View Full Version : Amazing wood for a Girouard oval hole
Don Grieser
Aug-10-2016, 6:16pm
How do you like this maple? That 2 tone maple is going to be amazing with a natural finish. The other piece is my second choice--love the little beauty mark.
Max won't be able to start till the late fall, but boy is it exciting to see the wood! This is just run through a planer and not joined or anything. Just the raw state. My new wallpaper!
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If you haven't worked with Max and Lauri, they are two of the nicest people you'd ever want to work with on a build. And they are building some amazing instruments these days.
Charles E.
Aug-10-2016, 6:45pm
That is one thing that has always impressed me about Max and Lauri, they use back and side wood that is visually outstanding.
I own #83 (F-5) that has a beautiful one piece back but nothing like the quilt in those pic's! Tough choice but either one a winner. :)
What top wood are you going with?
Don Grieser
Aug-10-2016, 6:56pm
Congrats on your Girouard F5. Would like to have one made by them.
Max was nice enough to save me some of the same bog cedar that he used on my mandola. I love the sound of my mandola and Max likes the cedar on ovals too.
Charles E.
Aug-10-2016, 7:08pm
Don, in a perfect world, you could have both pieces of Maple, an A and an F. What a pair that would make!
A cedar top oval, wow. Keep us posted!
Spruce
Aug-10-2016, 8:36pm
--love the little beauty mark.
Whew... ;)
Mark Wilson
Aug-10-2016, 8:57pm
wow. That's gonna be nice
Rich Benson
Aug-10-2016, 9:28pm
Two tone for sure. Amazing depth. Congrats
Skip Kelley
Aug-11-2016, 5:40am
That's some amazing maple!
JEStanek
Aug-11-2016, 7:52am
WOW! You know the finished product will look and sound great.
Jamie
Perilous Deep
Aug-11-2016, 8:55am
Spectacular indeed! And I agree with everyone who prefers the two-tone wood with the heartwood in it. Just gorgeous. I will be especially curious to hear this with the bog cedar when it's ready. Sometime soonish I'll manage to record a clip of #73 with that same topwood.
Jill McAuley
Aug-11-2016, 12:34pm
Stunning!! Can't wait to see the finished product!
trevor
Aug-12-2016, 3:31am
Wow! That is going to be amazing. I can't wait to see the finished mandolin.
Denman John
Dec-25-2016, 1:39am
Any update on this mandolin? Can't wait to see the back finished!
Don Grieser
Dec-25-2016, 12:52pm
I had to delay it, but we decided to put the dark wood in the middle so we get more of it. Max will start on it soon.
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Spruce
Dec-25-2016, 1:00pm
...I remember that tree...
There were some sets that were all chocolate quilt...
Charles E.
Dec-25-2016, 6:12pm
I had to delay it, but we decided to put the dark wood in the middle so we get more of it. Max will start on it soon.
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What are the thoughts on putting a finish on it? Will Lauri try to match the dark area or will it be some sort of "reverse burst"?
Beautiful wood by the way.
Don Grieser
Dec-25-2016, 7:01pm
I definitely want the contrast of the 2 colors of wood. I'm thinking a natural or slightly golden/amber color. I'm sure Lauri will make it look great whatever we go with
Spruce
Dec-26-2016, 12:22pm
Yep...
It would make a great blonde...
Charles E.
Dec-26-2016, 1:37pm
Yep...
It would make a great blonde...
With dark roots. ;)
Don Grieser
Dec-26-2016, 1:43pm
Max posted this on fb. 3D quilt and turkeys.
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Don Grieser
Jan-11-2017, 7:29pm
Progress pics from Max. The rough carve doesn't show the 3D quality of the back but it will be back. :)
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Timbofood
Jan-13-2017, 9:50pm
To quote the Madeline Kahn character from "Young Frankenstein"
"Woof!"
In other words...
"Mando-Wood!"
Don Grieser
Jan-20-2017, 12:06pm
Progress. The inlay around the soundhole has some blotchy glue that will be sanded off. Using some of Spruce's bog cedar for the top. Points and binding are/will be walnut.
Maybe Beegs can be on the label.
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Spruce
Jan-20-2017, 12:20pm
Using some of Spruce's bog cedar for the top.
Oh man...
Max really has that stuff dialed in...lovely choice...
It's as hard as spruce, and rings like a bell...
Not your average cedar... ;)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/P1000826_zpsf5ef0d5f.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/e_stamp/media/P1000826_zpsf5ef0d5f.jpg.html)
LKinser
Jan-22-2017, 8:50pm
WOW, that wood is gorgeous, I can't wait to see it finished.
dschonbrun
Jan-24-2017, 10:15am
How do you like this maple? That 2 tone maple is going to be amazing with a natural finish. The other piece is my second choice--love the little beauty mark.
Max won't be able to start till the late fall, but boy is it exciting to see the wood! This is just run through a planer and not joined or anything. Just the raw state. My new wallpaper!
148806148807
If you haven't worked with Max and Lauri, they are two of the nicest people you'd ever want to work with on a build. And they are building some amazing instruments these days.
Max and Lauri do great work. The beauty mark may well be chiseled away given the position, and I really like the registration of the quilt and balance across the join. The contrasting wood is really nice too, but the assymetry of it in the current join doesn't make sense to my eye.
Personal preference, and you should pick the one you like.
dschonbrun
Jan-24-2017, 10:17am
I had to delay it, but we decided to put the dark wood in the middle so we get more of it. Max will start on it soon.
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I prefer this option to the other 2. Nice job working through it.
Mandobar
Jan-24-2017, 10:19am
Progress. The inlay around the soundhole has some blotchy glue that will be sanded off. Using some of Spruce's bog cedar for the top. Points and binding are/will be walnut.
Maybe Beegs can be on the label.
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I think that's Bunny.
Don Grieser
Feb-03-2017, 3:14pm
Cedar top is bound with walnut and a black stripe to set it off. The walnut color will go nicely with the 2 tone back. Neck is roughed out. Max says it should all go together next week.
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Don Grieser
Feb-08-2017, 7:12pm
More progress. Back is on and almost ready for binding. Neck is on. It's going to look so cool.
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Glassweb
Feb-08-2017, 8:14pm
More progress. Back is on and almost ready for binding. Neck is on. It's going to look so cool.
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very nice Don... you're gettin' thick with mandos my man! good on ya!
sgarrity
Feb-08-2017, 11:24pm
Look forward to seeing this when it's done!
Don Grieser
Feb-09-2017, 8:34pm
very nice Don... you're gettin' thick with mandos my man! good on ya!
I've got a Heiden A5 and a Passernig F5. A Girouard mandola and soon this Girouard oval. Also an Old Wave A body oval octave.
So this oval hole will be the last one :)) unless I get a mandocello again, but I can't hardly play those beasts. Not an outrageous number of mando things.
Spruce
Feb-10-2017, 1:16pm
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This is really going to pop with some finish on 'er...
Don Grieser
Feb-16-2017, 6:55pm
Here's the start of finish on the twin to mine. Hmmm....
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I think they are taking it to the March Mandolin Festival somewhere on the East Coast.
soliver
Feb-17-2017, 8:04pm
Absolutely beautiful... period
Al Trujillo
Feb-18-2017, 11:36am
My keyboard is rusting from all the drool since you started this thread. How much longer????? :)
Don Grieser
Feb-22-2017, 7:27pm
OK, Al, throw a tarp over your keyboard. Here's the latest update from Max. The back is looking mighty fine and it's strung up in the white and has the Max seal of approval tone-wise. That's good enough for me.
I went with no fretboard dots (dots on the side only), going to have a bit of orange on the top to go with that bog red cedar from Spruce, and a bit of amber on the back and sides. Bound in walnut with a black line to separate it all. Max thought the walnut would match the dark tones on the back. How could I refuse that?
Hope I can play it more than look at it. So elegant....
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Charles E.
Feb-22-2017, 9:21pm
Don,that is looking fine indeed! I am with you on the 'no dots' on the fingerboard, I like the no frills -clean look. Can't wait to hear it .
Don Grieser
Mar-04-2017, 10:01pm
Here's 3 Max and Lauri took to the Concord Mando Fest this weekend. That's the twin to my 2 pt. They'll start the finish on mine next week.
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Don Grieser
Mar-21-2017, 6:06pm
Please, Mr. Postman, hurry that thing to me!
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guidoStow
Mar-21-2017, 6:13pm
What a looker!
Charles E.
Mar-21-2017, 8:18pm
Don, that looks fantastic! I was in touch with Max and he was telling me about their Lyon and Healy line they are developing. Very cool.
mtucker
Mar-25-2017, 5:28am
Please, Mr. Postman, hurry that thing to me!
Well...did ya get it?
Timbofood
Mar-25-2017, 8:39am
Enjoy it!
Don Grieser
Mar-25-2017, 1:15pm
It's here and it's spectacular. Pics don't do it justice, especially the back wood. At certain angles the 3D effect looks 3 inches deep or more. I've never seen anything like it.
The top is the last of the bog cedar from Spruce, and I'm so happy to have this mando and a mandola from this wood. Max really gets the best from this cedar and he knocked it out of the park tone-wise. Bound in walnut with an ebony black line to set it off.
The other thing Max did was make the most amazing slim shallow neck for it. I've had some left hand issues and just can't play the average neck without causing myself problems. This neck is a dream.
Lauri's finish on it really sets it off. It's just the coolest mando. I know some people prefer the short neck oval sound, but this mando pleases my ears and that's all the matters.
I really like clear, defined notes with no mud/tubby stuff in it. This thing has it in spades. Here's a video of Bright Days (my days with this mando) by Norman Blake so you can hear it. Recorded with a Kodak Zi8 video camera using the internal mic. The only processing was normalizing.
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Nathan Kellstadt
Mar-25-2017, 1:48pm
Congrats, Don. Wonderful playing as always.
Jim Roberts
Mar-25-2017, 2:56pm
That's a dandy, Don! Thanks for sharing and enjoy.
Gary Alter
Mar-25-2017, 4:24pm
Don, you done Norman proud and the Girouard sounds fantastic!
pheffernan
Mar-26-2017, 7:43am
I know some people prefer the short neck oval sound, but this mando pleases my ears and that's all the matters.
Yes, Don, I prefer my ovals to be short necked, my bracing to be transverse, and my body style to be A:
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But I'm happy you found the one that you prefer. Enjoy it!
Looks and sounds great! My next mandolin may have to be a 2 point...
Don Grieser
Mar-26-2017, 11:57am
Thanks! I'm really thrilled with how everything turned out on this mandolin.
I should also mention that Max and Lauri are great to work with. They were very willing to work with me on the neck shape and the tonal characteristics I was hoping for. They delivered on both counts. And Lauri's finish work is just gorgeous. Their mandolins are a huge value these days IMHO. Very happy customer!
Jill McAuley
Mar-26-2017, 2:32pm
Wow, what a beautiful looking and sounding mandolin - congrats Don!
Mark Gunter
Mar-26-2017, 6:51pm
So cool, Don! Congrats, that's one beautiful instrument in all regards.
Perilous Deep
Mar-26-2017, 9:01pm
The sound of that bog cedar comes through well, Don. I love the punchy fatness of the attack. Looks and sounds like it'll be a great instrument.
wildpikr
Mar-27-2017, 10:12am
Wow! Congrats - looks stunning and rings like a bell!