Mandolins in progress

[Charles E.]

A few in the white of my first foray into the mandolin world. I had it strung for about 6 weeks and played with it quite a bit, making tweaks here and there, unstringing, restringing, etc.,etc. I'm in the process of putting the finish on now, so hopefully in a month or so, it will be all done.

Very nice. I thought "this guy's a violin maker for sure because he even installed an Ebony saddle under the tailpiece!" But then, one cannot install a mandolin tailpiece over a overhang, good job.

[GarY Nava]

I think this one is going to be a beast!



Cheers Gary

[lflngpicker]

Howard Morris strikes again! Look at the woods, finish and attention to detail-- he hasn't even buffed it yet, but it looks amazing--

[oldwave maker]

Didn't even believe in the existence of reg'lar mandocellos till I got my first elderly, or was it mandobros(?) stocklist, now this.....liking the rubner 5 on a plate tuners with rosewood buttons.

[billhay4]

Tres cool, Bill.
Bill

[Pete Jenner]

I think this one is going to be a beast!



Cheers Gary

Why Gary?

[Magnus Geijer]

Finally, getting close. Based on tap tone, this seems like it's the best of the batch, much to my surprise.

[GarY Nava]

Why Gary?

It's a very big boy- 10 string mandocello.
Cheers Gary

[Pete Jenner]

It's a very big boy- 10 string mandocello.
Cheers Gary

I see.

[Tavy]

It's a very big boy- 10 string mandocello.
Cheers Gary

Good to see progress on your monster Gary - here's mine, a little ahead of yours at present, but as I need to concentrate on other things for a while I suspect you'll soon overtake me!

Not so much braces as girders on this one:



Variable scale fretboard to go with it:

[Pete Jenner]

Mandobeasts are taking over the world.

[GarY Nava]

Good to see progress on your monster Gary - here's mine, a little ahead of yours at present, but as I need to concentrate on other things for a while I suspect you'll soon overtake me!

Not so much braces as girders on this one:



Variable scale fretboard to go with it:

Blimey Tavy! There’s a lot going on there! Are those braces laminated with carbon-fibre?
I don’t know about overtaking you, I seem to be spending more time thinking about it than building. I remember Fred Dibnah (that will confuse our American cousins!) saying that it took him 25 years to restore his steam engine; 23 years talking about and 2 years work. I feel a bit like that with this build!
Cheers Gary

[Tavy]

Blimey Tavy! There’s a lot going on there! Are those braces laminated with carbon-fibre?
I don’t know about overtaking you, I seem to be spending more time thinking about it than building. I remember Fred Dibnah (that will confuse our American cousins!) saying that it took him 25 years to restore his steam engine; 23 years talking about and 2 years work. I feel a bit like that with this build!
Cheers Gary

Yes there is a lot going on in there - main braces are spruce and walnut laminates - just thought I'd try it really

For the record, I planned this one 2 years ago, finally just got started and now that I'm within touching distance of stringing up in the white, have to put it to one side for other things! Still, it'll let me research string choices a bit more...

[TheMandoKit]

Didn't even believe in the existence of reg'lar mandocellos till I got my first elderly, or was it mandobros(?) stocklist, now this.....liking the rubner 5 on a plate tuners with rosewood buttons.

Liking the tuners, too. Also the matching headstock top, fingerboard end and tailpiece crosspiece (is that the right term?). Can't wait to see it finished up. And, of course, to play it.

[Steevarino]

I'm giving our Traveler Mandolins a rest for awhile, and concentrating on some A-5 style builds. Here are two that are on the bench right now...

[Steevarino]

Here's the current herd, in various stages of the coloring/finishing process...

[Paul South]

Howard Morris strikes again! Look at the woods, finish and attention to detail-- he hasn't even buffed it yet, but it looks amazing--

Hey Dan, that looks pretty sweet...........happy for you my friend!!!!

[Rob Zamites]

Mandobeasts are taking over the world.

Why yes, yes they are:

[Bill Snyder]

Howard Morris strikes again! Look at the woods, finish and attention to detail-- he hasn't even buffed it yet, but it looks amazing--

Does Howard Morris make an oval hole with the hole shaped more traditionally?

[lflngpicker]

Does Howard Morris make an oval hole with the hole shaped more traditionally?

Bill, I think that he has typically used this distinct shape on all the ones I have seen pictured. He seems willing to make an instrument to meet the interests of the buyer, if at all possible. He gave me a number of options as I went along, though the shape of the instrument and the hole weren't mentioned. The headstock shape was a choice between two types. Thanks Bill!

[lflngpicker]

Hey Dan, that looks pretty sweet...........happy for you my friend!!!!

Thanks SwervynMervyn99--BTW: Howard mentioned that you had contacted him about a future project. I appreciate your encouragement.

[Rob Zamites]

Zamites #1 with the first coats of teak oil finish (think Tru-oil, but Watco branded):

[Kent Barnes]

Got some lacquer sprayed on #7 last night.

[oldwave maker]

Thanks to the Labrot & Graham and Knob Creek Distilleries for the fine color swatches!

[billhay4]

Beautiful work, Bill.
Bill