Lloyd Loar Mandolin

[ngmandolinman]

Hi guys! I'll be getting a mandolin built sometime in the near future. I want it as close to a Lloyd Loar as possible. What type of finish did Gibson use in making a old Gibson mandolin? Hand rubbed or sprayed? Did they use a high gloss or was it a more saten finish?

Thanks

[Jim Garber]

Just curious... do you already have a builder picked out? Is he or she building from Loar specs. It is just interesting to me that you are starting asking about the finish when that is the last thing to go on the instrument and there are plenty of other considerations.

[billhay4]

If you are looking for a builder, I'd find someone who knows the answer to all these questions already. Jim is right here; the finish is the last thing to think about.
Bill

[fscotte]

Why does his name start with two L's?

[Jim Garber]

Why does his name start with two L's?

From the Welsh language which was denied many vowels from their oppressors. More info here.

[HoGo]

Hi guys! I'll be getting a mandolin built sometime in the near future. I want it as close to a Lloyd Loar as possible. What type of finish did Gibson use in making a old Gibson mandolin? Hand rubbed or sprayed? Did they use a high gloss or was it a more saten finish? Thanks

Bill Halsey is your man. I haven't seen anyone go as close to the original. He even uses period correct threads (now obsolete) on trussrods. The only difference from old Gibsons is his very precise workmanship. Search in the archives for some pics of his work.

[MarkG]

From the Welsh language which was denied many vowels from their oppressors. More info here.

The Welsh language actually has more vowels than English. In addition to 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u', in Welsh 'w' and 'y' are also vowels.

[billhay4]

I think Jim was being fffnny.
Bill

[Denny Gies]

Call Randy Wood in Savannah, GA. He does some really, really good work and knows about Loars.

[Jim Garber]

llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch.co.uk --website for a town in Wales -- the longest town name and URL in the the UK.

Bill was right. I was being hwmyrwws.

[Spruce]

Bill Halsey is your man. The only difference from old Gibsons is his very precise workmanship.

Hey, he even dialed it down.....

[Pete Jenner]

Welsh language ...[/B][/U][/URL].

Shouldn't that be Welsh Llangwych?

[Steve Sorensen]

Look to Vessel.

http://vesselmandolins.blogspot.com/

Steve

[John Norris]

How about Bob Altman.

[8ch(pl)]

I think I saw somewhere that Gibson used Benjamin Moore Varnish. May or may not be so...

[Timbofood]

According to Al Lakey who ran a paint store here until his death Benjamin Moore "quick drying" was what" those guys used to come in for" I have a label around here somewhere.
I am biased toward Bill too, known him since I was a pup! If a Loar reproduction period proper is what you want, Mr. Halsey will fill the need. Probably the last mandolin you will need. I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing most of his builds, played his prototype for six months, very enjoyable treat!
If you want to kill MAS in one go, buy a Halsey!
I think Tom F5Loar will bear out the accuracy with Bill's work.

[Timbofood]

Ok,

Bear in mind this has been on my case for somewhere around forty years now so, it's a bit "worn"
It will probably be best viewed by Peter Jenner
Lakeys was within walking distance to the 225 Parsons street factory, about four or five blocks if memory serves. I have not been down that way in a while.

[Pete Jenner]

It says.

VAFISH
QUICKYING
FLOOSIE
Benjamin moandco

The small print says:
Return to Australia ASAP.

[Timbofood]

Thanks for the translation! Henry Eagle for German, Pete for Aussie!
I needed the laugh this morning Pete! Thanks

[Jim Garber]

Bill Halsey is your man. I haven't seen anyone go as close to the original. He even uses period correct threads (now obsolete) on trussrods. The only difference from old Gibsons is his very precise workmanship. Search in the archives for some pics of his work.

Not that I am looking, but assuming the OP actually does come back and checks this thread, is there some contact info for M.r Halsey. I don't see him listed in the builder's database.

I want it as close to a Lloyd Loar as possible.

Another question for the OP: Are you looking for an exact repro of a Loar F5 or just one that looks as close as possible to one? In other words do you want one that sounds as close to one or just looks like one in photos?

[Jacob]

D. Wm. Halsey ?
"Mandolins built to order in Style F-5 and Style A."

[MikeEdgerton]

Better yet, send him a PM on the cafe.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/me...92-Bill-Halsey

[Willie Poole]

If I am not mistaken Charlie Derrington said that the Master Models that were being built during his stay at Gibson were as close to an original Loar as could be, he said his wife MRI`ed his Loar and they built the MM to those specs, of course as we all know, according to many posts on here, is that not all Loars were the same....Maybe the OP don`t want to spend that kind of money for a mandolin though....

I have compared a custom made mandolin that I own with two Loars and except for the inlays, mine being a fern, its hard to tell them apart, sound is different though, not bad but just different, mine is lacquer finished as opposed to varnish on the originals....Mine was made by Mack Barnes in Dale City Va.and I have lost contact with him over the years.....Probably a lot of Loar look alikes floating around out there and a builder that has been around for a while could probably fill the bill for the OP if he is looking for one that looks like a Loar....

Willie

[Pete Jenner]

Thanks for the translation! Henry Eagle for German, Pete for Aussie!
I needed the laugh this morning Pete! Thanks

No worries Tim.

Ben Moandco was one of the legendary Blackheath luthiers of the turn of the 20th century and he lived in Kalamazoo street on the corner of Michigan Avenue. He mostly used a mixture of chewed up funnel web spiders and wombat droppings for all of his finishes until he discovered cockroach juice. Then he went completely mad and stopped building mandolins and lived out the rest of his days smoking his own dried dribble.

[Timbofood]

Yes Jacob, that's him!