Am i overthinking this (to build or not to build)

[pezdork]

Ok so I year ago I got the building bug. Ive been researching dropping hits to my wife that im gonna order slabs of wood in the mail…and she will be losing me a couple nights a week to the garage… First and foremost I love playing mandolin. I have no aspirations of going into business making them. I want to make the dream mandolin that I cant afford to buy. Amongst many reason (inclusing for fun) there is a political stance im trying to make, as pretty as a Loar or a Morgan Monroe are, I just cant bring myself to give my money to China for jobs that I wish were still American. That said me building my own mando isnt going to employ anyone. Im doing my best to buy from American or Canadian suppliers but lets face it tuners and tail pieces will likely be Chinese knockoffs or European or so expensive as to price me out. and im buying at worst two sets…that’s hardly gonna keep people in business.

So I guess what im asking is either validation that im doing the right thing and that this undertaking will be worth my time effort and money or a smack to the forehead that I should just break down and buy the Loar and focus the next years getting so good ill be able to buy a real “Loar” to tour China with.

[ProfChris]

I'd be amazed if you could build your dream mandolin first time round. Perhaps 50th. Building is satisfying, but it's cheaper to buy that instrument than to learn how to make it.

At least 50% of the price of an imported instrument will go to local dstributors and retailers. If the political aim of supporting your local economy is that important, commission a local luthier to make you one. If you pick right, you might well get that dream instrument.

[Rob Grant]

Best not to get get your knickers in a knot over the problem. ProfChris is spot on. Unless you are channeling Lloyd or Antonio, you're not likely to produce the mandolin of your dreams at the first go. Building can be a pretty daughting project that usually involves a bit of discipline and resolution to reach the goal of a finished instrument.

If you're worried about "local content" get one of the excellent luthiers who frequent this forum to build you your dream mandolin. What the hell, considering the state of the Yank economy, they can probably use the kanga.

[pezdork]

I'd be amazed if you could build your dream mandolin first time round. Perhaps 50th. Building is satisfying, but it's cheaper to buy that instrument than to learn how to make it.

At least 50% of the price of an imported instrument will go to local dstributors and retailers. If the political aim of supporting your local economy is that important, commission a local luthier to make you one. If you pick right, you might well get that dream instrument.

I have no doubt I could make something I'd be proud of and I'd enjoy the rest of my life. Not saying it won't be hard. A local luthier in southern California...that's gonna be pricey. I wish I could. Good points on the economic front. I really feel like I could do it but after crunching the numbers on what I want, how much time I'll spend to build one...I could get a loar now or end up with a crappier version of a loar later. I guess you see wher I'm leaning

[pezdork]

It doesn't get my knickers in a not. I appreciate the frankness. Again your dreams and my dreams of a mandolin could be worlds apart. I'm playing a Johnson after all. Mandolin of my dreams was a bit of hyperbole to begin with.

[Audio Artillery]

I think you should build a mandolin but I think your reasons are wrong. It's fun! It's really cool to fabricate something by hand, especially if you don't do something with your hands for a living. You'll look at a cheap imported instrument with brand new eyes when you realize you can buy something for $200 that took you 200 hours to make from scratch.

I'm sure somebody sells American-made hardware if your nostalgia for our manufacturing heyday is strong enough to stomach the cost.

Give it a shot, you'll enjoy the process and be proud of the result. And if you stick with it you'll surely be happier with a 3rd or 4th attempt than your Johnson.

[Dick Hutchings]

I build for the pleasure of it. I've put a lot of money and time into this hobby with nothing in return other than 3 mandolins and the satisfaction of knowing I made them. I'll continue to make them for no other reason. With that said, I have a customer for my next one and I'm hoping I don't let it get to me. Anyway, build because you want to. It's a good enough reason.

[pezdork]

Also the more people say I can't the more I want to prove em wrong. You never know... What if I did have some innate ability. Never know til you try right. If I don't build one I'm holding you guys responsible for depriving the world and my bank account of my talents.

[pezdork]

Audio and dick, don't misconstrue, that's a huge reason maybe even the main reason I got the bug. I read the forum and it really looks fun. Thanks for reminding me of that. I've been following hog times kit build for a while now, and hearing how his sounds in the white I would be so stoked I'd probably never finish it :p

[Rick Lindstrom]

Why ask why? If you have it in you, just do it. No other reason is necessary.

Rick

[swampy]

I starting building because I could never afford a high dollar instrument (and for the record, anything over 1000 bucks I consider high dollar) The satisfaction makes it more valuable than anything i could ever buy. I have no doubt that the 50th would be better, but does that make the first two bad? Absolutely not. A flawed finish and a few miniscule mistakes here and there do not take away from the fact that it sounds a million times better than my Pac-rim import. Go for it. My favorite part is when someone asks what kind of mandolin I have.

[Randolph]

If the mandolin you build is inspired by a dream, then it is no less than your dream mandolin. And, as the dream continues, so will the ongoing builds. One might rationalize such a build by bringing in economic factors, however, that is not the point.
If the soul requests and the heart desires, allow your hands to learn. Whew....... Its amazing what a dram will do. Simply put....go for it.

[brunello97]

You've got to follow that dram, wherever that dram may lead you.

Mick

[mando andy]

Although it is true that you can build a few and learn along the way...I took the approach that I would go slow on my first one and I took a long time (over 1 year) because I spent a lot of time researching each step and had to redo a few things. It surpassed my expectations!! I took a lot advice from the cafe and of course watched countless youtube videos and read all I could. Go for it....if you follow the standard gradautions, use quality materials and take your time....you won't be disappointed. It is very rewarding.

Andy

[Fretbear]

Although it is true that you can build a few and learn along the way...I took the approach that I would go slow on my first one and I took a long time (over 1 year) because I spent a lot of time researching each step and had to redo a few things. It surpassed my expectations!! I took a lot advice from the cafe and of course watched countless Youtube videos and read all I could. Go for it....if you follow the standard graduations, use quality materials and take your time....you won't be disappointed. It is very rewarding.

+1

[pezdork]

thanks everyone! this was what i needed, some reality, some optimism and a reminder of what got me pumped about this to begin with. I think I'm gonna go for it. <Political commentary removed by Moderator. Please stick to Forum Posting Guidelines> thanks again everyone.

[Audio Artillery]

I have no doubt that the 50th would be better, but does that make the first two bad? Absolutely not.

Just to chime in there... so not to brag or anything but I've only built one instrument and it turned out far better than I expected. It sounds really, really good. It could just be a fluke and my 2nd won't sound as good or will sound good but not the same (pro luthiery is a lot about consistency), but my point is it's possible to do quite well on a first build.

[Big Joe]

If you want to build one, then build it. It really matters not what any of us think. Most first time builds really don't sound that good, and many don't play very well. However, there are a few builders who did an incredible job right out of the box. The outcome is a product of the quality of the materials used and the accuracy of your build to known plans that produce good results. All plans are not equal as all materials are not equal. If it ends up being your dream mandolin, then wonderful. If not, it may inspire you to try again ..... or to buy what you want. Building a mandolin is hard, but just because it is hard does not mean it is not worth the effort. Like any other project, you have to have a pretty clear idea of what you want and what will get you there.

In reality you can probably buy a better mandolin than you can build for a similar dollar expenditure, but you don't know till you try and if it is something you really want to do, then why not? I say go for it and let the results be what they will be. Good luck.

[Rodney Riley]

Balance. Remember to take time for the wife and treat her to something fab-u-lifick with the money you will be saving. Mando-divorce-mando-divorce. Too much time building one can lead to the other.

Build it-check

[Dick Hutchings]

The more you make, the less they cost

[robert.najlis]

My mandolin is #5 from the builder. I think it is an excellent mandolin. I prefer it over the Collings that I had.

[bmac]

You might want to build one of the cheap kits first just to observe and study the construction of a Mandolin... The International Violin (Saga) kit is great for this... or maybe buy a cheap fixer-upper on Ebay, take it apart, fix it, and put it back together and adjust it so that you are making some mistakes and understanding a little about construction etc.

But the important thing is just to do it. Let the nay-sayers buy expensive new ones while in the end you will have knowledge and experience and knowledge that they will never have. And it is likely you will have a decent player.... But even if it doesn't turn out great you are still way ahead.

[roberto216]

I just finished my first mandolin build from a Don Kawalek flat top kit. The finished instrument is very nice and I'm enjoying it. You know your skills, and if you think you will enjoy the building process, I say go for it. I recommend lots of research including many useful Youtube videos. You will probably need to buy more tools or specialized tools so be prepared for that as well. Good luck.

[fscotte]

I'd probably just buy the best mandolin you can afford. You obviously don't want to build a second one, at least that's the impression you gave, so do yourself a favor and buy the best dang sounding mandolin you can. Truly, your first will not be even close to the one you can afford. I know you'll hear from other how their first sounds as good as their Gibson (I know because I said it with my #1 on this forum). But after about a month, I realized it was far from the Gibson. I'm on #6 now and it sounds dang good - as good as my Gibson? Probably not, but getting there little by little.

So here's what is likely to happen - you spend all this time and effort (fun at least) building a mandolin you think just may sound good enough to play for a lifetime. But when it's finished, you realize it doesn't sound as good as the one you've been eyeing.. You could have just taken that money and invested in a good sounding mandolin that you KNOW sounds good cause you played it.... That's the likely scenario.

[Pipeous]

I built one of Don Kawalek's octave mandolin kits. I won't lie and say it's perfect, far from it. but I love playing it and the fact I built it makes it ultra special to me. I might build another some day when I can figure out how to bend the sides and I know I could have bought a trinity college om with a case for close to the same as I spent (had to buy tools to do this) that might have been better? who knows. I do know for myself, I am sad the build is finished because it was so much fun I just couldn't stop. my last day to finish I was awake something like 28 hrs. I learned a lot building the kit and that knowledge alone was worth the price of entry.