My last F5

**sunburst** · May-13-2012, 9:55pm

Subject to change, I suppose, but for the first time in years, I've reached the end of my list of orders with this F5, and with the frustrations involved in completing this one, I'm frankly not that anxious to start another right away!
This one started out to be pretty much "the usual", but became more and more "custom" as the planning and building progressed. Custom features include a rounder neck profile, bigger center in the sunburst with more contrast from center to edge, and almost "at the last minute", the inlay changed to the dogwood tree silhouette in the peghead. None of those were the frustrating parts, there were just a lot of little things that made this build take too long and try my patience. Anyway, here it is:
Sitka spruce top, sugar maple back, red maple neck and sides, nitrocellulose lacquer finish, gold hardware.

**Jim** · May-13-2012, 9:57pm

Very Nice!

**sunburst** · May-13-2012, 10:00pm

A couple more...
BTW, the tree silhouette has 44 cut-outs requiring drilling a hole and threading a saw blade through; something I usually try to avoid when designing inlays, but for this one, I was "hitting the wall" trying to come up with a design I liked, so I ended up "consulting with" (translation, stealing ideas from) a jeweler for this one, and the piercings were the things that made it work.

**jim simpson** · May-13-2012, 10:02pm

A beauty for sure! Now let your nerves settle down.

**mandodan1960** · May-13-2012, 10:13pm

That was four pictures. A WOW, JUST DAMN, WOW AGAIN, JUST DAMN AGAIN !!! The Dogwood is a very classy touch. Nice Job.

**Keith Newell** · May-13-2012, 10:33pm

Really nice instument John. It's funny how some builds can start out so standard and those changes keep adding and sometimes you don't charge anything more. Then it reaches critical mass and you regret the whole build.
Keith

**OldGus** · May-13-2012, 11:51pm

It looks Awesome! It has a real understated but bold presence. If you don't like dealing with fickle customers, and I think mandolin players may be some of the most fickle there are... I know because I'm one of them... you could always build to spec or have a tentative list(like Henderson) and notify them when your done to see if they're still interested in buying one. That's what I might do If I were a luthier, no hectic completion date to keep in mind. I also would be concerned about screwing it up but I don't know what it's like to be an experienced luthier either... seems like deep water after a certain point to me. I don't think the little changes amount to much except the tree, that was a great idea!

**StevenS** · May-13-2012, 11:58pm

Epic beauty worth the epic effort.

Steve

**almeriastrings** · May-14-2012, 1:25am

Superb. Lovely bit of wood there, too.

Hopefully it is merely your "most recent F5" and not your last, though!

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-14-2012, 2:32am

From Almeira - "Hopefully is is merely your "most recent F5" and not your last, though!". That made me gasp as well. IMHO John Hamlett is one of the very finest builders we have,he built what i consider the most stunning mandolin that i've ever seen & the thought of him hanging up his planes & gouges............ !!. This latest mandolin is another gorgeous instrument.If i was having an instrument made,Mr Hamlett would be my #1 choice of builder,
Ivan

**Tavy** · May-14-2012, 3:51am

Beautiful - love that inlay - I didn't even know you could do that with inlays!

**Denny Gies** · May-14-2012, 6:33am

Beautiful instrument John. Your work looks worth all the frustration. The "Dawgs" in Gainesville are still alive and well, thank you.

**Dale Ludewig** · May-14-2012, 6:53am

Really nice, John.

**vhughes2000** · May-14-2012, 6:57am

Mighty fine..

**Randi Gormley** · May-14-2012, 7:04am

Lovely work. I hope the new owner is as happy with it as we are!

**fatt-dad** · May-14-2012, 7:38am

John, That's just exceptional! I love the burst, the finish, the carving, the whole thing! Beautiful!

f-d

**Max Girouard** · May-14-2012, 7:47am

Truly inspirational. Thank you for posting!

**Markus** · May-14-2012, 7:56am

The burst is lovely and the wood is perfectly showcased throughout, that's one stunning mandolin. Wow.

**Skip Kelley** · May-14-2012, 9:18am

John, exceptional work as always! Nice inlay as well! It is well worth the effort!!

**jackc** · May-14-2012, 9:28am

John - maybe you just need a break from scrolls...I was just playing number 26 that you finished last April, and it is sounding great--as good as it looks.

**sunburst** · May-14-2012, 9:31am

Thanks, all.
Let me say that the customer for this mandolin has not been a problem. He agreed (even suggested) to pay extra for the change in the inlay design, all the pesky things that added to the frustration on this one were just things that happened, not problems with the customer. He has been patient during the extra wait time.
Cheers.

**Jim Rowland** · May-14-2012, 10:39am

Well,now you all can see for yourselves why John remains my number one hero after all these years...even after having two of his hired goons excort me (kick my duff down the hill and all the way to the main road) from his last haute soiree for over-ogling the dancing girls. The mando,as best I can see with my good eye,is marvelous.
Jim

**llg** · May-19-2012, 11:10pm

Beautiful work...quick question. How do you get the curly maple figures to show so vividly? Do you do an initial black coat and sand out as in the "Corino video", or do you have other tricks?
Just curious as I plan on trying my first finish soon.

**sunburst** · May-19-2012, 11:29pm

Thanks, lig.
No tricks, this mandolin is made form very curly maple and the figure is strong enough to stand out with no enhancement other than the hand rubbed dyes, applied to the bare wood. There is (was?) a very old thread around here about enhancing the curl in maple, and Bruce (Spruce) Harvie suggested simply using highly figured wood. That's what I did with this one; used highly figured wood (from three different sources).