The Pocket Mandolin V.2

**Graham McDonald** · Jun-20-2012, 2:26am

Here is the new version of the pocket mandolin. 13" scale, Sitka soundboard, Tasmanian Huon pine side and back and Tasmanian blackwood for the neck and the internal structure for the tuners (which are Rubner from Germany). It is about 1/2" longer than the first one which gives it a little more sound, though it is still pretty quiet, and the larger half-round brass block on the end makes it easier to tune. It has extra light GHS A240 strings on it, though it occurred to me that the mando tuning nylon uke strings might be an option. The back is a press-fit in place and pops off with a finger through the end. Only half fills a ukulele gig bag

cheers

graham

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**trevor** · Jun-20-2012, 4:18am

Graham,

That looks great, ideal for the traveller.

**billkilpatrick** · Jun-20-2012, 5:42am

absolutely brilliant - it even looks good - bravo! sound must suffer a bit (any chance of a sample?) but its size, looks - the whole idea of it ... just great - definitely MAS'able.

**JEStanek** · Jun-20-2012, 7:58am

Very cool, Graham!

Jamie

**Rosemary Philips** · Jun-20-2012, 8:12am

That is fascinating! I'd love to hear a sound sample. Are they on the market yet?

**mandoblues** · Jun-20-2012, 8:24am

Too cool! It will do well for you. I really like your Wombat Fiddle as well, do you have sound bytes posted for either?

Best Regards,
J.D.

**robert.najlis** · Jun-20-2012, 9:05am

That's looks great! Are you going to be selling those?

**Gregory Tidwell** · Jun-20-2012, 11:52am

That does look cool. For some reason I am fascinated by travel mandolins. Might be a PITA stringing that thing up?

**John Flynn** · Jun-20-2012, 1:13pm

Very clever design! I think the nylon strings might be worth a try. I recently played an 8-nylon-string mandolin by a private builder. It was not super loud, but it sounded exceptional.

**Graham McDonald** · Jun-20-2012, 5:07pm

Thank you for the kind comments. They will certainly be for sale, but on order only. price will be around $600 , but I don't think it will be practical to ship them to the US. I have so far avoided having anything to do with complying with the Lacey Act and for this much money I can't see it could be worthwhile going through that much mucking around. If the customer wanted to handle all the paper work that would be fine.

Changing strings is, er, challenging

It is not that bad, but it is fiddley and you wouldn't want to do it too often. I didn't think to do a sound clip and that instrument is on the way to Bologna at the moment. In any case, these are not being sold on the basis of tone, there isn't very much. It is more a quiet instrument that can be carried in a carry-on bag and played in hotel rooms without bothering others. I can get some kind of recording done when it gets back and put it on the website.

cheers

g

**Bill Snyder** · Jun-20-2012, 7:24pm

So Graham what is the overall length, about 15 5/8" (397 mm)?

**Graham McDonald** · Jun-20-2012, 8:23pm

Around that

I didn't think to actually put it next to a ruler. No more than 16" overall.

Originally Posted by Bill Snyder

So Graham what is the overall length, about 15 5/8" (397 mm)?

**Jake Wildwood** · Jun-21-2012, 11:21pm

Despite entirely different design, construction, and sound, I'm reminded of shamisens.

Pretty clean design!!

**amowry** · Jun-26-2012, 4:38pm

Nice work, Graham!

**mandopixie** · Jun-30-2012, 9:46am

Excellent idea and execution, Graham. Well done. Any fear of a video?

**Axeman** · Aug-15-2012, 7:00pm

Is the top in contact with the tuning "head"? It's hard to tell from the pics. If so, maybe it would be better to arch the top.

**Graham McDonald** · Aug-16-2012, 6:15pm

Originally Posted by Axeman

Is the top in contact with the tuning "head"? It's hard to tell from the pics. If so, maybe it would be better to arch the top.

The soundboard is attached to the tuner 'frame' for the last half inch or so at the tail and around the neck, where the frame is the depth of the body in the close up shot. The instrument isn't really big enough for any sort of acoustic efficiency. As much as anything else, it was an exercise in designing the smallest possible instrument that functions and that can travel in a briefcase or a backpack. Its owner says he is enjoying it.

cheers

graham