Wood choices

[David Lloyd]

I am having a Manndolin built. I am thinking of going with a redwood top and mahogany back and sides. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with redwood and mahogany.
I first thought about spruce top and maple back and sides.
Dave

[bradeinhorn]

what kind of mandolin? carved or flattop. what kind of music are you playing on it?

if it's carved and it was me, i'd stick to maple.

[David Lloyd]

flat back 1 piece back and sides. http://www.manndolins.com/prod02.htm
the two point
There are sound clips available at the site.
I play mostly classic rock and starting to work on Bach's Cello suites, almost never Bluegrass.
Dave

[Rob Powell]

Talk to Bruce Harvey ("spruce" on the board) he has supplied Redwood for tops and I believe has a Redwood topped instrument himself...as I recall, he loves the stuff for tops...

[devilstone_the_bard]

Not to be fresh or rude, you may want to try posting this in the builders section. I know of a couple really smart guys that really venture out of that area. Just a suggestion.

[billhay4]

I topped an old instrument with redwood last year. It's a very nice wood, but I recommend the old, dense redwood. You'll know it by the ring and it'll feel hard when you try to press it with your thumbnail.
Mine has a great chop and warm tone.
Bill

[Spruce]

Talk to Bruce Harvey ("spruce" on the board) he has supplied Redwood for tops and I believe has a Redwood topped instrument himself...as I recall, he loves the stuff for tops...
Yep....

A very underrated wood....

But it varies tremendously from very soft and ceder-esque, to wood that resembles hardwood in it's weight and hardness...

And the figured stuff has arguably the most pronounced fiddleback figuring of any wood on the planet...


Here's Michael Dunn's take on a Weissenborn in figured redwood and koa.....


http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/P1010733.jpg

[David Lloyd]

I am pretty much convinced that redwood is the direction that I want to go.
That was the recommendation from Jon Mann. Which is why I spelled mandolin...Manndolin. Thanks for the replies. and as for where to list ,I thought about it and really wasn't sure where the best place would be.
I am pretty excited about having an American made Manndolin in the works.
Dave

[Crowder]

IIRC many if not most Dearstone mandolins have redwood tops.

[T W Perez]

Check out Dearstone mandolins.Many inc. Shawn Lanes have redwood tops.