First custom mando order!

**John Hill** · Feb-19-2007, 1:27pm

Well I bit the bullet & am sending out the deposit for a matching mandolin/mandola set!

I'm pretty excited about this project since I've wanted to do this for a long while. Once the deposit is officially received (delayed dang it by President's Day!) by the builder I'll feel more comfortable about spilling the details on who, when and whyfors. But I just had to tell someone!

**first string** · Feb-19-2007, 2:29pm

I think I speak for everyone present when I say, spill it. Spill it now!

**Fliss** · Feb-19-2007, 2:33pm

Seconded, we want details please!!!

And congratulations, by the way

Fliss

**craigtoo** · Feb-19-2007, 2:41pm

C'Monnnnnnn. Matching Mandola and Mandolin.. nice touch....

SPILL IT!

craig

**John Hill** · Feb-19-2007, 3:24pm

Ok, Ok...ouch...my arm hurts from all the twisting!

I looked around & asked several people about doing it & finally ended up going with Ben Wilcox. So far the correspondence has been great and I couldn't be happier about my selection.

Both are going to be A-styles and Ben showed me a design for his headstock which I think will be very nice, elegant and downright cool (I don't think he's used it before). The color scheme is a traditional sunburst; I really didn't want anything too fancy since I'm apt to change my mind about what I'd like on an instrument at any point in time so both will be fairly standard instruments with the Bill James tail-pieces. Ben recommended Red Spruce top with a medium grain & Red Maple back for the tone I discussed with him.

I'm leaving the mandola scale length to the luthier, that's up to Ben and I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever he builds. I've wanted a mandola for a long time because while I like strumming the guitar I just don't enjoy pickin' on one and I think mandolas offer a lower voice without having to relearn how to play an instrument. I'm sure an octave is in the cards one day as well though.

Other than looking for a case to hold both instruments that's about it. I'm sure there will be pics in the future and I'll post them if so. The wait isn't too long and now all I have to do is stay upright until then and it should all be good.

Let the wait begin...

**first string** · Feb-19-2007, 3:53pm

Congrats. I'm sure you'll be very pleased. Sorry about the arm twisting, buy you can't tease us like that...Not when it comes to custom order like that.

Cheers