Iv kit oval hole?

[leathermarshmallow]

I haven't even finished my first kit yet, but I am already thingking of the next one. IV sells a kit without the f holes cut. How would it work out as an oval hole mandolin?

Am I thinking of something that won't work?

Greg

[F5GRun]

I believe (and anyone out there please feel free to correct me) they sell the kit without holes to give the builder freedom to decide what hole to cut. An oval hole should work just fine as long as the bracing is correct. I am not quite sure if the normal parralel(spelling?) bracing would do, or if you would have to X brace it or use a variation thereof. But that is also another option...come up with creative bracing! Good luck, and be sure to post photos...mandolin photos are sometimes the only thing that gets me through the day!

[otterly2k]

Ask Avi (improziv on the cafe boards) he is making one. DK where it is in the process, but I'm sure he'll share his experience with you.

[Avi Ziv]

As Karen said, I'm building an oval hole mandolin out of an IV A kit. It's taking me forever due to lack of time, but it will get done. I do have the top graduated, the hole cut ,and an X brace fit, in addition to some binding work, headstock improvements etc. You can see some photos and descriptions of my (new) experience here (http://wood-notes.blogspot.com/)

I believe I've seen photos posted of at least one other such mandolin completed here on the cafe. A nice one, if I remember right.

Avi

[Jim Rowland]

Greg,here is an IV oval hole I just strung up today. I've been fiddling with the nut adjustments and intonation for an hour or so and still haven't got it quite right,but,so far,I'm quite pleased with the sound,tone,and volume. I did the usual alterations (Ebony bridge,bone nut,peghead overlay,triple binding etc). I installed the single transverse tone bar similar to the ones Gail has pictured. I left a lot of wood around the sound hole and bridge areas,but did not add anything else. It's got a nice tubby,old time sound that I like a lot. Time will tell..
Jim

[acousticphd]

Greg,here is an IV oval hole I just strung up today.

That's a fantastic effort Jim, imo.

[leathermarshmallow]

that looks awsome! I wish I could do that well in what I do. Maybe with practice...


Greg

[Bill Snyder]

If I am not mistaken Jim has built a number of mandolins over the years, both from scratch and kits. All of the ones that he has posted pictures of look good.

[tumblewead]

Here's mine. Went ahead and installed the tone bars and added a small transverse brace. Has volume and a decent chop for an oval hole, little weak on tone, but is geeting better with time. If doing a second one I would try X braces.

[epicentre]

TUMBLEWEED::

That's a nice job done. Top carving and the headstock looking good.

I did one a year ago, but left it natural, with X bracing with a small transverse brace in front of the sound hole.

One thing I like about 1V kits, is they give you a good place to START from, and you can take it anywhere you want for not a whole lot of money.

Sold mine, but hey, there's more in store. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

keep on http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Epi.