Mandolins in progress

[Marty Jacobson]

Martin, I can see that you are an industrial designer. Your site is interesting beyond just instruments. Your Basilisk mandolin is certainly striking. Are there unusual structural aspects to that or to the building of it?

Hah, I was pretty proud of that instrument, especially since Scott put a link to it on the front page of the 'Cafe in 2003.

It was an experiment in making a graduated flat top. So it is a thick flat top which is then carved to have roughly the same thickness "map", but it is only carved on the top side of the plates. Also, it has tone bars. Weird, but that's all I knew at the time and it worked out just fine.

It has that nasal tone you expect from a flat top instrument, but it's really responsive and balanced. Too much sustain for a lot of styles. But awesome for British Isles stuff.

[billhay4]

Whoa! This is interesting stuff, Martin. I'd like to see way more details of the new production oriented instrument. In particular, I'd like to know how the bending machine works. Of course, I realize you're an industrial designer and may need to protect some of these concepts, so I won't be offended if you are reticent.
Some of the aesthetics are truly nice, especially the fretboard.
Can't wait to hear one of these.
Bill

[Marty Jacobson]

Of course, I realize you're an industrial designer and may need to protect some of these concepts, so I won't be offended if you are reticent.
Some of the aesthetics are truly nice, especially the fretboard.
Can't wait to hear one of these.
Bill

Yeah, I can't wait to hear one either.

An affordable, playable, properly voiced, varnish-finish instrument made in the USA by an individual luthier. That's the goal. I can do that through extremely low overhead (self-built CNC machines, etc.) and thoughtful fixturing. Hopefully!

I don't care about the intellectual property... ideas shouldn't be hoarded.
I quit a profitable corporate and consulting career to focus on lutherie, I am trying to make mandolins, not big bucks. I don't have the capital to defend any claims anyhow, heh. Thanks for the interest.

[Ted Eschliman]

Can't wait until this custom Austin Clark JM5 gets here. Jazzbox 5-string acoustic mandolin. Next step, hardware and Kent Armstrong p/u.

[Markus]

Ted, that's lovely.

I get to play with a fellow with a great hollow body Gretsch guitar every week - seems like yours should have that same beautiful warm tone that his has. Nice old tube amp doesn't hurt either ... as I told him `tone as sweet as my wife's smile'. If it sounds half as nice as it looks yours sings like that too.


The maple backs people are posting ... just amazing beauty to the wood.

That maple back from Jim Hillburn looks almost like the rippled sand along the river bottom here, Max and lauri's maple back looks like a topographic map. That's quite a `secret side' of the instrument for the player to admire.

[amowry]

Nice work, Austin!

Making shavings...

[Jim Nollman]

Ted,

Are you doing anything special to keep the fifth string (I presume its a C) properly intonated and playable?
Also, if you don't mind me asking, what's the width of your fingerboard? Is it radiused?

I'm asking such specific questions because I've just commissioned a local luthier to build me a 5 string, and we're discussing fan frets (first choice) and a separate extension on the bridge for the C string. We're talking about a scale length from 14 to 15 inches.

[Kip Carter]

Martin,
hope you can give us a sound sample of these when you're done very intriguing!

Regards,
Kip...

[OldGus]

Ted, you aren't kidding around when it comes to jazzboxes, clearly you've made a very informed decision on this one, nice job!

[Bill Snyder]

Martin, I can see that you are an industrial designer. Your site is interesting beyond just instruments. Your Basilisk mandolin is certainly striking. Are there unusual structural aspects to that or to the building of it?

Jim his posting of this mandolin back in 2004 is what prompted me to join the forum. I had started building my first mandolin and was curious about some aspects of this one (hence my handle being "Curious" for the first few years I was here).

[StevenS]

The luster of leveled and polished metal under the shop light's neon glow.



Steve

[lauri Girouard]

I just finished this two point. Carpathian top with euro maple back, sides and neck.

[Kip Carter]

Lauri,
Just beautiful!! Take that back.. breath taking is more like it. Sold yet?

Kip...

[lauri Girouard]

Lauri,
Just beautiful!! Take that back.. breath taking is more like it. Sold yet?

Kip...

Thank you Kip. I am glad you like it even though it may have caused you some momentary asphyxia. I am loving red lately. Not sold yet, Max may have trouble tearing this one out of my hands to do that.

[Kip Carter]

Thank you Kip. I am glad you like it even though it may have caused you some momentary asphyxia. I am loving red lately. Not sold yet, Max may have trouble tearing this one out of my hands to do that.

Good for you hon.... tell that man to back off mama wants to play!
Kip...

[StevenS]

. . . and four to go!



Ready to pull off the hardware and get to finishing!

Steve

[Kip Carter]

Cant wait to see!

[StevenS]

Here's a little clip of the four mandos shown above out for a little test-drive before pulling off the hardware.



Many thanks to Randy Torno for helping me wring-out these babies before final tweaks and finishing.

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Andrew, alot of nice looking work on the bench there!

Lauri, Love the look of the red mandolin!

Steve, great looking and sounding group of mandolins!

[Dan Voight]

Here are some inlay shots. Getting close!

[dcoventry]

Can't wait until this custom Austin Clark JM5 gets here. Jazzbox 5-string acoustic mandolin. Next step, hardware and Kent Armstrong p/u.

Oh come on NOW!

I was just fantasizing about an L-5 style 8 string. Maybe a Lewis dealio. And then this....this.......beauty. And Ted, if I ever figure out how to get a 2 point JM, that'll be a happy day, too.

It's funny. I think of my mandos as Jazz instruments mainly, or at least that's what the sounds, and voices, in my head tell me!

[pjlama]

Can't wait until this custom Austin Clark JM5 gets here. Jazzbox 5-string acoustic mandolin. Next step, hardware and Kent Armstrong p/u.

I'm in love, that's exactly what I've been wanting to round out the herd. What's the scale length? Will you send it to me for a test drive after the honeymoon, please!?!? I'm still kicking myself for trading off the Old Wave 8 sting jazz dola' but I got my GSOM for it, of course I added a Kent Armstong pu as well. I love the look of Austin's work, I have yet to play one but they look amazing. Congrats Ted, you must be like a kid before Christmas.

[Glassweb]

Here are some inlay shots. Getting close!

boy, don't those look nice... yikes! great work Doctor! any of these on spec?

[Dan Voight]

boy, don't those look nice... yikes! great work Doctor! any of these on spec?

Thanks! Sorry but what do you mean by on spec?

[Glassweb]

That would be "available"... unsold...