Black top mandolin reflections...

**Max Girouard** · May-05-2012, 3:21pm

Buffing this one out today. Must say, it taught me a lot about my buffing arbor as it is very easy to see what is going on while buffing. It's also very easy to see all the dust that lands on it two seconds after I wipe it off! I still have some work to do around the fingerboard as well as fingerboard clean up.

**Toycona** · May-05-2012, 3:37pm

Wow! That is spectacular!!!

**Bob Clark** · May-05-2012, 3:43pm

WOW, that's spectacular. The reflection of the horse is especially cool. What a great job you have done.

**Ed Goist** · May-05-2012, 4:17pm

Okay, as a blacktop mandolin fanatic, and a Girouard Mandolin fanatic, I've decided I need to stay away from this thread...

However, before departing for my own good, I'll agree with Toycona and Bob that that blacktop is absolutely spectacular! Now, consider this...As a very happy Girouard owner, I'm also sure that it will sound EVEN BETTER than it looks.

Now Ed, step away from the thread, take a deep breath, open up a beer, and watch the Kentucky Derby...There's nothing here for you to see...walk away...walk away.

**George R. Lane** · May-05-2012, 5:18pm

Mmmmmmmmmmm, shiny.

**Grommet** · May-05-2012, 7:31pm

Takes my breath away!

Scott

**sunburst** · May-05-2012, 11:41pm

Did you mention reflections and dust? As you know, I've recently done a black top mandolin too. Can you tell what kind of camera I used for this pic?

**trevor** · May-06-2012, 4:40am

From a dedicated black top fan, that's a beauty.

**Max Girouard** · May-06-2012, 9:00am

Originally Posted by sunburst

Did you mention reflections and dust? As you know, I've recently done a black top mandolin too. Can you tell what kind of camera I used for this pic?

Is it a Fuji? This could be fun. Identify the breed of dog in the reflection below:

**journeybear** · May-06-2012, 9:35am

Wow! I have to say, clearly, black top is beautiful!

What I find surprising is how little color distortion there is. Perhaps that is a function of using a color-neutral color like black, which may actually be producing some color distortion but in equal distribution along the color spectrum. But look how blue the sky is and how green the grass is - it's like a mirror, just a shade darker. I have never gotten any of my instruments to shine like these. It makes me want to get out my stuff and go at it for a while. But with a pumpkin top and burgundy back, I won't get these extraordinary results. Thanks for sharing!

**old time picker** · May-07-2012, 7:51am

This beautiful mandolin is my new Girouard A5 and I could not be happier with how she came out. Cant wait to get it here!! Thank you very much Max and Lauri!! you never cease to impress with each new build.

As for the dogs, it looks like a beagle and a yellow lab.

**billhay4** · May-07-2012, 1:35pm

Max,
What kind of finish did you use on that one? Is the top dyed, or is the black in the finish? Either way, nice job.
Bill

**Jim Garber** · May-07-2012, 2:11pm

Originally Posted by sunburst

Did you mention reflections and dust? As you know, I've recently done a black top mandolin too. Can you tell what kind of camera I used for this pic?

Oh, man, John... I wish you didn't show me that. I didn't know you made ovals too. Is that braced and necked like a classic Gibson oval or is it a hybrid?

**Perry Babasin** · May-07-2012, 3:07pm

Beautiful! Both of them!

**Max Girouard** · May-07-2012, 4:03pm

Originally Posted by billhay4

Max,
What kind of finish did you use on that one? Is the top dyed, or is the black in the finish? Either way, nice job.
Bill

Thanks everyone!

The top is painted black, with a seal coat of shellac followed by KTM-SV.

**Gregory Tidwell** · May-07-2012, 4:06pm

Beautiful instruments, guys! I have always loved glossy black-tops.

**sunburst** · May-07-2012, 5:30pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Is that braced and necked like a classic Gibson oval or is it a hybrid?

Hybrid, I suppose. The neck joint (with fingerboard glued to the top) is much like an old Gibson, the top has an X-brace rather than the small transverse brace of the old Gibsons. It's a very stiff red spruce top, so it's thinner than most old Gibson tops too. I'll post more pictures of it later after the pick guard is installed. (Steve Smith is trying to find the color of TS plastic that my customer wants.)

**pefjr** · May-07-2012, 8:40pm

Brings back memories ..... my Master Sargent staring me in the face and yelling his bad breath in my face, "Boy, you see this pretty face? I want to be able to see my pretty face in yer boots!!" So I spent hours every day spit shining my boots, untill they looked almost as good as your mandolin.

**billkilpatrick** · May-08-2012, 2:58am

those are gorgeous. soon after getting my loar 600 (vs) i saw an all black one for sale and was pitched back into a ranging sea of mas.

**Marc Woodward** · May-08-2012, 7:40am

Beautiful instruments - stunning!

Marc

**Dave Greenspoon** · May-08-2012, 8:06am

Wow. Just. Simply. Wow.

A fwe months ago I thought it'd be awesome to have one of Max's Garcia mandolins. Now I see this. Wow.

And John, what a gorgeous oval hole!