My new Brock Octave Mandolin

**Chip Booth** · Aug-21-2012, 12:35pm

Well, it's still in the white but I was able to play it along with it's three litter mates today. I can tell you there will be four very happy OM owners in the near future. All of the instruments were fantastic, with subtle differences between them. I would be happy to own any of them, so I feel very lucky. Now it's time to wait as they are finished...

**JEStanek** · Aug-21-2012, 2:37pm

Nice. I can't wait to see it finished.

Jamie

**amowry** · Aug-21-2012, 2:44pm

Sweet! Fletcher does beautiful work.

**Steve-o** · Aug-21-2012, 7:51pm

Originally Posted by JEStanek

Nice. I can't wait to see it finished.

Jamie

...along with some sound clips!

**Linds** · Aug-22-2012, 12:41am

That's fantastic, Chip! I see you got the narrower neck like mine. Are you getting the G and D strings in octaves or strung in unison? And was its first chord a G? Can't wait to see the finished product. Maybe one of these days we can have a Brock OM hootenany at Targhee Bluegrass!

**Ivan Kelsall** · Aug-22-2012, 2:14am

It looks awesome 'in the white' - i'd be keeping it that way for the top but have the back & sides slightly darker - very distinctive. Chip,you're a lucky guy to have such a beauty coming your way - that's my shot of envy for today,

Ivan

**Chip Booth** · Aug-23-2012, 3:28pm

Originally Posted by Linds

That's fantastic, Chip! I see you got the narrower neck like mine. Are you getting the G and D strings in octaves or strung in unison? And was its first chord a G? Can't wait to see the finished product. Maybe one of these days we can have a Brock OM hootenany at Targhee Bluegrass!

Hey Lindsey, I am having it strung unison. Of course it's first chord was a G, what else! My OM has the side wood from the same board as yours, and we know how good that looks. I missed Targhee again this year

but will make it next year. Let's you and me and Ben and Sarah all get our OMs together there!

Ivan, I am having it finished in Fletcher's current red burst, similar to the F5 I photographed recently. This will be the first red OM and I am excited to see how it turns out. It should have some finish on it today, so hopefully I can get a look soon.

**Linds** · Aug-24-2012, 12:14am

Hey, Chip! I had to miss Targhee again this year, too. Makes me sad. But I'll have to work on my skills so I can keep up with you, Ben and Sarah for our "First Annual Epic OM Jam".

Can't wait to see that red finish. That's going to be spectacular!

**Chip Booth** · Aug-24-2012, 8:21pm

Getting closer! These are pretty bad pics, taken with my phone in the spray booth, but they give some indication of how things are progressing. The sides are as lovely as I knew they would be, but I was surprised at how nice the back is as well. The Engelmann spruce top has some really striking wide grain.

**chubakkah** · Aug-24-2012, 9:58pm

Dumb question, but do you have to choose between the unison/octave string configuration during construction, or is this just something you can change out whenever you want?

**Chip Booth** · Aug-25-2012, 5:36pm

The nut won't be perfect but you can switch to octave strings from unison without much trouble. I would start with unison.

**Linds** · Aug-28-2012, 8:32am

I love that red finish, Chip! You're so lucky that you get to watch yours being made. I'd love to come out and meet Fletch someday and see his shop.

**Chip Booth** · Sep-20-2012, 11:51am

I pick up the OM in a few hours. It's gonna be a long day!

**mandopete** · Sep-20-2012, 12:08pm

From the pictures above it appears he's building 4 at the same time - that's incredible! I never thought there would be so much interest in the octave mandolin.

**Chip Booth** · Sep-20-2012, 3:26pm

It's here, and it's everything I hoped it would be. It sounds as good as when I played it in the white, and looks fantastic. I will do a nice photoshoot for it soon, but here are a couple of very junky camera phone pics. Consider me happy and very busy for the rest of the day!