After starting this project a couple years ago, it has finally arrived! Adrian Minarovic, known here as HoGo, completed #15, shipped it on Monday from Slovakia and it is now here. A replica of a '23 F-5 with a few custom features (radiused fretboard, Alessi tuners, James tailpiece, scooped extension...), it's a special instrument. Adrian is the consummate perfectionist and went out of his way in so many areas of this build. He was always really good about answering questions and would write very detailed and informative responses. It was definitely an educational process for me since this is my first experience with a custom build. I'd have to say that my first experience was a really good one, although I'll know for certain by tomorrow. Adrian said no opening up the package until it has acclimated for 24 hours, so I wait...
I finally got home; sometimes the day job gets in the way of these important occasions!
I carefully unwrapped the package since Adrian used some of his old Loar plans. I wanted to keep those intact as much as possible; kind of a nice souvenir.
Sorry, no KM1000, but one gorgeous Hogan and Adrian did trim the strings. Got 'er tuned up and it does have a nice vibe although it needs some new strings. Adrian warned we that they were dead, so I'll change strings tomorrow. It has really good playability with the action set fairly low, but you can also dig into it without it buzzing.
I tried to take some pictures with our real camera that we rarely use (amazing that most of the time we settle for crappy cell phone snapshots). All I need to do is find the USB chord and I'll get those pictures posted, I promise!
Well, here's the proof and I have my witnesses there in the first shot! Really nice job of packing with the styrofoam case and Loar plans. By the way, the mandolin was wrapped in a cotton t-shirt and the pick-guard was not attached during shipment.
Looks really nice. I was looking for a link for information about the builder through google. Could you let me know how to find out more about them? Thanks,
Adrian is a math teacher, so this isn't his full-time gig. The best way to reach him is a private message with his Cafe username HoGo. Here's his information in the Builder Database section.
Very nice Mike. Congrats. I like the subtle burst and the custom appointments. I'm curious how you learned of Adrian and decided to order from an overseas builder.
While I'm at it, most folks here are familiar with the plans that Adrian put together for the '23 Gibson F-5, but for those of you who are not, here's the listing on Elderly Instruments website.
Also, here are the specs and information that Adrian provided on my mandolin:
"What you are getting: Completely handmade F-5 style mandolin constructed as close as possible to Early '23 Gibson specs. I don't intend to build perfect instrument. Truly hand-made one will always show some imperfections. I aim to get the feel and vibe of vintage Loar mandolins instead of perfection.
Top wood: "Carpathian" spruce (our local) - I should note that there is debate whether the early Loars were made with european spruce (the original brochure states clearly Norway spruce- back then common name for european imported for violins as there were few instrument wood suppliers in US back then), Loars till July 9 batch have nice tight grain finely quartered while later often show wider and more off quarter wood - that's probably when they started using red spruce lumber.
Top and back arching as close as possible to April '23 Loar, as well as neck shape.
Back and sides: Red maple from Michigan (Bruce Harvie), Back is one piece slab, sides from the same tree.
Neck: Red maple and Ebony sandwich. (Loars with three piece necks used ebonized hardwood or ebony unlike F-4s that have just thin strip of ebonized wood inlaid in the back of neck) Body blocks: Walnut (one of the differences from Loar, it's properties are very similar to Honduran Mahogany in originals which is
endangered)
Linings: Basswood
Headstock veneer: Black dyed pearwood (Loars were black painted, but I like to see the wood underneath, not just paint)
Fingerboard: ebony (slightly compound radiused), 29 fret with fake frets on scooped extension- shape of extension is also authentic with the "hump"
Construction: All hide glue construction with dovetailed neck (even in the authentic off center fashion). Hand carved plates with standard tonebar construction (Loar style bars). Hand-stained sunburst with brushed oil varnish and french polished gloss coat. Body points are unbleached cow bone dovetailed into bindings in the correct style, Body bindings are WBI "top-bound" scheme with period-correct miters.
Inlays are authentic style Flowerpot and fingerboard dots. Side dots are black (originals had also dark tortoise) Bridge is handmade of ebony with titanium posts and aluminum thumbwheels Custom Alessi tuners with arrow end plates and pearl buttons.
Feed and care: this mandolin was constructed in controlled environment of 23-25 degrees Celsius and relative humidity kept between 45-50%.
Best conditions for storing would be at similar or at slightly higher RH 55%. Instrument should not be exposed to heat or humidity lower that 40% or higher than 65%. Low humidity is more dangerous than higher. Good, RELIABLE hygrometer is nice thing to have. see: http://www.burgessviolins.com/humidity.html for more info.
Varnish: Oil varnish and french polish will never look and behave similarly to lacquer. Varnish is soft and will dent, scratch and vear much easier and faster. This varnish is hand applied and has some surface texture of its own (like smooth leather) and with curing it shows more texture of wood underneath (this final curing is slow process and may take months). The varnish is susceptible to heat, acidic sweat and many chemicals especially aggressive thinners like alcohol or acetone. Naphtha or distilled water are safe. if you need to clean the surface use clean dry microfiber cloth or dampened with distilled (deionized) water. The French polish over oil varnish will sooner or later show signs of aging. Especially on the areas exposed to handling (players with acidic sweat within one year) tiny surface crazing may occur and add authentic patina to the instrument this may be refreshed by french polishing session but will show up again later.
For maintenance a good quality polish can be used sparingly (people have good experience with Jubilee polish). The mandolin as shipped has NO WAX or anything on it (so you can use your favorite brand of polish on unadulterated surface), just pure shellac as polished/burnished by friction of my palm and fingers (see frets.com french polishing to see how I work) I use no sandpaper or abrasive polishes for final stages (just in inaccessible places like near fingerboard extension). Pure shellac takes/shows greasy fingerprints easily and with light application of polish it will look better for longer time.
I hope I didn't forget anything, feel free to ask more.
Very nice Mike. Congrats. I like the subtle burst and the custom appointments. I'm curious how you learned of Adrian and decided to order from an overseas builder.
When I got interested in having a custom build, I had a short list of several builders that are listed here in the Builders Database. I was almost ready to pull the trigger a couple times with local builders, but then Adrian's knowledge of woods, his work on the Loar plans and some referrals kind of tipped the scale. For someone who does this part-time, his knowledge and skill is pretty amazing.
I was a little concerned about the practicality of it all with Euro to Dollar exchange rate and importing issues, but everything worked out just fine.
Adrian is a math teacher, so this isn't his full-time gig. The best way to reach him is a private message with his Cafe username HoGo. Here's his information in the Builder Database section.
Thanks Mike. Do you mind telling me what his F models go for?
Hogan #15 has arrived!
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Seriously I'm looking forward to the photos tonight. 
Got 'er tuned up and it does have a nice vibe although it needs some new strings. Adrian warned we that they were dead, so I'll change strings tomorrow. It has really good playability with the action set fairly low, but you can also dig into it without it buzzing.
Originally Posted by mandopixie
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