Which kit?

[Jim Ayers]

I've made several attempts to build a F5 from scratch. No go. So now I'm looking for an F5 kit. I've found three different companies with kits, IV, Stew-Mac and Siminoff. The prices are quite different. Which one would be the best? Or is there another company out there? I did a search and didn't find this topic. Thanks in advance.

[buddyellis]

Best is relative. IV kits are generally quite easy to put together (less work to do) but have lesser quality parts than either the Stewmac or Siminoff kits. That said, a perfectly good mandolin can be made from any of these. I've built about 6 of those IV kits, and they can make a very nice mandolin. I've built a stewmac, and it can make an equally nice, if more aesthetically pleasing instrument. Tonally the result is up to you, not the kit, for the most part.

[Fretbear]

I have no experience with Sim's kits which I am sure are top drawer and leave you a nice option of mixing and matching the parts and their completion levels for a custom build. That said, the only thing standing between a Stewmac kit and as good a sounding mandolin as you can get is your skill. The woods and components are all of the highest quality and Stewmac will make anything right that isn't for any reason. If you buy the Stewmac, you have to be able to very accurately graduate the top and back plates and install and shape the tone bars. If for any reason you don't think you can successfully do this, which is absolutely critical to the finished instrument's tonal quality, then you should go for Sim's kit which you can buy with pre-graduated top and back plates.

[Andy Nichols]

I have built 3 f-5's from stew-mac kits and all three turned out fine.Been wanting to try one of Roger Siminoffs. I also want to build one from scratch but I'm not set up with the tools or shop yet.When I ordered my first stew-mac f-5 I understood it was ready to put together - not so! Thought I was in over my head and almost sent it back.I musturd up some patience and went to work on it and all three turned out fine .Going to order an A from stew-mac this winter.I want a slab cut one piece back but I don't know if you can special order things like that from them. May have to call siminoff.

[charlesa46741]

I am working on the varnish on my Siminoff F4 kit. The best thing about it was Roger's quick response to any questions or problems I had. His support is top notch. I don't have any experience with other kits. Also, Mandolin Cafe is a tremendous additional resource.

[MikeEdgerton]

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=48bb2341134b081b) are several pages of discussions about the different kits. Scan the subject lines and you should be able to find some information.