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Thread: Two new C# mandolins

  1. #1
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    Default Two new C# mandolins

    I just sent two new C# mandolins off to their new owners. The first one went to a person who wanted a gray mandolin. This was a very tough color to do (slight understatement). I used Fe(II) acetate (= steel wool dissolved in vinegar) to color the maple, but that didn't work well at all for the spruce top. I used a mixture of TiO2 white pigment and black and brown Transtint dyes to do the top. Went with a "two-tone" gray approach to coloring this mandolin. Might be called "gray-scale"? Binding is multi-layer wood with rosewood outermost. Finish is nitrocellulose lacquer, but the neck shaft is finished with a long-oil wiping finish over the Fe(II) acetate coloring.Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    The fluorescent lights in the shop always alter the color. The maple parts of the mandolin are more gray than they appear in the photos.

    The second mandolin has a redwood top plate and Eastern black walnut back/sides/neck. The back plate is a local piece of crotch walnut, and the sides were cut from wood from nearby in the same tree. The crotch walnut should be terribly unstable, but I did one from a similar piece of the stuff before. It is doing well, and George Gruhn loved it. The owner of this mandolin wanted Japanese maple leaf inlays. I did the ones in the headstock from bloodwood, yellowheart, and white mop. The ones in the pickguard are gold mop. The trim wood on this one is ziricote, including headplates, fretboard, pickguard, tail inlay, and tailpiece cover. Binding is curly maple outermost.


    Click image for larger version. 

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  3. #3
    Registered User Eric Hanson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    Beautiful stuff!
    Eric Hanson
    Click #016/ Born on 2/29/08 - Sold to the next Conservator of this great mandolin!
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    White #29R : Oh my!! This one is so AWESOME!!

  4. #4
    Certified! Bernie Daniel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    They are both awesome looking mandolins! That leaf inlay on the headstock and pick guard is both tasteful and delicate - fits with the idea of Japanese maple? Stunning work.
    Bernie
    ____
    Due to current budgetary restrictions the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off -- sorry about the inconvenience.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    That gorgeous gray mandolin looks just like the one I received only two hours ago! Absolutely phenomenal work, Dave. I cannot express just how much I love this mandolin!

    Thank you so very much!

  6. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    Very nice work as usual, Dave. I am very glad to have spent time with Dave and his mandolins at CMSA last year. I can tell you that they sound as good as they look.
    Jim

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  7. #7
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    OMG! These both are spectacular.....I've wanted a C# for a while now and these are fantastic....I'd love to know how they sound.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    I think I got that stuff they call "MAS", man those look nice to a rookie like me.
    jstout

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by sachmo63 View Post
    ....I'd love to know how they sound.
    Like a dream! Smooth, even, different than any other style I've played in a way that is very hard to describe. That Dave's a genius.

  10. #10
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    What a pair of beauties!

    Cheers,
    Jill
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  11. #11
    somnamandolist Killian King's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    I love your work.

  12. #12
    somnamandolist Killian King's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Cohen View Post
    The owner of this mandolin wanted Japanese maple leaf inlays. The ones in the pickguard are gold mop.[/url]
    Those don't look like maple leaves to me.

  13. #13
    Registered User Max Girouard's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two new C# mandolins

    Stunning!!!!

    Really love the wood bindings.

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