Michael lewis

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 8:42pm

Heres a picture of my Lewis...

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 8:43pm

Headstock

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 8:44pm

Back

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 8:45pm

Tailpiece

**El Greco** · Dec-13-2007, 8:46pm

Gorgeous! Bet it plays like a dream.

Frank, by the way, I believe you've misspelled your sig.

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 8:46pm

Mother of Pearl feather with silver wire

**Treblemaker** · Dec-13-2007, 8:52pm

That is one heck of a nice thing that Santa Lewis and his elves created Frank.

Way to go Michael.
Way to go Frank.

-Treblemaker
(Ted Silverman)
SF, CA
www.worldwideted.com

**ash89** · Dec-13-2007, 9:10pm

v. nice....
does it have walnut back sides and neck?

**cooper4205** · Dec-13-2007, 9:20pm

Michael makes some of the sickest looking mandolins (and that's a good kind of sick

)! How does she sound?

**markishandsome** · Dec-13-2007, 10:00pm

Beautiful! But I think it needs a bigger tailpiece

**Glassweb** · Dec-13-2007, 10:11pm

Hate to be a drag, but this mandolin looks really awkward to me. Tailpiece is totally out of scale and the fingerboard extension is just pointless... may the gods please tell me why people insist on these ridiculous, scooped, fretless extensions...

**Big Joe** · Dec-13-2007, 10:21pm

Michael...Brilliant as always! Makes me jealous.

Glassweb...Because we like them. Different strokes for different folks. I think they add to the instrument and its jazz retro feel.

**Glassweb** · Dec-13-2007, 10:27pm

Sure Big Joe, that's why we both play Gibson F5s! I love some of Michael's other designs, but this is all wrong to me aesthetically speaking. The pickguard, the headstock... ah well, each to his/her own I guess.

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 10:28pm

Brazilian sides and back, mahogany neck, and engelmann spruce top (I think)... The tail piece is a work of art on its own... Does not inhibit playing at all... The bound f holes are an added bonus... A striking mando if I do say so.My Webpage

**Greg H.** · Dec-13-2007, 10:31pm

Perhaps so that you're allowed to change your mind and have it un-scooped by just replaceing the fretboard. Looking at both of my (scooped) mandolins there is supporting maple underneath the extension so if I simply cut it off there could be no reversing it.

Personally I like it. Then again, the last time I was at IBMA (2004) Michael had IMHO two of the best mandolins in the whole show.

**Glassweb** · Dec-13-2007, 10:41pm

Hey, what the hell do I know... most of the response here seems to be positive! Play on!

**Bill Snyder** · Dec-13-2007, 10:52pm

Glassweb, I can name a lot of things that I don't like that other people do. Some of them really bewilder me as the extension does you. I figure I will have to accept that some (in some cases maybe even most) people don't like everything the way I do. I am not even sure that the f-style is my favorite design although some of them sure do look good.
I guess since I am posting in a thread about a Lewis mandolin I could say something about it.
I think Mr. Lewis is an incredible luthier and while I would have some different appointments on the instrument if it were mine it is a stunning instrument.

**Chris Biorkman** · Dec-13-2007, 10:54pm

Michael defintely pushes the envelope from a design perspective, but I think his instruments look great. The fact that other builders hold him in such high regard speaks volumes about his work.

**Alex Fields** · Dec-13-2007, 11:23pm

That's a beautiful back. I just started a thread asking about mandolins with rosewood, so on that note, how does this one sound? Specifically, what do you think the rosewood adds to the sound as opposed to maple (and what made you choose rosewood)?

Hope you enjoy the mandolin, as I'm sure you will.

**thefiddlemon** · Dec-13-2007, 11:34pm

Just a heads up... Michael Lewis does make exceptional Loar type replicas for the trads out there. This mandolin above will stand up to any others I have ever played... including a number of Loars. Just sayin' is all... His archtop guitars are pieces of art too... the few flattops he's made are reminiscent of the tone of late thirties Martins... anyhow... If you have an opportunity to to check out his website and/or shoot him an email... here you go:
Michael Lewis website

**stevem** · Dec-14-2007, 12:52am

I like it. Two thumbs up.

**frankenstein** · Dec-14-2007, 1:36am

cool..

**Michael Lewis** · Dec-14-2007, 2:40am

Well, late to the party again I guess. That is nothing new. Wow folks, thanks for your confidence.

The back and sides are as Frank stated, old Brazilian rosewood. I think I have enough more to make 3 or 4 mandolins, and will start one next Summer for Scott Gates.

In response to Glassweb, no offense meant, but just because I can. When I make instruments that have not been specifically ordered by or for some one I can take some artistic license if the mood strikes. On the other hand, when I make an instrument for an order I follow the design of what is ordered. Sometimes I make very traditional instruments on spec just because. As a maker I enjoy the freedom to push the boundries of design once in a while. In regard to the scooped fingerboard extension, the F model is a very visual design and by scooping the fingerboard instead of cutting it off the visual element is retained and more access to the strings is gained.

**Mark Walker** · Dec-14-2007, 7:10am

Beautiful mandolin. Love that headstock and inlay. The huge tailpiece is a bit much for me, but regardless, it does give it a unique look. I like the color of the pick-guard too!

Nice work Michael!