Mandolins in progress

[Clyde Clevenger]

Okay, the psyco cello was a project for a troubled youth group in our area. It was donated for them to paint and was raffled off at some function that my wife bought tickets for, being a good hearted Norwegian woman and all. Well she won. It's a student model/plywood cello that is playable but, like me, not ready for the big time.

[Skip Kelley]

Nice work Clyde!! That is one awesome Christmas present!!

[Doug Edwards]

Making a mess and loving it.

[oldwave maker]

Hogged tops: dolas, parlor archtops, goms. Nice to get back into the sawdust/scraper groove now that the days are getting longer in the mando cave:

[Clyde Clevenger]

I gave the mandolin to my son today, he was thrilled but not as thrilled as I was. It sounded great, the kid can pick a little.

[Steve-o]

I gave the mandolin to my son today, he was thrilled but not as thrilled as I was. It sounded great, the kid can pick a little.

What a great gift, a mandolin that dad built! No, that's a family heirloom. I'm sure you son is very proud and happy.

[Steve Sorensen]

Clyde,
Pictures have nice soft focus . . . like Dad's eyes got a little misty while taking the shot. Well done.
Steve

[hank]

Congratulations Clyde on your build and your family to enjoy it with.

[Clyde Clevenger]

Yes, dad got a little misty eyed. I'm a little proud of the mandolin, but more of my son, he's a good one.

[Ed Goist]

Clyde, that's a beautiful mandolin and a great story all around. Congratulations and enjoy!

[Skip Kelley]

Yes, dad got a little misty eyed. I'm a little proud of the mandolin, but more of my son, he's a good one.

That is awesome!! We have some of the best folks in the world here!!

[Magnus Geijer]

Merry Christmas to me, from myself. Almost done.

[hank]

Interesting pattern in the wood up around the neck. Almost looks like wood inlay. Very nice looking lectric skillet.

[DBedwell]

This is my serial number 1.

It still needs fillets at the neck joint, the binding needs scraped, the french polishing is barely started, the mother-of-pearl headstock inlay blanks aren't cut out yet, the truss rod cover isn't fitted, etc. etc. but I couldn't wait any longer; I strung it up for the first time on December 25. Then I removed, reworked and reglued the fretboard, levelled it, and set it up.
Now it actually makes music. I was shocked!



It's based on the 2004 Siminoff book. The bigleaf maple and sitka spruce are from Don Barnes at Grandpa's Workshop; I ordered an "A" grade mandolin wood package and was very pleased with it. Grover tuners, ivoroid single-bound body, hand-rubbed finish with Fiebing's Leather Dye in yellow, dark brown and USMC Black.

Pretty much everybody who's ever posted good advice here deserves part of the credit.

Darren Bedwell

[crazymandolinist]

Love that dark, smoky burst. Great job for no. 1. Especially if it's a first attempt. And an F5 at that.

[Earl Gamage]

Nice work dbedwell

[Ed Goist]

This is my serial number 1.
...snip...
Darren Bedwell

Congratulations! Really fine job, Darren. I, too, really like the look of that burst. Nice!

[Clyde Clevenger]

Very nice work Darren. I, too, got much help from the folks on this list. I really appreciate it.

[Kramster]

Very beautiful indeed Darren....nothin' bettern playable art.

[bropete]

Applying a little hand rubbed varnish to the next White Dove A5.

[TDMpicker]

Sharing a few photos of my latest Army-Navy - Flatiron style mandolin.

This one has an Engelmann spruce top, red-curly maple back sides and neck. Ebony fingerboard and peghead overlay. The body is bound front and back in black. The top and back have a 96" induced radius. 1 1/8" bone nut with a standard mandolin 13 7/8" scale length. Grover 309, 18:1 tuning machine (nickel plated). Fitted with a Cumberland Acoustics adjustable bridge. A scalloped nickel plated tailpiece, Crystal Forest M.O.P. inlay on peghead. I am going to do a classic sunburst stain on this one.

[Skip Kelley]

BroPete, Terry, those mandolins look great! Nice work guys!!

[hank]

Terry has the induced arch changed the voice of your Crystal Forrest designs?

[TDMpicker]

Hank,

I've never built one without some induced arch so I can't say how much it effects the sound.
It probably has some effect but the primary reason for the arch is to resist the downward pressure of the bridge
and help keep the flat top from sagging. Keeping the neck angle to the body low so the bridge height is .5-.625 has
worked well for me. I haven't noticed any "sagging" on my mandolins.

[Steve Sorensen]

Got to love it when the plan starts to come together.