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Marty Jacobson
Mar-03-2015, 11:08am
Here's a new one I just sent to cafe member Mike, who was very patient during the first, second, and third finishing processes this instrument went through. Turns out ziricote is a finicky wood to finish.

The extensive inlay is a custom design we arrived at after a lot of discussion about influences and references.

I'm very happy with the tone, as well. Stringing up more instruments later this week, so stay tuned.

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Specs:
Nautilus #30 w/ rare woods
Sitka spruce top, “vintage voicing” with low neck angle
Parallel tone bar bracing
Modern f-holes w/ custom smoked etimoe wood purfling
1.325" block depth
Highly figured Bigleaf maple back, quarter sawn
5-piece ziricote and curly maple neck w/ carbon fiber reinforcement
Compound radius Gabon ebony fretboard w/ small dot markers on side of fretboard.
Custom recon stone Mohave turquoise vine and frame inlay, double leaves at the 12th fret. Inlaid Ziricote headstock.
1 1/8″ nut width, standard compound radius
C shaped neck, fairly slender
.080″ x .040″ frets ("Banjo frets") in EVO Gold
Modern thin varnish finish

There is no plastic binding -- the ziricote sides, maple and fumed
etimoe (black stripes) sides act as binding, and the fretboard feels just like a bound neck (undercut fret tangs, and the fret slots do not extend to the edge)

Jacobson ebony and ziricote bridge, ebony saddle compensated for D'Addario J73's or J74's
Jacobson engraved brass tailpiece with ziricote frame
Custom Jacobson armrest, inlaid with Mohave turquoise recon stone and curly maple to match fretboard and headstock

Rubner tuning machines with black nickel finish and ebony buttons, teflon bearing


Sound sample from the first week of the Improv Challenge Cafe group. So, pardon the impromptu playing, but hopefully it gives a sense of the tone.
https://soundcloud.com/martyjacobson/30-blackberry-blossom-improv

Tommcgtx
Mar-03-2015, 11:14am
Beautiful work!

Skip Kelley
Mar-03-2015, 11:26am
Marty, that is beautiful! It looks like a museum piece! Glad it's not!!!

Randi Gormley
Mar-03-2015, 11:31am
My goodness. what a spectacular instrument -- sounds good, too. A winner all around.

Trey Young
Mar-03-2015, 11:48am
That's fantastic Marty!

Eric F.
Mar-03-2015, 11:49am
I have some nice mandolins, nice enough that I rarely think about getting another - except when Marty posts photos of his work. Dang, sir, you are a menace. Beautiful looks and tone on this one, as usual.

Sterling
Mar-03-2015, 12:53pm
Looks great Marty! I am enjoying my #37 Koi very much. Just got done serenading middle school students during my lunch duty last period. I wish that I would have thought of an armrest as two of my other mandolins have them.

juneman
Mar-03-2015, 2:04pm
Beautiful Marty!! Are you still using the ENDURO VAR varnish?

walter JUNE mandolins and guitars

Tavy
Mar-03-2015, 2:05pm
+1 on the compliments Marty - that's sure is one looker!

Kowboy
Mar-03-2015, 2:19pm
Everything is just beautiful, sound and build. Luv that tailpiece!

JEStanek
Mar-03-2015, 2:23pm
Wow, beauty with a voice. That's an amazing piece of work. Congrats to the new owner.

Jamie

dusty miller
Mar-03-2015, 2:26pm
Looks and sounds great Marty!

Steve VandeWater
Mar-03-2015, 3:36pm
Absolutely stunning work. Nice playing too!

Michael Bridges
Mar-03-2015, 5:29pm
What a beauty! I believe that's the first "Black Tie" I've seen with those sound holes. Really a striking look, and the arm rest really sets it off! Wonderful tone, as well. Great work as always, Marty.

bruce.b
Mar-03-2015, 6:05pm
That is beautiful!

Rob Zamites
Mar-03-2015, 7:17pm
Stunning work, as usual, Marty!

Jackgaryk
Mar-03-2015, 7:43pm
sounds great and looks even better. i'm liking that zero fret also. good job Marty...i'll have to do some more "lurking around"
on your website.:)

Galileo
Mar-03-2015, 7:58pm
That is gorgeous, and sounds as good as it looks.

Charles E.
Mar-03-2015, 8:18pm
Outstanding Marty, what did you have to do to get a finish to finally adhere to the ziricote? Wash it down with acetone?

Marty Jacobson
Mar-03-2015, 8:24pm
Thank you everyone. It's nice to see a positive reaction to something which has been on the bench for so long.

Walter and Charles - yes, this is Enduro-Var on the top and back. The sides are finished with Waterlox phenolic resin varnish. The headstock and armrest are finished with CA, which is the only glossy thing I could get to stick the the ziricote. Solvent washes did not help, it's just soaked in oil.

Charles E.
Mar-03-2015, 8:42pm
Wow, it sounds like a major pain in the butt, however the results are stunning.

Tom Haywood
Mar-03-2015, 11:49pm
Beautiful!

Pete Jenner
Mar-04-2015, 1:06am
Satisfactory.

Bob Bass
Mar-04-2015, 4:43am
Elegant!

usqebach
Mar-04-2015, 7:11am
Great Job Marty! I was fortunate to see it in person, and those last few details have really finished it up nicely!

Astro
Mar-04-2015, 8:03am
Wowser. And I love those f holes.

darrylicshon
Mar-04-2015, 9:25am
Looking great as always, love your work

eadg145
Mar-04-2015, 10:06am
That's a breathtakingly beautiful mandolin, Marty! I saw it last weekend on the soundcloud link in the improv thread, and my first thought as I was listening was, "Wait a minute! Is THAT the mandolin he's playing? I want more pictures!" So now I'm happily satisfied (except that I haven't ordered one yet).
I'm really impressed by all of the care you put into that build. That seems like a tremendous amount of work, partiularly with the array of finishes you were forced to try. Perseverance seems to have paid off, and it gives that message that you will really go the extra mile to get the dream realized. Congratulations on another beauty.

dang
Mar-04-2015, 10:11am
Keep up the good work, that looks amazing!!!

Magnus Geijer
Mar-04-2015, 11:54pm
Inventive and beautiful design, flawlessly performed. That is some exceptional work!

Marty Jacobson
Mar-05-2015, 12:27am
Thanks, Magnus.. your work has been an inspiration to me, especially when I was getting started.