Building a Stew-Mac F5 Kit

[MandoKit]

Howdy, Cafe Message Board!

I just received my Stew-Mac F5 kit in the mail and can't wait to get started. I've watched the 3 hours of video and am ready to begin. I'll be building it with a friend of mine who builds upright basses for a living, but he's never built a mando before.

I love the look of Johann Brentrup's 23V F-style from the Eye Candy section and he was more than kind enough to answer all of my questions about finishing. I've also ordered Siminoff's Ultimate Mandolin book at Mr. Brentrup's suggestion.

I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions, hints, pitfalls to avoid, etc. I'm equally excited and nervous. In the video Mr. MacRostie has a ton of customized tools, but we'll be working with off-the-shelf tools. I'm going to go buy a bag of clothes pins and rubber bands...

Any help or suggestion is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Dedian]

Sounds fun MandoKit!

I know on my Stew-Mac A5 kit (also my first) I had some problems with the dovetail for the neck joint (check that with a rough fit, anyway) - working with any sort of builder will help. Just make sure you take your time (I mean... Take your TIME http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif) and enjoy the process, you'll make a beaut!

Stuart

[Yonkle]

Just follow the video and you will be OK. And always watch the next step on the video, ahead of where you are at. This help to understand the step you are currently on.
If something does not make sense, go to other builders websites and ask on the cafe, never guess!! If you are not sure,,,STOP until you are 100% sure of what you are going to do. Double check and triple check before gluing or cutting or drilling.
I used Dons Video too, but somethings I did a little different, tips from other sites ect, that seemed to make more sense. Have fun, JD

[Stephanie Reiser]

I think you made a good choice for a first-time mando. I built one too, and if I can build one then anyone can. The thing went along with no problems that I couldn't solve. Carving the top and back was the most tedious. I made a little gauge to measure thickness. I made it out of a scrap of pine and a dowel and, although crude, it worked quite well for only one mandolin. But now I am itching to build another so I might spring for the nice gauge that stew-mac sells - that Don uses in the video. The other problem was cutting the rabbit for the binding. I accomplished this by making my own tool from a 3/4" dowel and an Exacto knife blade. I might invest in a dremel tool the next time out. And lastly, Don makes hammering the frets in look easy, but I had a few high ones. I decided to take the instrument to a luthier for fret leveling and dressing. He did made the comment that he was impressed with the instrument.
It plays really good to me, but then my mando was the only one i had ever touched at first. But I have taken it to blusgrass jams and all the mando players want to try it out and ALL are impressed. All of them say it plays really well and that it is loud.
Make sure that you get a truss-rod nut wrench and tighten the nut prior. I didnt do that so now i need to get a wrench and straighten my neck some.
Now since I have learned that Lynn Dudenbostel is coming out with a DVD on mando building, I think I might make this a hobby and build another. It is addicting.
Good luck and keep us imformed.
Stephanie

Patience is the key to a masterful instrument.:angry: