New

[grant_eversoll]

I condicer myself new here also though I have been here almost a year and particapated in the "pick tour" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif if you wand something to read just read this board. I have yet to tackle a Mando,but will someday. (I build dulcimers) but I have learned a lot from just reading here.

As with music you can practice all your life and never quite get it untill you get on stage and play...So (after you have read awhile )untill you jump in and do it you might not understand some of the things master yoda has taught you...[note to self] Must get coffee

[Bill Snyder]

There are several web sites were amatuer luthiers have documented their experience in making a mandolin. A google search should turn up some of these.
Another excellent source of information is Musical Instrument Maker's Forum (http://www.mimf.com).Register as a member of the forum (free) and you can search through scads of information in their library of archived discussions and if you can not find the information you desire they have an active forum much like this one with luthiers both professional and amatuer very willing to help - much like this one.
A book that many people reference when they start building is Roger Siminoff's "Constructing a Bluegrass Mandolin". Another one is the "Mandolin Manual" by John Troughton - it is more for flat top mandos.
Hope some of these sources are hepful.

[Keith Newell]

Ah Reid, you must be very carefull! You are about to become terribly addicted to both mando making and this web site. If you do become so then you are gonna be amongst friends around here.

Keith Newell
http://www.newellmandolins.com

[Yonkle]

Ahh! Most wise words grasshopper! Man who build mandolin, and hang out on mandolin cafe have most rewarding addiction! And lose contact with real world! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Maybe this is the real world??? Ahh...another topic!