Most difficult thing involved in mandolin making

**jus** · Oct-25-2005, 11:10pm

I am toying with the idea of of making my own mandolin, I have basic woodworking skills and access to a pretty well equiped workshop with thicknesser, drill press, belt sander etc.... So I'm wondering, all of you who have made your own mandolin, what did you experience as the most difficult stage in the process... carving the top/back, getting the right fit on the neck/body joint, finishing???

I'm thinking of making an A model oval hole based on the early Gibsons, is the F model another order of difficulty for the maker (as it seems to me).

these questions may have been covered before, so if they have could someone direct me to the discussions.

many thanks.

**Antlurz** · Oct-26-2005, 2:29am

There are many concerns and challenges in the process, but for me, the most critical is the neck/body joint, both getting a good fit that is also in linear alignment with the body, and getting a nominal angle for alignment with the bridge. Several critical concerns all wrapped up in one step of the process.

There are constellations and galaxies of difference in the complexity of building an "F" model as opposed to an "A" model.

Maybe I should have just said there is a lot of difference.... both in complexity, and time spent.

There are some good books out there that are both comprehensive, and will do a good job of guiding you through it.

Ron

**mythicfish** · Oct-26-2005, 6:49am

Aside from the mechanics, the most challanging task is making a pile of wood sound like a mandolin.

Curt

**dave17120** · Oct-26-2005, 7:08am

If you can make it, that's a major achievement..... my biggest difficulties came in sorting out how best to finish them.... in my not so well equiped workshop. With the modern finishes available, I found the choice bewildering, not to mention all the vocabulary associated with it. A chemist I am not. But good luck anyway, you're in the right place for plenty of help.
Dave

**Stephanie Reiser** · Oct-26-2005, 7:11am

I agree with Ron pertaining the the body/neck joint. I do not use a router, doing it mostly with a bandsaw, and by hand. But then I am not 'in the business' so to speak, and can afford to take my time. The plate-carving that many agonize over is actually very enjoyable for me. Other than that, binding the tiny scroll on the headstock and the neck heel always gives me fits.
But, it all takes practice.

**junksuph** · Oct-26-2005, 7:33am

After building a few "F" body mando's, (I threw myself to the wolves right off the bat), I find that the things I figured to be would be the hardest, have been the most enjoyable. Like Amandalyn, I too love carving tops, (moreso than backs because of how much more time they take). I have gotten much better at my neck joints, (haven't lost any instruments yet), but, bending highly figured maple is still my skill needing development. I can bend plain maple without any trouble. Quilted is easier, but tiger maple gives me fits at the hard bend around the strap hanger. I have made more kindling wood that way. When I built number 1, I made jigs and fixtures for all future mandolins and therein lies the secret to future success and consistant work.

As far as applying the finish.....hey, if you screw it up, scuff it up and call it your distressed model.....

The best tool in my shop is my hands. I have tried to use machined for nearly every task in building, but it still comes down to my hands giving the best results. Don,t overlook them

**Jonas** · Oct-26-2005, 7:40am

I built from a kit and for me the finishing was the hardest part. I am french polishing with shellac and it's been a true test of my patience. (I'm not even done yet!)

**Adam Tracksler** · Oct-26-2005, 8:29am

You might want to try a kit first, so you can get a feel for it. I did and am glad that i did. It gave me an appreciation forthe work that is involved with building a mandolin. The International Violin Kit is quick (relatively) and inexpensive and turns out a pretty nice mandolin for @ $100. I would definately get the Roger Siminoff Book, it focused on building an F style, but 90% of it is appropriate for an A style.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Oct-26-2005, 9:24am

Neck body joint. After that I vote for general skills for assuring that you do what you intended to do. (how come the peghead isn't shaped like the lines I drew on the neck blank)

**sunburst** · Oct-26-2005, 9:37am

There's a difference between hard to do, and hard to learn.
Finishing is not difficult for me, but, I've finished a lot of instruments. Neck joints aren't terribly difficult, just exacting and time consuming.

What's difficult for me, as a more experienced builder, is binding.
First of all, it's purpose is mostly cosmetic, so, I figure, if I'm doing something for cosmetic reasons, it had better look as close to perfect as I can get it. It takes as much time and precision as anything else on the mandolin, and more than most other operations, and the results are right there for the whole world to see.

**Magnus Geijer** · Oct-26-2005, 7:32pm

Binding. I was going to do it on my #1, but failed to the point where I went with a rounded edge. I'm doing it on #2, but from now on, I beilieve I'll stick with binding the fretboard and head only. I HATE it.

/Magnus

**ShaneJ** · Oct-26-2005, 9:25pm

EVERYTHING that has to do with the neck (except cutting it out and shaping it). Cutting the little scrolls, getting the right angle on the cuts around the headstock, slotting the fretboard, filing the frets, the dovetail joint, inlay, and the BINDING around those dang little scrolls. Binding the rest of the body isn't much more fun either.

Carving the plates, bending the sides, shaving on the tone bars...all that is relaxing and enjoyable to me. Binding isn't.

I still havn't completed my #1 yet, so I havn't done the finishing yet. I think that will be enjoyable. I always like staining wood.

**amowry** · Oct-26-2005, 10:57pm

For me finishing is the most difficult. I find it to be less intuitive and less predictable than most other aspects. Binding is up there too, but if I cut a miter wrong I can just throw that piece away and try again.

**french guy** · Oct-27-2005, 12:19pm

Make the choice of the wood you decide to use is a dilema and I generaly don't like that , and spend a long time to choice , and after I pay , I say to myself ( hum I'm not sure of my choice ).
The other sad part is the finish , but between these 2 parts , it's much fun .

**Yonkle** · Nov-01-2005, 12:11pm

Neck joint. Getting neck to the right angle, depth ect. Very nerve racking.
Cutting binding channel in headstock and binding it.
Finishing.. my favorite part.

**Michael Lewis** · Nov-02-2005, 2:10am

There are many processes to master in order to produce a very good instrument. They all have to flow together and function properly. Each step will test your patience in some way until you master the process.

I feel much the same as Sunburst regarding binding. After more than 20 years at this I can tell you there is a general understanding of the structure and processes that need to be achieved before you get to the level where you can predictably make a great mandolin. I can also tell you that there are some processes that can give you fits no matter how long you have been at making mandolins. It is like a wrestling match where you get to the point that you can win every time but you still have to exert plenty of effort.