Mandolins in progress

**Doug Edwards** · Jul-05-2011, 9:39pm

Getting there

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Skip, that looks real nice. Woodcraft gets some bargins every now and then.

**Skip Kelley** · Jul-07-2011, 10:28am

Doug, Thanks! Your two-pointer looks awesome!

**Jill McAuley** · Jul-07-2011, 10:31am

Originally Posted by Doug Edwards

Getting there

Skip, that looks real nice. Woodcraft gets some bargins every now and then.

Looking forward to seeing that one when it's finished - looks great Doug!

Cheers,
Jill

**Steve-o** · Jul-07-2011, 12:34pm

Originally Posted by StevenS

Skip,
Best way to spend 13 bucks I have ever seen.
Steve

x4 Skip! That's a beauty. I'd love to see the redwood top.

**Max Girouard** · Jul-07-2011, 7:32pm

I know this won't be for everyone, but here is the prototype for my Jerry Garcia inspired mandolin ready for final shaping and sanding!

**Don Grieser** · Jul-07-2011, 7:46pm

Max, that is so great. What's the color scheme going to be?

**Ed Goist** · Jul-07-2011, 9:32pm

Max, that is fantastic!
I love how the top of the peghead compliments the aggressive body points...Nice!
I can't wait to see it under Lauri's stain and varnish.
Fine work.

**buckhorn** · Jul-07-2011, 10:40pm

looks great ...who says that it has to look like every other one ... keep at it and tell us how it sounds....keith

**StevenS** · Jul-08-2011, 12:42am

Max,
Extremely impressed. You've got something special there!
Steve

**Max Girouard** · Jul-08-2011, 7:16am

Thanks guys! I'm trying to keep this one as close in appearance to the guitar that inspired it, so it will have gold hardware, dark brown front and back, and amber sides and neck.

**JEStanek** · Jul-08-2011, 7:29am

I like the strength of that design, Max. I bet it would be sweet in a bright red finish too... I'm looking forward to seeing the final instrument.

Jamie

**Max Girouard** · Jul-08-2011, 8:10am

Originally Posted by JEStanek

I like the strength of that design, Max. I bet it would be sweet in a bright red finish too... I'm looking forward to seeing the final instrument.

Jamie

Thanks Jamie,

It's funny you say that because I have the second prototype close behind in construction, and I planned on making that one red with maybe a slightly lighter burst in the middle.

**oldwave maker** · Jul-08-2011, 10:44am

From the oldwave unfinished furniture dept, neighbor Brian's mandola, finished in tru-oil by him. Engelmann spruce, vermont hard maple, local black walnut peghead veneer and fretboard. Swapped him for labor to build a sunroom, win-win.........

**Mark Walker** · Jul-08-2011, 10:53am

Doug - Been awhile since I've been noodling around on the Cafe'. (Always busy in the summer here in Michigan you know - gotta take advantage of camping, festivals, good weather, the lawn, the garden, etc.)

That mandolin looks great! Soon you'll be right up there with the top-shelf luthiers, and we've had the privilege of watching your progress from day one! Keep up the great work!

**draino** · Jul-08-2011, 10:53am

Originally Posted by oldwave maker

From the oldwave unfinished furniture dept, neighbor Brian's mandola, finished in tru-oil by him. Engelmann spruce, vermont hard maple, local black walnut peghead veneer and fretboard. Swapped him for labor to build a sunroom, win-win.........

The back on this is awesome -- the figure complements the annular rings, rather than overpowers them. Same with the back on Max's Garcia-replica. Both of those backs make a strong case for "not quarter-sawn" (Slab cut? flatsawn?) backs!

**Marty Henrickson** · Jul-08-2011, 10:57am

Max, that is one beautiful mandolin! You should consider accentuating the "Ripple" pattern of the grain on the back. I can't wait to see picture of this when it is finished.

PS - Now my mind is plagued with thoughts of an OM with this shape, thanks a lot!

**Ed Goist** · Jul-08-2011, 11:04am

Originally Posted by Marty Henrickson

Max, that is one beautiful mandolin! You should consider accentuating the "Ripple" pattern of the grain on the back. I can't wait to see picture of this when it is finished.

PS - Now my mind is plagued with thoughts of an OM with this shape, thanks a lot!

And from the moment I saw Max's "Garcia" design, I thought it would look awesome with an oval hole. Now that you mention it, an 'oval-hole Garcia OM' would be sweet!

**Doug Edwards** · Jul-08-2011, 11:19am

Thanks Skip, Jill, & Mark. My James tailpiece should come today and I'll get it strung up tonight. Can't wait!

**Max Girouard** · Jul-08-2011, 1:21pm

Originally Posted by Marty Henrickson

Max, that is one beautiful mandolin! You should consider accentuating the "Ripple" pattern of the grain on the back. I can't wait to see picture of this when it is finished.

PS - Now my mind is plagued with thoughts of an OM with this shape, thanks a lot!

That would be cool! Don't give me any ideas! That goes for you as well Ed!

**mtucker** · Jul-08-2011, 1:36pm

Originally Posted by Max Girouard

I'm trying to keep this one as close in appearance to the guitar that inspired it, so it will have gold hardware, dark brown front and back, and amber sides and neck

certainly you've collected pics of alembic's tribute, coco facings and hippie sandwich... swirly and dark, kinda got that old gibson or guild vibe to it. RT and or Paul H are probably familiar with the one and only orig wolf... although i think its been covered, considerably...and not without some controversy, either.

**Max Girouard** · Jul-08-2011, 2:17pm

That is a great looking guitar. I love how Alembic uses laminates, so I decided to try a few on this prototype. To simulate hippie sandwich look, I used bindings with a top and side stripe. I thought about using rounded sides like the Rigels with real wood laminates, but I didn't want to get too crazy right off the bat!

**Ed Goist** · Jul-08-2011, 2:53pm

Max; the detail work on that binding is outstanding!
Very sharp!

**mtucker** · Jul-08-2011, 4:41pm

guess it's 'tiger' now that i google it....here's the man himself playing doug erwin's creation...your's has got it going on, Max...well done.

**Chip Booth** · Jul-08-2011, 8:10pm

I think that is a picture of Rosie

**Max Girouard** · Jul-09-2011, 7:54am

Originally Posted by Chip Booth

I think that is a picture of Rosie

I'm pretty sure the one on the left is Tiger, made by Doug Irwin. He used brass of all things for the fretboard binding! Rosebud didn't have any fretboard binding and only one dark laminate between the top and middle piece of maple. The one on the right is Lightning Bolt made by Steven Cripe. I studied as many pictures as I could and took features from each guitar to incorporate into my prototypes. Really interesting stories around each guitar and how they were made and what they were made from.