H5 top and back graduations

**Ken Waltham** · Mar-14-2006, 2:12pm

Does anyone here have reliable Loar signed H5 graduations? I want to compare these to my tenor lute, to test a theory of mine. It is that they will be very similar, thinking they are done on the same pantagraph.
My guess is that the tenor lute... which is essentially the same top as Loar's ten string mando viola, is the same thickness graduations as the H5's.
Or at least, the same to an H5 as the one and only A5 is to the Loar F5's.
Make sense?

**sunburst** · Mar-14-2006, 3:15pm

I had a mandola, that looked like that, apart for repairs a couple of years ago. I think I remember measureing it, but, so far, I can't remember where the measurements are. They aren't in the usual note book that I use for that sort of thing, so they might be in one of the piles of papers around here, or the file cabinet under...something...

If I find them, I'll let you know.

**Gail Hester** · Mar-14-2006, 3:24pm

Ken, Check your mail, I sent you a PM.

**Ken Waltham** · Mar-14-2006, 4:28pm

Thanks John. That is the Tenor Lute, actually. You can see how much it looks like a more modern mandola.
Thanks for the PM Gail.
Ken

**Lynn Dudenbostel** · Mar-14-2006, 5:46pm

Ken, the Loar H-5's are graduated almost exactly like a Loar F-5, except spread out over a larger area. I've measured several and they are as close to each other as the F-5's seem to be.

Lynn

**Gail Hester** · Mar-14-2006, 6:04pm

Thanks Lynn. I've wanted to ask you the same question for awhile but I can't handle rejection.

That's how I graduated my H5 not knowing any better.

**Will Kimble** · Mar-14-2006, 6:21pm

Hi Ken,

Based on your picture, it looks like about 7" from the center of the f-holes to the crosspiece. #So I would think an H5 fingerboard with a 13 or 14 fret body joint (fret that lines up with the crosspiece) should be in the ballpark. #

Have you measured the tenor lute with a Hacklinger gauge yet?

Best of luck with your project,
Will Kimble

**Will Kimble** · Mar-14-2006, 6:24pm

Also wondering, is the rim of the tenor lute the same size and shape as an H1/H2 mandola? #How about the rim depth, how does it compare to an H1/H2? #

Will Kimble

**Ken Waltham** · Mar-14-2006, 10:14pm

Will, I believe the rim depth, and overal dimensions are the same as an H1/H2 mandola. I do not have one, however, at the moment to compare. I don't have a Hacklinger guage, but, when I get measurements, I will let you guys know.
Thanks Lynn, I'll talk with you soon.
Ken