In the white

Rick Lindstrom · 11-07-2009, 03:58 PM

It seems like there was a thread for instruments in progress, but I couldn't find it, so I'm posting here. The reason will be clear eventually.

Attached are two (hopefully) pictures of my first (and probably last) build, in the white. I worked on this off and on for 18 months and finally finished it to this point because I felt a little guilty about letting it go for so long. It's not a kit- it started out as a box of tonewood from Old Standard (great folks by the way), and I worked from the MacRostie F-5 plans, getting rid of some of the frou-frou (points, scrolls, inlay and what not

). The peghead is my own "design" if you can can such a simple thing a design. I used Andrew's countour maps, and I didn't graduate the top in any sense- I just built it to recommended average specifications for an arch top mando. I have a feeling that trying to meaningfully graduate plates is a waste of effort until one has built more than a few mandos and has a longer view on what's going on with the wood.

I strung up this past Wednesday, and even though none of the preliminary setup was done (nut way too high and bridge set high because the fingerboard had yet to be leveled) I sat down and played it until I ran out of tunes. I got to experience something that I think most builders probably know about, but that I've never seen mentioned- the "first opening up". It didn't sound so good when I first started playing it, but it changed dramatically over the course of the hour that I played it. A totally amazing transformation. Good enough that if it never sounds any better than this, I'll be happy.

I plan to do the setup, finish sand, wipe on a coat or two of shellac to seal it, and then play it until I decide what to do about a finish. Who knows- a couple of coats of shellac may be all it gets since it belongs to me and I'm not bound by convention.

I'm posting here because I want to thank all of you that were so generous with your expertise and didn't mind answering all the dumb questions I had when I was stuck on some point or the other. It's wonderful to be a part of such a community- thank you so very much.

Rick

Rick Lindstrom · 11-07-2009, 04:01 PM

Ooops- pressed the worng button and posted instead of previewing

Here are the pix.

Rick

kalenh · 11-07-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lindstrom

Ooops- pressed the worng button and posted instead of previewing

Here are the pix.

Rick

Does it play nice? Well then...good work. As the craftsman, musician, and owner what more could you want?

The white looks nice btw.

walt33 · 11-07-2009, 05:59 PM

That is a thing of beauty. And it sounds good, too? Excellent job. Brilliant idea, also, to build an F without all the "frou-frou!"

StevenS · 11-07-2009, 07:28 PM

Very, very nice. It deserves a little finish to help the wood glow.

Jim Rowland · 11-07-2009, 09:58 PM

Congrats,Rick. You've just enjoyed one of life's finest joys for many of us. The greatest thing is....unlike most joyful first moments..it will be just as good the second time..and the third..
C'mon guy,you know they're ouut there.
Jim

chipotle · 11-07-2009, 11:42 PM

I think that looks great! Congratulations on the work, and if it sounds good how could you be more pleased.

11-07-2009, 03:58 PM	#1
Rick Lindstrom F-style Apostate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	In the white It seems like there was a thread for instruments in progress, but I couldn't find it, so I'm posting here. The reason will be clear eventually. Attached are two (hopefully) pictures of my first (and probably last) build, in the white. I worked on this off and on for 18 months and finally finished it to this point because I felt a little guilty about letting it go for so long. It's not a kit- it started out as a box of tonewood from Old Standard (great folks by the way), and I worked from the MacRostie F-5 plans, getting rid of some of the frou-frou (points, scrolls, inlay and what not ). The peghead is my own "design" if you can can such a simple thing a design. I used Andrew's countour maps, and I didn't graduate the top in any sense- I just built it to recommended average specifications for an arch top mando. I have a feeling that trying to meaningfully graduate plates is a waste of effort until one has built more than a few mandos and has a longer view on what's going on with the wood. I strung up this past Wednesday, and even though none of the preliminary setup was done (nut way too high and bridge set high because the fingerboard had yet to be leveled) I sat down and played it until I ran out of tunes. I got to experience something that I think most builders probably know about, but that I've never seen mentioned- the "first opening up". It didn't sound so good when I first started playing it, but it changed dramatically over the course of the hour that I played it. A totally amazing transformation. Good enough that if it never sounds any better than this, I'll be happy. I plan to do the setup, finish sand, wipe on a coat or two of shellac to seal it, and then play it until I decide what to do about a finish. Who knows- a couple of coats of shellac may be all it gets since it belongs to me and I'm not bound by convention. I'm posting here because I want to thank all of you that were so generous with your expertise and didn't mind answering all the dumb questions I had when I was stuck on some point or the other. It's wonderful to be a part of such a community- thank you so very much. Rick

11-07-2009, 04:01 PM	#2
Rick Lindstrom F-style Apostate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	Re: In the white Ooops- pressed the worng button and posted instead of previewing Here are the pix. Rick Attached Thumbnails

11-07-2009, 05:59 PM	#4
walt33 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 59	Re: In the white That is a thing of beauty. And it sounds good, too? Excellent job. Brilliant idea, also, to build an F without all the "frou-frou!"

11-07-2009, 07:28 PM	#5
StevenS Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: LA, CA Posts: 27	Re: In the white Very, very nice. It deserves a little finish to help the wood glow.

11-07-2009, 09:58 PM	#6
Jim Rowland Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Portsmouth,Ohio Posts: 848	Re: In the white Congrats,Rick. You've just enjoyed one of life's finest joys for many of us. The greatest thing is....unlike most joyful first moments..it will be just as good the second time..and the third.. C'mon guy,you know they're ouut there. Jim

11-07-2009, 11:42 PM	#7
chipotle Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 129	Re: In the white I think that looks great! Congratulations on the work, and if it sounds good how could you be more pleased.