Custom Holst

[Dfyngravity]

I posted a few pictures in the "mandolins in progress" section, but I figured I would start a new thread. I contacted Steve Holst some four years ago about this project. Three years went by and I finally decided to go ahead and have Steve build me this mandolin. So last December I gave him the go head and sent in my deposit. This is my third custom built mandolin ( one was an electric ), but the anticipation is always the same. Some times I wish he wouldn't send me the little teaser photos, but I still love it. Just today I was sent the last two photos and boy am I getting antsy.

Hope you like it, it is definitely going to be a sweet little jazz mandolin.

[Dfyngravity]

Well I figured I would go ahead and put some new photos up, they are also located in the recent pages of mandolins in progress. It should be getting ready to get some color and finish very shortly.

It's gonna be a good xmas this year!

[Fliss]

That's looking beautiful, the shape of the headstock is really nicely done. What is the back/sides wood?

Fliss

[Dfyngravity]

Thanks! Steve and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth the whole build. I also pretty much gave him the freedom of design so I told him slotted headstock and that is what he came up with, pretty awesome huh.

OK so the specs:

Wood:
Back/sides/neck- Birdseye maple
Top- Englemann spruce
Headstock Veneer/Pickguard/tailpiece- African Blackwood
Fingerboard- Ebony
Binding- Ebony/Maple/Ebony

The mandolin will be stained a golden honey as well as the thin maple strip in the binding scheme.

[Ted Eschliman]

Sweetness!!!

[Dfyngravity]

Thanks Ted. I think she is really gonna sing when strung up with some Jazzmando LaBella ball end strings. I am thinking about getting one of those Access Stage Three rectangular cases too, I think it should fit quite nicely in there.

[newbreedbrian]

Steve Holst!! Beautiful looking, that's a really attractive design. I'm betting the sound matches.

[Fliss]

...The mandolin will be stained a golden honey as well as the thin maple strip in the binding scheme.

Yummy!

Fliss

[DougC]

Have you talked about details of the color? I know that the top will take stain / varnish in a different way than the maple. I'm sure the builder knows this, but I'd suggest that the top have a slight 'sunburst' gradient that matches the sides in color. Many 'blond' instruments look like two-tone jobs that are not particularly attractive.
I love this design. Wish I could see it.

[Chuck Naill]

That one just screams beauty. I love the asymmetrical slotted headstock. Congratulations.

[Darren Bailey]

That is a stunning design, I'm going to have to work some overtime!

[Dfyngravity]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Steve has done a remarkable job bringing this dream to reality.

The back itself will definitely take the stain a little different especially since the wood itself is two-toned. When Steve carved the back he gave me a shout and asked if I would like a piece of birdseye that was the same color of wood all the way across since I wanted a one piece back. Of course as you can see I told him to use this piece. To me it really shows the characteristics of the wood. Though they are beautiful, I am not that big of a fan of perfectly book matched backs because in a way it is manipulated. I want to see it the way it comes, even if it has imperfections. After all, mandolins are for playing and not displaying.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

that is simply amazing

if you are ever in western massachusetts with it, let me know.

baron

[Dfyngravity]

Newest picture from Steve. African Blackwood tailpiece for ball-end style strings. Oh baby! The pickguard and bridge will be made from the same piece of African Blackwood. The headstock overlay is also African Blackwood.

[sgarrity]

That is gonna be cool!!

[Dfyngravity]

Here are the latest pics from Steve. The finish on the top will be tinted to match the natural honey color of the back.

[Chuck Naill]

Here are the latest pics from Steve. The finish on the top will be tinted to match the natural honey color of the back.

Very nice. Thank you for the update.

[swinginmandolins]

Looking great! I'm sure you are going to be very happy. He's working on a second for me along with yours. I'm loving the suspense..... Steve is a great artist and a great guy.

[Steve-o]

What a beauty!

[Dfyngravity]

Looking great! I'm sure you are going to be very happy. He's working on a second for me along with yours. I'm loving the suspense..... Steve is a great artist and a great guy.

Is yours the jazz asymmetrical? If so, that baby is one sweet looking mandolin!

[swinginmandolins]

Is yours the jazz asymmetrical? If so, that baby is one sweet looking mandolin!

That's the one I just love his ideas of design, just like your beauty The great thing is not only do they look cool, they sound and play fantastic!

[Dfyngravity]

Steve is definitely a great guy and yes he has tons of great ideas. We have been bouncing ideas back and forth the whole build which has been pretty cool. I know a lot of builders get everything set and then build the mandolin. Steve does that to a point but at each stage he usually will say, "hey, what do you think about this" or "how about using this". It has been a great process, and its nice to have a builder who allows you to be completely involved in the build.

I can't wait to get this baby in my hands!

[Jim MacDaniel]

Very nice design, and I gotta say I really like Steve's other works I've seen to date as well, such as the C5 below he built for Leon Evans...

[Baron Collins-Hill]

updates? can't wait to see the finished product.

baron

[Dfyngravity]

Baron, Steve hasn't sent me any photos in a few weeks. I am getting pretty anxious myself. Though you can see it with the first coat of finish on Steve's website.

http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/mandobb.htm