New Morris Oval Hole

Steve-o · 03-01-2009, 06:55 PM

I had Howard (Sonny) Morris build me this nice A4 recently. I wanted an oval hole, but had a very limited budget - basically what I could sell my Eastman 515 for plus a wee bit o' cash. The cool part is, I got to indulge my wood fetish - a redwood top, walnut back/sides/neck, and cocobolo headstock and fretboard.

And the nice bonus is the tone and playability. This baby has a sleek v-neck and low action. Easy to play with no further setup. The tone is dark, tubby, and sweet like I wanted - great for celtic, old timey, and blues.

If you are thinking about a custom build under $1000, I highly recommend Howard Morris!

Mandolin · 03-01-2009, 07:25 PM

That's awesome! Under 1k?

Ken Olmstead · 03-01-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I had Howard (Sonny) Morris build me this nice A4 recently. I wanted an oval hole, but had a very limited budget - basically what I could sell my Eastman 515 for plus a wee bit o' cash. The cool part is, I got to indulge my wood fetish - a redwood top, walnut back/sides/neck, and cocobolo headstock and fretboard.

And the nice bonus is the tone and playability. This baby has a sleek v-neck and low action. Easy to play with no further setup. The tone is dark and tubby like I wanted - great for celtic, old timey, and blues.

If you are thinking about a custom build under $1000, I highly recommend Howard Morris!

Looks like you got a bargin! Very nice!

Steve-o · 03-01-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandolin

That's awesome! Under 1k?

Yes, that's right. I originally was thinking of a Breedlove Quartz OO, but when I learned I could spend less and get the custom features I wanted, it was a no brainer.

JEStanek · 03-01-2009, 08:55 PM

Seriously, that looks awesome. I love walnut and you got some great figure to boot!

Jamie

Michael Cameron · 03-01-2009, 09:01 PM

Gorgeous walnut! Gorgeous mandolin.

What kind of neck/body joint?

McCandolin · 03-01-2009, 09:14 PM

*whistles*
That is a nice piece of instrument!

Steve-o · 03-01-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Cameron

Gorgeous walnut! Gorgeous mandolin.

What kind of neck/body joint?

Thanks for the nice comments everybody. Mike, I'm pretty sure it's a Siminoff joint (solid, but not as elegant or difficult as a dovetail).

ShaneJ · 03-01-2009, 11:36 PM

Very nice! Congrats!

Ravenwood · 03-02-2009, 06:03 AM

Beautiful! Congratulations!

Sound samples, please!!

Fliss · 03-02-2009, 02:01 PM

What a beauty - congratulations!

Fliss

Markkunkel · 03-02-2009, 09:58 PM

Looks WONDERFUL, Steve! You and Sonny did good. I can only imagine, having owned and enjoyed a similar Morris with a cedar top and walnut b/s, how nice that redwood sounds. Enjoy!

Mark

Steve-o · 03-02-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markkunkel

Looks WONDERFUL, Steve! You and Sonny did good. I can only imagine, having owned and enjoyed a similar Morris with a cedar top and walnut b/s, how nice that redwood sounds. Enjoy!

Mark

Thanks all. Mark, I expect the sound is similar to the Morris you had built. I thought of buying yours, but already had mine on order, largely inspired by yours. (Maybe I should just buy all your used instruments

). The redwood does seem to give it a complex tone.

Ravenwood, sorry I have no recording equipment to put up sound clips, but Mark posted sound clips of his Morris oval hole if you do a search.

Skip Kelley · 03-03-2009, 08:15 AM

Sweet! I love that walnut back! Nice figure in that piece!

03-01-2009, 06:55 PM	#1
Steve-o Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 397	New Morris Oval Hole I had Howard (Sonny) Morris build me this nice A4 recently. I wanted an oval hole, but had a very limited budget - basically what I could sell my Eastman 515 for plus a wee bit o' cash. The cool part is, I got to indulge my wood fetish - a redwood top, walnut back/sides/neck, and cocobolo headstock and fretboard. And the nice bonus is the tone and playability. This baby has a sleek v-neck and low action. Easy to play with no further setup. The tone is dark, tubby, and sweet like I wanted - great for celtic, old timey, and blues. If you are thinking about a custom build under $1000, I highly recommend Howard Morris! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Steve Michigan Social Group Poe Mandolins Group Last edited by Steve-o; 03-01-2009 at 08:49 PM.

03-01-2009, 07:25 PM	#2
Mandolin Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 74	Re: New Morris Oval Hole That's awesome! Under 1k?

03-01-2009, 08:55 PM	#5
JEStanek Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 8,227 Blog Entries: 2	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Seriously, that looks awesome. I love walnut and you got some great figure to boot! Jamie __________________ There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946 + Give Blood, Save a Life +

03-01-2009, 09:01 PM	#6
Michael Cameron V70416 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: georgia Posts: 439	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Gorgeous walnut! Gorgeous mandolin. What kind of neck/body joint?

03-01-2009, 09:14 PM	#7
McCandolin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Philly at the moment Posts: 58	Re: New Morris Oval Hole whistles That is a nice piece of instrument!

03-01-2009, 11:36 PM	#9
ShaneJ Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,909	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Very nice! Congrats!

03-02-2009, 06:03 AM	#10
Ravenwood Dave Keswick Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Posts: 161	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Beautiful! Congratulations! Sound samples, please!!

03-02-2009, 02:01 PM	#11
Fliss Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: England Posts: 749	Re: New Morris Oval Hole What a beauty - congratulations! Fliss

03-02-2009, 09:58 PM	#12
Markkunkel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 164	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Looks WONDERFUL, Steve! You and Sonny did good. I can only imagine, having owned and enjoyed a similar Morris with a cedar top and walnut b/s, how nice that redwood sounds. Enjoy! Mark

03-03-2009, 08:15 AM	#14
Skip Kelley Thomas "Skip" Kelley Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Thomasville,NC Posts: 1,258	Re: New Morris Oval Hole Sweet! I love that walnut back! Nice figure in that piece!