Constuction Manual

[angleraxel]

Hello Folks,

#I'm new here and I'm sure all you regulars have probably seen this post before but I browsed around and couldn't find anything. So here goes....I'm seriously considering building a #F5 mandolin. I'm steering away from the kits, for two reasons, 1st-I ain't in a "real" big rush, 2nd-and more importantly, can't afford one. So I need a start and have seen a little on the net about the "Ultimate Bluegrass Construction Manual". It says it comes with plans and all kinds of info. Is it worth it? I have a modest woodworking shop but this undertaking seems a little overwhelming at first. It's hard to know where to go and what I should do next. Maybe that should be my question; what direction would you point an individual that has no prior experience with instrument making and is on a limited budget. Thank you all.

[John Bertotti]

I'll respond with the typical referral. go to this thread and then visit Dons site. Everyone is always posting great things about him. John
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=17727 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=17727)

[Michael Lewis]

Angleraxel, if you are trying to save money you will be better off just buying a mandolin. By the time you get your fixtures made and all the tools you will need plus the materials you will have a pretty good investment in this project. Get ready for a major test of your patience, and try to enjoy the process all the way through. I would advise you get the video set made by Don McRostie from Stewart MacDonald Guitar Shop Supply. It is a very appropriate introduction to mandolin making.

[angleraxel]

Hi Michael,

I do have a cheapy model A Johnson I got from an ebay deal. That has really sparked my interest and now I'd love to have a F5. The F style mandolins at my local shop are either way to expensive or are imports that I'm sure I could manufacture to the same level of quality, if not better(with mistakes and patience). I thought it would be fun to build my own and then as well, I ca be assured of the quality. I realize that I probably won't save a lot from just buying one, but I guess it's the personal satisfaction I'm after as well. So, you suggest the videos. I'll give them a look. What about he "Ultimate Bluegrass Construction Manual" anyone have anything on that? I'm at the stage now when I think I should be aquirring the wood. Is there a list of the wood I need somewhere? Preferably common stock that would be suitable for the job. Thanks again.

[amowry]

Yes, definitely get the Ultimate Bluegrass Construction Manual. It's not perfect but it's good, and will introduce you to many of the techniques. I would imagine it's where most folks begin. It's also a lot cheaper than the video, but I haven't seen the video so I can't really comment on that.

[douglas2cats]

I'm in the same boat as you - lot's of woodworking experience (furniture/cabinetry/turning/inlaying) and a pretty complete set of tools. Based on recommendations on this site and on Luthierforum.com I picked up several books recently with the intention of diving into the deep end of the pool and building a mando. Here's my $0.02 worth. You should definitely get the Bluegrass Construction Manual. It's a very complete book with more info than you can possibly absorb in one reading. My only personal problem with it is that I'd actually like to build a mandola instead of a mando, so I'm still left with trying to find plans as complete as Siminoff's for a mandola. I also picked up "The Mandolin Manual: The Art, Craft and Science of the Mandolin and Mandola by John Troughton" - some good information here, but nowhere near as good as the Siminoff Book, and "Guitarmaking: Tradition & Technology ... by W.Cumpiano. - very good book with lots of good ideas and different techniques than Siminoff's, but a lot not as directly applicable to mando building.
Although I think Siminoff's book was worth every penny, I don't think it alone is enough info to get me started. I haven't seen the McRostie video but based on the number of recommendations from folks, I think I'm going to want to get that as well. Like they say - a picture is worth a thousand words. But beyond that, it seems like all the really good tips & info are from forums like this site and Luthierforum.com. Here's another really good site! (http://www.buddyscustoms.com/dudenbostel/index.html)
I really need to start compiling a notebook with all the info available there.

[sunburst]

Tho I've been building instruments for over 20 years, this is the first time I've heard of "Ultimate Bluegrass Construction Manual".
Where is it available?

[douglas2cats]

Sunburst - I got mine on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0634062859/qid=1093359846/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-8734607-6220812?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

[amowry]

Sunburst- It's the new version of Siminoff's book. It's not too much different than the first one, although the included plans are a little better and there is additional information on some techniques, such as plate carving with machines.

Another useful book is Making an Archtop Guitar, by Robert Benedetto.

I believe both are available from Stew-Mac and Amazon.

[Chris Baird]

Violin building literature is a fantastic source for many useful techniques used in mandolin building. "The Art of Violin Building" is a very complete book on violin building and I got it through interlibrary loan (The book is $130 new). If you want to save lots of money you can use lots of hand tools (the use of is well laid out in violin texts) and then go to a local cabinet shop to use the powertools you don't already have. But, if you even want to get a little mechanized it gets expensive quick. I built my first few mandolins with almost no powertools and it was a great introduction to the properties of the wood and how it all "feels".

[sunburst]

Oh.

I took a quick look at the new Siminoff book at Bruce Harvey's last month. Unfortunately, I wasn't too impressed.
I have the Benedetto book (signed by the author http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif )and it does have a lot of good info.