Nava Archtop Mandolin

[GarY Nava]

Those of you, who have seen my work, will know that I normally build flat top mandolins. So I thought it high time that I should build an arch top. I decided to document the build in a series of videos and here are the first two instalments.
I must say, at this point, that I’m not attempting to make a “traditional” style Gibson mandolin this is just my take on the genre!
Hope you enjoy them, cheers Gary.

https://youtu.be/71qUUsdQzqI


https://youtu.be/LRPG_01SW9g

[Charles E.]

Very nice Gary. Interesting approach on the braces, look forward to hearing it.

[GarY Nava]

Very nice Gary. Interesting approach on the braces, look forward to hearing it.

Thanks Charley- I’m looking forward to hearing it too!
Cheers Gary

[derbex]

Impressive the amount of thought that has gone into this, as well as craftsmanship.

[Ron McMillan]

This is fascinating, Gary. I look forward to future installments :)

[Grommet]

Looking good Gary!

Scott

[GarY Nava]

Thanks for your positive comments- episode 3 is a week or so away!
Cheers Gary

[GarY Nava]

Hi Guys,
As promised, here's the 3rd episode- the bindings. Hope that you find it interesting.

https://youtu.be/3lsaNw5hBZA
Cheers Gary

[GarY Nava]

Here’s the latest instalment; the neck being joined to the body, fretboard extension etc. Hope you find it of interest, cheers Gary.
PS Have a good Christmas!

https://youtu.be/qgy03uHQA7w

[GarY Nava]

Got the frets in!! Slowly getting there............

https://youtu.be/fJK5LJJdV9s
Cheers Gary

[GarY Nava]

Here’s latest video; the neck is finally being shaped (remember it’s been left “square” all this time). Essentially, this is the last woodworking task that I do on an instrument. So when the next video instalment is ready, you’ll be able to see the finished instrument and hear what it sounds like too.

https://youtu.be/QErgB-I8ThA
Cheers Gary

[GarY Nava]

A couple of photos of the mandolin in-the-white. I’m already very pleased with the sounds it’s making! There’ll be some fettling, experimenting with different strings, fitting the pick-up etc, and once I’m 100% happy with it, it’ll be stripped back down and the finish applied.
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Cheers Gary

[GarY Nava]

Well Guys, here it is, "in the white" and making some sounds!
Cheers Gary

https://youtu.be/MjOGT3U904k

[John Kelly]

Lovely instrument and a great balanced sound, Gary. The idea of the soundholes not being blocked by the player's hand is such a sensible one!

[GarY Nava]

Archtop Mandolin season finale!
As promised here is the last episode in my Archtop build series. I should add that the mandolin has found a home and it was a real pleasure to meet Jeremy and his wife when they came to collect it at the weekend.
https://youtu.be/1wFrCDWAB3I
If you want a closer look there are some photos on my blog. (http://guitar-maker.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/nava-archtop-mandolin.html)
Thanks you looking.

[GarY Nava]

Odd? Seems like all of my videos have disappeared! I'll try again tomorrow!
Cheers Gary

[derbex]

The mandolin is in it's case by my desk as I type, it's even better in the flesh (wood?) than it is in the video, plays really well and I love the sound, not that I am at all biased ;)

The video isn't working for me here, but I found it via Gary's YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wFrCDWAB3I

[Ron McMillan]

This has been a great series of videos, Gary. Thanks for sharing them. The only thing that's missing now is a good quality clip of someone giving the instrument a solid work-out so we can hear how it sounds :) Maybe you can convince the new owner to put up a video?

[GarY Nava]

Well for some reason I seem to have lost the ability to post videos. Maybe someone knows why?
So, I'll post a few photos below and also the link to my YouTube playlist for this whole series of videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71qUUsdQzqI&list=PLOEb1dYICJrY1sLE8noGruuzPGlFcDoHe

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Cheers Gary

[derbex]

It's six months in so about time I posted a sound file, this is an attempt at Riff Drift from Six Adventures by Alison Stephens

https://soundcloud.com/jeremy-hoyland/riff-drift

I am getting on with the mandolin really well, I hear it every day so it's difficult for me to judge, but my music teacher thinks it's opening up really nicely.

Sorry about my ugly mug -I'll have to change that.

[GarY Nava]

Hi Jeremy, thanks for posting this; I really enjoyed hearing you put your “Nava” through its paces. Couldn’t believe your timing as I’ve just posted some photos of your mandolin’s newest sibling!
Take care and keep up the good work.
Cheers Gary

[derbex]

Complete luck, must be something in the air :) The mandolin has had been out and about, it survived a week at Folkworks in Durham, has been to the local folk club and even gets up to the EFDSS occasionally.