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View Full Version : Photos of first mandolin build (fron iv kit)


tennbidder
Jun-15-2008, 6:57pm
After gathering information from this message board, I purchased the A-style mandolin kit from International Violin.

I completed a couple of the Stew-Mac Ukulele kits last year before tackling this mandolin.

Here are some of the details on this project. I have Siminoff's latest edition of his mando-building book and took several tips from there.

The peghead was re-designed by filling in the tuner holes with hardwood dowels and cutting it to the desired shape

Peghead was overlaid with black-on-white laminate and sanded to a 45-degree angle on the edges to reveal a white border.

I cut the f-holes myself after stringing up one string and finding the proper bridge placement (the back was still off.)

I left the back unbound for simplicity's sake. I was so satisfied with the way I carved the back to fit around the heel, that I did not want to mess it up with a poor binding job.

I left the peghead plain as I did not want a crummy inlay job to mess up the project.

The fingerboard that comes with these kits is not great, so I got one from Audey Ratliff already fretted and used it.

Finish is flat black paint topped with a satin-finish lacquer (spray can)

I put in a regular fitted end pin.

Now for the best part.......it sounds great !! I've played mandolin for 35 years and am quite pleased with the sound. Cosmetically, it's not perfect but I think my nephew will like it for a graduation present


http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/tennbidder/Mandolin/Mandolin1.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/tennbidder/Mandolin/Mandolin2.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/tennbidder/Mandolin/Mandolin3.jpg


MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE (http://photobucket.com/Mandolin)


THANKS for all the great information I have picked up here.
french guy
Jun-16-2008, 3:24am
Nice work Tenn and welcome to the MBS ( mando building syndrom ) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
tennbidder
Jun-16-2008, 6:16am
Jean,

I was in France in 2005 on a tour with Wayne Henderson.

Were you the fellow who brought a mandolin to one of our shows for Wayne to see?

Greg in Tennessee
Waldo
Jun-16-2008, 4:23pm
It looks good. I have been thinking about purchasing one of those IV kits. I have no skills but I am growing to like all things mandolin so why not.

Do have any photos of the construction process?
MikeEdgerton
Jun-16-2008, 4:29pm
If you'd like to read about what others have experienced building these kits there are a few threads here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search;CODE=02;SID=4856e8b24fb99 802;st=0).

If you want to see some pictures cafe member Celtic-Grass posted some here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/greybeard-photography/sets/72157601823079648/).
tennbidder
Jun-16-2008, 4:41pm
As far as building one of these things, I would NOT make it my first build.

I strongly recommend the Stew-Mac Ukulele kit as a starter project. I built 2 of them and it really taught me a lot.

The second uke kit was highly modified by me and it turned out really nice.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/tennbidder/Cornett%20Ukulele%202/028.jpg
JEStanek
Jun-16-2008, 6:52pm
Both of those instruments look really nice. Excellent job.

Jamie
french guy
Jun-17-2008, 1:10am
Were you the fellow who brought a mandolin to one of our shows for Wayne to see?


Yep , are you Greg C ? , I remember perfectly your Sweet georgia Brown whistling version .
I've some pictures of your show with Wayne somewhere in the computer , but impossible to find in the forest .

I 've spend 2 days to Wayne's this year end of april , the Merlefest week , and it was fantastic for an aspiring luthier as me .
brose
Jul-15-2008, 10:32pm
I'm building an IV kit too, and am finished with the woodworking part, and now have to decide if I want to use the tuners, the bridge, the tailpiece, and the nut that came with the kit? What did you use?
By the way, that is a beautiful mandolin, and I'm glad to hear that it sounds great, and I'm so anxious to hear mine, and I'm thinking of stringing it up before I start finishing it, just to hear it.
Thanks for the info. Becky Rose
tennbidder
Jul-24-2008, 7:35pm
I'm building an IV kit too, and am finished with the woodworking part, and now have to decide if I want to use the tuners, the bridge, the tailpiece, and the nut that came with the kit? What did you use?
By the way, that is a beautiful mandolin, and I'm glad to hear that it sounds great, and I'm so anxious to hear mine, and I'm thinking of stringing it up before I start finishing it, just to hear it.
Thanks for the info. Becky Rose
Becky,

The tailpiece, though plain, is fine.

The tuners really surprised me! I think they are pretty good.

The nut? No good (Plastic). Go to PetSmart or some such pet store and find their "bleached cow bone" section. You will find some nice snow-white bone pieces that you can easily work into a nut.

The bridge? It is not ebony or rosewood. It is some light-colored wood that has been been painted black. I purchased a replacement ebony bridge.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!!
Stephanie Reiser
Jul-25-2008, 4:18am
I'm building an IV kit too, and am finished with the woodworking part, and now have to decide if I want to use the tuners, the bridge, the tailpiece, and the nut that came with the kit? # What did you use?
By the way, that is a beautiful mandolin, and I'm glad to hear that it sounds great, and I'm so anxious to hear mine, and I'm thinking of stringing it up before I start finishing it, just to hear it. #
Thanks for the info. # Becky Rose
Becky,
I agree with Tennbidder about the bridge. It has a hugh impact on tone. You could start of with the stock tuners that came with your kit and see how they work. But a new/better nut is a good idea and can be had for a couple of bucks from Stew-Mac.
Please post pics when you are finished.