Mandolins in progress

**mtolley** · May-16-2013, 10:06am

A few shots of carving plate exteriors for the current batch of mandolins. The 2 point mando is Englemann spruce/bigleaf maple and the standard A model is Adirondack spruce/red maple. Now to flip 'em over and carve the interiors.

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**Jim Hilburn** · May-16-2013, 1:57pm

I imagine if you asked the average non-builder what they thought was the hardest part to bend on an F is they'd say the scroll but this is by far the one that will test your will and patience.

**Joe Mendel** · May-16-2013, 3:38pm

I just got this octave strung up, I don't even have a label in it yet. It's figured Tzalam
b & s, Adi top, maple neck.

**Jim Garber** · May-16-2013, 3:43pm

Nice, Joe. I never heard of that wood. It sort of looks like koa. What is the sound like?

**billhay4** · May-16-2013, 4:02pm

Lovely instrument, Joe. Do you mind if I ask where you get luthier grade Tzalam? It's quite stunning.
I'd love to hear a soundclip of this one.
bill

**Joe Mendel** · May-16-2013, 6:20pm

I bought it from Hibdon Hardwoods in St. Louis. http://www.hibdonhardwood.com/index.htm
When I first saw it I thought it was black walnut, I had never heard of Tzalam before either. Up until I started finishing it everything about it reminded me of black walnut, the grain, pores, the way it felt & worked, but the figure was more intense than any black walnut I've seen. I filled the pores with epoxy and and then sprayed a pale amber shellac and it started to get the golden Koa look. I used EM6000 lacquer over that and I think it turned out really well, even prettier than I thought it would look with finish on it.
I'll try to get a sound clip later tonight or in the morning. It sounds good already, usually it takes a little while for the sound to warm up, but it sounded good as soon as I got it tuned. It should sound even better with a little playing time.

**Markkunkel** · May-16-2013, 6:29pm

GORGEOUS instrument, Joe...I like everything about your work. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Mark

**billhay4** · May-17-2013, 10:19am

Thanks, Joe. You sure brought out the beauty in it.
Bill

**Joe Mendel** · May-17-2013, 10:22am

Thanks for the compliments.

Here's a quick sound clip, I hope no one was hoping for a Grammy performance, it wasn't happening this morning.
It was recorded straight into a DR-07.

DR000138.mp3

**billhay4** · May-17-2013, 11:08am

Thanks, Joe.
Nice oval sound.
Bill

**sunburst** · May-17-2013, 12:16pm

Nice head stock, Joe. A nice design, not just different to be different of asymmetrical to be asymmetrical, but a coherent idea.

**Joe Mendel** · May-17-2013, 1:43pm

Thanks, John & Billy. I'm not one to over-think things generally, but I did try to make it different without making it look like I was trying real hard to make it different. I also tried to echo the shape of the headstock with the end of the fingerboard, and the tailpiece.

**billhay4** · May-17-2013, 2:08pm

but I did try to make it different without making it look like I was trying real hard to make it different. I also tried to echo the shape of the headstock with the end of the fingerboard, and the tailpiece.

This is the kind of thing good design is made of.
Nice.
Bill