Anyone ever make a 335-shaped mandolin?

**Santiago** · Jul-08-2012, 10:34am

I play a really nice Gibson 335 guitar, like the one on their site linked, and often wonder what a mandolin styled after it would play and sound like. Has anyone ever made one? Anyone have one? Thanks.

**CaskAle** · Jul-08-2012, 12:08pm

I haven't, but like you I've often thought about how cool one would be! If I ever get rich I'll have one made.

**pjlama** · Jul-08-2012, 1:05pm

I never would have thought of it but it's a neat idea. I think the Garcia inspired mandolins Max is making are very cool and I dig the tele shaped electrics. Is fun stuff. Also, the violin inspiration on the Campanellas is very cool. All that said I just love the way an F5 looks, it's the archetype for me.

**pjlama** · Jul-08-2012, 1:10pm

Thinking further, I'd like to see one as a semi hollow electric but now an L5 shaped with floating pick up even better. I had an Old Wave dola that was like that and I think Bill did one for Ted. I guess we've seen the L5, never mind. But your idea for a 335 is new. Can we get an adventurous builder to do one? Max, Bill, come on guys, like they say build it and they will come.

**pjlama** · Jul-08-2012, 1:13pm

While you're at it make it a 16" scale five string in the classic trans red with dot markers.

**Santiago** · Jul-08-2012, 2:02pm

I like that last suggestion. Now all I need is the money to commission one.

**Ben Milne** · Jul-08-2012, 5:36pm

The closest I can recall is the custom Holst commissioned by Ben Beran.. It only has the single cutaway though.

**mrmando** · Jul-08-2012, 6:05pm

Zeke Little, Eric Foulke, Paul Lestock, Gary Palsmeier, Roger Bacorn, Michael Lewis, Mike Reinhardt...

Actually, all but Reinhardt made single-cutaway instruments. Looking forward to having my Reinhardt mandola finished by the end of summer; it has double ES335-style cutaways.

**dcoventry** · Jul-08-2012, 10:56pm

http://www.michaellewisinstruments.com/mandolins/

This is my next step: the L5 shape done by Lewis. Dang, I gotta have one!

**if6was9** · Jul-09-2012, 2:39am

Paul Newson makes a really great single cutaway mandola. I use one for recording and love it.

http://www.newsonmandolins.com/mando...egory=Mandolas

Maybe he would make a similarly shaped mandolin?

**hank** · Jul-09-2012, 6:28am

I gotta agree Santiago, the upper cutout is a hoot. I wonder how much the reduced air chamber from the second cutout would affect response, sustain and tonal charateristics compared to the single cutout?

**dcoventry** · Jul-09-2012, 8:32am

Originally Posted by hank

I gotta agree Santiago, the upper cutout is a hoot. I wonder how much the reduced air chamber from the second cutout would affect response, sustain and tonal charateristics compared to the single cutout?

My Phoenix has a sort of double cut away and the air chamber is close to exactly what a typical F5 is. There are ways to compensate based of shape, to be sure.

**Max Girouard** · Jul-09-2012, 11:24am

Originally Posted by pjlama

Thinking further, I'd like to see one as a semi hollow electric but now an L5 shaped with floating pick up even better. I had an Old Wave dola that was like that and I think Bill did one for Ted. I guess we've seen the L5, never mind. But your idea for a 335 is new. Can we get an adventurous builder to do one? Max, Bill, come on guys, like they say build it and they will come.

That 335 would be a cool shape for a mandolin. I'm working on a little jazz box mini with a single cut away. Depending on how that comes out, I may have to venture out and try the 335 idea. It wouldn't be too far a strech from the jazz box idea.

**Max Girouard** · Jul-09-2012, 12:44pm

I was just messing with my plans for my jazz box and decided to do a quick sketch of what a 335 styled mando would look like. Let me know what you think on both plans. I am hoping to get the jazzbox started by the end of this month.

**Santiago** · Jul-09-2012, 1:25pm

Personally, I love the double cutaway, and wish I could commission one.

**Ed Goist** · Jul-09-2012, 1:29pm

Why not go soild-bodied, and put some points on those horns?

Right Max?

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**Santiago** · Jul-09-2012, 2:20pm

That's a different animal to me. I was just wondering if anyone had ever take route 335 before.

**Ed Goist** · Jul-09-2012, 3:24pm

Originally Posted by Santiago

...snip... I was just wondering if anyone had ever take route 335 before.

Alex Lifeson?

**mrmando** · Jul-09-2012, 3:39pm

Here's a Reinhardt mandola, for the record:

**pjlama** · Jul-09-2012, 4:42pm

[QUOTE=Max Girouard;1068793]I was just messing with my plans for my jazz box and decided to do a quick sketch of what a 335 styled mando would look like. Let me know what you think on both plans. I am hoping to get the jazzbox started by the end of this month.[/QUOTE

Wow Max, I love that Jazz Box shape. I'd be a serious player for a five string long scale with a floating pickup. I'm very impressed that you're willing to take chances and share so much with us.