Iv kits

[mandolinplucker]

I have built a few of the A style kits and in my experience they make good mandolins. When new they are loud and bright sounding and when they open up they mellow out in tone and keep the volume. I have had nothing but complements on the sound of my mandolins. I know that Ken gets his F style kits from another source. I would like to know from anyone who has built one of International Violins's F5 kits how they turn out. If anyone has built an A and an F, how do they compare? I ordered one from Ken's first shipment and it was his last one in stock. It had some problems and I had to send it back and he didn't have one to replace it and I haven't ordered another. Now that some have been built I was wondering how they turned out before I order one.

[Jim Rowland]

I've built a couple of the IV Fs and have been quite satisfied with them. If they are properly assembled and finished,they can be quite good. You won't be getting a Gibson sound, but you should get plenty of volume and tone and,in my experience,a real easy, poppy chop. I replace the nut,tuners,bridge,and sometimes the tail piece
which adds around a hundred bucks to the cost. I Also use an Ebony or Rosewood headstock overlay which is not at all necessary,but better for looks and inlay. In terms of building challenge, it is similar to the experience you would have had with the A style except for....the binding process. That is difficult for a beginner,especially if you use a thicker than provided material.
Jim

[buddyellis]

I would almost guess, while he gets them from 'another source' (instead of Saga) they are made in the same exact factory as the A models. Design is almost identical. I've made about 5 of them (although the last one I made was a bit of a hybrid, I carved the top/back -- it was a 'second' that I got for a good price)

Agree on the binding. I'd personally recommend dumping the kit binding and getting celluloid from Bill James (approx 3 strips if you plan to bind the back/neck). Yes, it is expensive, but you'll save on time and PITA factor significantly. If you plan on building more instruments, just buy some extra. I'd also suggest getting the binding router attachment for dremel from stewmac (along with the bit) I cut 6 mandolins by hand before I 'wasted' the money on it (I hate buying tools I don't really think I need), and frankly it's some of the best money I've ever spent on a tool.

Next, I'd suggest pulling the fretwire (unless you like that tiny stuff), and getting some better wire (or replacing the fingerboard and wire). The wire on those kits is pretty soft stuff, and wears quickly, in my experience. I've been using LMI EVO '74' wire and found it to be a pretty good size for mandolin -- harder than Nickel Silver, but not quite as hard as Stainless.

Overall, they can make a really good instrument. They don't have to be especially brash sounding. In fact, with proper graduation (for more bass, get the back tuned and ringing well) and tone bar tuning (toss the kit stock, and ask ken to include a bit of dense spruce bar stock, the default stuff tends to be a bit too short for my linking) these things can sound as good as anything out there under $4000. It all depends on you