instruments with different size wire. I can no more tell you what size you'd like any more than I could tell you what to order for dinner! It's all personal preference. A total refret isn't cheap, and that's what it takes to change fret sizes. Plan on $250 to $350 from a reputable luthier.
Lynn
Is a 9 or 10 inch radius any easier on the fingers? How do you find this affects the playability? ap.posed to a 14 inch
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-22-2004, 6:18pm
Different size frets and different radii on fingerboards have various effects on playability for different people. Your question is not one that anyone else can answer but you. You have to play mandolins with various specs and decide for yourself. More radius will be a positive thing for some people, a negative thing for others. It's like trying on shoes until you find a pair that fits well. I wish there were a more cut and dried answer, but that's the best that can be done!
Lynn
Hey Lynn
When you gonna finish my Dude http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Don't tell me you didnt get my order that I faxed 8 years ago #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-22-2004, 8:36pm
Guess I didn't get it, since I don't have a FAX machine.... HA!
Dude
DOH ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Nice try Mav! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Dudenbostel #14 was a 9 or 10' inch radius. Was #5 the same?
BTW The mando on the dYI network was so nice looking, and from what I could tell sounded nice aswell. Cosmetically like nothing Ive seen.
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-23-2004, 5:00pm
#5 is about the same radius as #14. Thanks for the kind words on the DIY mando. It was a very special one. I hope you enjoyed watching the series as much as I enjoyed doing it! It really was a blast, especially the stuff we taped in Nashville.
Lynn
Thats the thing Lynn it seemed like you really enjoyed the broadcast shoot, and thats part of what I enjoyed about watching it. I felt your excitment dude! Im glad to hear you enjoyed the Nashville segment. I lived out there for 5 years so it was good to see some familiar faces playing you instruments. I actually met Luke Bulla at a mutual friends house in Nashville, and he was a great guy to talk music with. I bet he ate up your instruments, did he get a chance to play that special mando?
Lynn Dudenbostel
Jun-23-2004, 7:21pm
Yeah, Luke layed his fiddle down, pulled a pick out of his pocket, asked very nicely if he could try it, and just played the fire out of it! I know he and Chris use to room together a couple of years back... should have figured some of that would rub off on him! By the way, Chris is a fine fiddle player too. But, all of the guys on the DIY shoot were great to work with. Not only the guys at Skaggs studio, but the guys on the crew as well. One of the highlights for me was when Andy L. called me at lunch while we were there and said he had my name on the guest list for backstage at the Opry that night. He was playing there with Skaggs and we all had a great visit.
Speaking of great times, I had a real treat tonight. My wife (Amy) and I had dinner with a good friend from upstate NY along with Carlo Aonzo. It was my friend's birthday today, and after dinner at the restraunt, Carlo pulled out his mandolin and played the best "Happy Birthday To You" I've ever heard! I love this job.... if you could ever consider what I do as "work"!
Lynn
evanreilly
Jun-23-2004, 10:31pm
I have seen the 'Work' of the Dude and it is good!!!!
I saw him do a parking-lot emergency repair on a loose fret with some Super-Glue; he knows what he is doing.
Wow! Lynn, that sounds like quiet a nice time you had.Dont you love it when a day is full of excitment like that?
Bill Snyder
Jul-10-2004, 9:01pm
You DIY series on Handmade Music has been mentioned in this and other threads so I will post here that DIY Network has a recapp of each episode on their website with pictures. Index of episodes (http://www.diynet.com/diy/episode_archive/0,2019,DIY_16997_432,00.html). You will have to click on the links. They also have some downloadable music available that was performed in the series. I believe some of Mr. Dudenbostel's instruments were used. Music download page. (http://www.diynet.com/diy/hb_musical_instruments/article/0,2033,DIY_13881_2808164,00.html)