German style bowlback in Australian timbers

[tom.gibson]

This is my first bowlback instrument - a sort of 'German' classical. I say 'sort of' because the body shape is not quite as round as other Seiffert-style mandolins, and it has a Gibson scale length with the neck join at the 11th fret.

It's made mostly from Tasmanian timbers, with a soundboard of King Billy Pine and ribs of Tasmanian Myrtle. The neck is Queensland maple (with CF stiffener), armrest and top rib are Solomon Blackwood.

Tuners are 'antique brass' Rubners, Evo frets, Thomastik strings.

It's only been strung up for a day and is still settling in, but so far I'm pretty pleased with how it sounds and plays - clear and responsive with a lot of ring and plenty of volume.

[Graham McDonald]

Nice one!

[tom.gibson]

Thanks Graham. Your chapter on canted tops in The Mandolin Project was very helpful, by the way.

[Beanzy]

Congratulations on how that turned out.
Interesting how the scale length gives it a different look, was it a standard width nut too rather than the wider type?

(Does this mean now we canconfuse people and talk about the Gibson bowl-back mandolin?)

[tom.gibson]

That's right, the nut is 28mm. Standard width on a Gibson bowlback ;)

[JEStanek]

Gorgeous!

[Tavy]

Love it! Some properly nice work there :)

[Jake Wildwood]

Hubba, hubba!

[Randi Gormley]

very nice lines. a beautiful instrument.