First Build- 2 Point Mandola

**Fhornplayert** · Jul-23-2012, 2:56am

Indulge me a brief introduction, since I've been trolling here for a long time but finally had something worth posting. I'm a classically trained french horn player and professional band repair technician. I started playing mandolin 2 and a half years ago because no one ever invites a french horn to jam.

About six months later I got it into my head that a mandola would be cool, and since I had way more time than money, I decided to build one from scratch. I started building last February, mostly a half hour at a time during my lunch breaks. I've hit lots of problems along the way, and have often searched this forum for solutions. I owe this community many thanks for the wealth of helpful information I've found on these threads. It's been a long labor, but I've finally completed my first build. There's many mistakes and things I'll improve upon on the next one (already in the works since I roughed out parts for two), but all in all, I am pleased.

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Hopefully I've figured out how to attach pictures on my first try. Here's the specs: Sitka Spruce top with tone bars, Honduras Mahogany back sides and neck, Ebony fretboard, Rosewood bridge, Montelone-style Allen tailpiece, Schaller tuners, 17" scale, Tru Oil finish over alcohol soluble dye. I thought you folks might like to see it.

Travis Fernandez

**Rvl** · Jul-23-2012, 5:14am

Thanks for posting
Looks great
can you post a video
If you decide to sell it give me a call
My 2 mandolas are roundback and I have a big belly, they sorta clash

Thanks

Robert

**bmac** · Jul-23-2012, 6:47am

to me the two point is the most desirable of mandolins, visually. Looks great.... And even if it doesn't sound so good you can just stand around holding it and looking about as cool as you can get.

**Eddie Blevins** · Jul-23-2012, 7:22am

That looks great, Travis. I love the two point.

**wildpikr** · Jul-23-2012, 7:50am

Nice job; the two points on the body match well with the headstock.

**Bob Clark** · Jul-23-2012, 8:30am

Hi Travis,

All I can say is WOW...over and over again...WOW! What an amazing job. It's beautiful.

Bob

**whyner** · Jul-23-2012, 9:31am

Wow!!

**SGraham** · Jul-23-2012, 10:01am

Hey Travis,
That's some beautiful grain on the headstock overlay. Also, I really like the black outline on the MOP "F." How does it sound?

**billhay4** · Jul-23-2012, 10:12am

Nice job. You got some nice wood there, and did good things with it.
I, too, would like to hear this instrument.
Bill

**otterly2k** · Jul-23-2012, 11:03am

that's a lovely design, Travis - very pleasing, and well executed.
How does it sound? To my eye, the f-holes look a little small, but the proof is in the playing...
KE

**John Kelly** · Jul-23-2012, 12:04pm

That is an absolute cracker, Travis. Beautifully built and the finish looks great too. Love to hear it in action.

**StevenS** · Jul-23-2012, 1:12pm

Best way to spend a lunch break! Well done!
Steve

**Pribar** · Jul-23-2012, 1:15pm

If my first build (a violin) had looked one tenth as good as that it would have avoided becoming kindling.

**Mandobart** · Jul-23-2012, 1:16pm

Great job Travis! Guys like yourself are inspiring me to try a build, someday, when I have the time.

**DerTiefster** · Jul-23-2012, 2:32pm

You said, "mandola," but that looks a bit large-ish. What's the scale length? Did you build something longer than 17" scale? It's beautiful, and sound clips would be great to hear. Tuned CGDA (bass to treble) or something more "bass"-ic than that?

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-23-2012, 5:01pm

Wow wonderful job! All the more remarkable as a first effort -- very impressive. It does look big -- can you give some measurements? BTW I think you are right on the money with the 17" scale -- I think Webers are 17" and, IMO the Gibson mandola scale (i.e.< 16") is a bit too short.

**Denny Gies** · Jul-23-2012, 5:07pm

You should be mega proud. Very nice work.

**James Sanford** · Jul-23-2012, 6:11pm

Really nice job. Looks great. As others have noted would like to hear how it sounds.

**Fhornplayert** · Jul-23-2012, 7:19pm

Thanks to everyone for the kind words, I am very proud of what I've done.

In my pre-build research I played every mandola that showed up in my local stores, including: 2 Collings, 3 Eastmans, and 2 Webers. I've also had use of my teacher's 1912 Gibson H2, and Roger Siminoff's H4 and H5 plans. I preferred the sound of the Webers. This along with an email correspondence with forum member Paul Hosteter regarding the benefits of a longer scale to produce a cleaner low C, led me to choose the 17" scale.

I have it tuned CGDA (bass to treble), though I desired a lower than standard voicing. Therefore I slightly enlarged the air chamber, and decreased the f hole size. Length from tip of peg head to end pin is 30". It's 11 3/4" at the widest part of the body, and 2" deep at the sides.

Describing the sound is subjective, but the words that keep coming from my friends and co-workers are: rich, deep, loud, and sweet. I'm taking it to a small jam tonight, so then I'll get to hear it in the hands of another mandolin player for a better assesment of the sound that projects. I love the sound when I'm playing it, and feeling it resonate in my hands. I'll work on getting a video clip, but that will probably take a few days.

Travis Fernandez

**J.Sloan** · Jul-23-2012, 8:19pm

That's a nice job for your first build. I'm getting super close to my first 2 F-5's being finished....man, it's been a long go at it! But you definately learn a lot on these first couple of builds that seem to make you think that the next one won't be quit as complicated and take near as long!!!!

Good job!!

**JEStanek** · Jul-23-2012, 8:59pm

Welcome to the Cafe. It looks great. Thanks for sharing the details with us.

Jamie

**Marty Jacobson** · Jul-23-2012, 10:01pm

Awesome and ambitious first build!
What neck and string break angles did you use for that 17" scale? Can't wait to hear it!

MCJ

**Bernie Daniel** · Jul-24-2012, 6:23am

Originally Posted by ArtDecoMandos

Awesome and ambitious first build!
What neck and string break angles did you use for that 17" scale? Can't wait to hear it! MCJ

Interesting question. How do you best measure the neck and string break angles on a finished instrument? Pretty awkward applications for a standard compass I guess.

**Pribar** · Jul-24-2012, 7:20am

Originally Posted by Bernie Daniel

Interesting question. How do you best measure the neck and string break angles on a finished instrument? Pretty awkward applications for a standard compass I guess.

you use one of these or something similar:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o05_s00_i00

easy enough