View Full Version : My last mandolin...
I just got pics of my last mandolin. It took me almost a year to make another one, this one bears number 005. It left the house two hours after it was strung up. I made it for local player.
Specs:
Sitka spruce top and tone bars (~40gpi)
Red maple slabcut back (sides from the same board)
Red maple/ebony three piece neck (same tree as the back)
All wood from Bruce Harvie (aka Spruce here on the cafe)
The Maple has nice flame, the pics don't show it much on the back, but it is the same as on the sides.
Engraved pearl inlay (arctic owl theme)
I had to use the tailpiece from my #1, as my ordered tailpieces were late...
Oil varnish finish + french polished, all hide glue joints, stained directly on wood (airbrushed)
I hope you'll like it.
Adrian
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/01.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/02.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/03.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/04.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/05.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/06.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/07.jpg
http://gjgt.sk/~minarovic/08.jpg
carleshicks
Mar-23-2006, 10:21am
very nice. I'm glad I bought a set of your prints.
It sounds great. It had woody bass side and clear highs. And good volume, too.
SGraham
Mar-23-2006, 10:26am
HoGo,
That is one elegant mando! And that owl is a hoot. . .so to speak. What a beautiful job on the engraving.
Steve
Lane Pryce
Mar-23-2006, 10:34am
Adrian your mandolins look as if you have been constructing them for many many years! It is always a pleasure to view the very unique craftsmanship present here on the cafe. I like the inlay but your scrimshaw work in the past is top shelf. Keep up the great work. Lp
I forgot to say that I actually just prepare the inlay theme, cut it and inlay, but the scrimshaw/engraving is done by my friend. He's just great in this (and a great guitar player too). You should have seen him working on this one. Yoga is nothing... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
BTW, this week I gave him some standard tailpieces I received. I told him, 'engrave something', and I'm really looking forward to what I'll see. He complained tht the covers are too thin to make some really nice engraving, he engraves ornaments and wildlife scenes into guns and knives professionally, and that work has more depth.
I'll show some of his work when he is done on the tailpieces.
Now I have to leave MC...
Adrian
Mark Walker
Mar-23-2006, 12:07pm
Love that M.O.P owl! WAY cool! The rest of it looks exceptional too! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Dfyngravity
Mar-23-2006, 12:28pm
very classy looking mandolin. nice and sleek and sexy.....and just when i thought my mas was in remission!
sunburst
Mar-23-2006, 1:00pm
Nice mandolin, Adrain!
I know English is a "second language" for you, so the subtle difference in inference may seem trivial to you, but I hope this is your latest mandolin, and not your last! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
amowry
Mar-23-2006, 1:31pm
Looks beautiful! I love the scrimshaw.
Jim Rowland
Mar-23-2006, 2:11pm
That is a wonderful looking instrument,Adrian. Amazing,really at this stage of your building career. You could try supergluing a 1/16th thick slice of wood,ivory,pearl,whatever onto your tailpiece cover to give your scrimshaw buddy (how lucky are you!)more material to work in relief. I've done it on a few and am pleased with the outcome. Seems to hold up well so far.
Jim
pickinNgrinnin
Mar-23-2006, 11:51pm
Outstanding work Adrian! Your craftsmanship is amazing. Love the attention to the small details. I see you as a rising star among Mandolin builders today. Players ought to be getting in line for these Hogans! Well done http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Jim Garber
Mar-24-2006, 12:01am
Certainly not your last, I would hope! I think you mean your most recent. Nice job!
Jim
johnM
Mar-24-2006, 12:19am
Adrian, very nice mandolin. Its refreshing to see such thoughtful work. Not to be crude and i'm not needing exact numbers but what ballpark are the prices in for your work?
thanks and keep up the good work.
jm
ShaneJ
Mar-24-2006, 12:26am
Nice mandolin, Adrain!
I know English is a "second language" for you, so the subtle difference in inference may seem trivial to you, but I hope this is your latest mandolin, and not your last! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I agree on all counts!
I also hope that you aren't "leaving" the Cafe, but just signing off for the day.
You should be very proud of your work. It's truly beautiful.
Skip Kelley
Mar-24-2006, 7:01am
Adrian, that's as nice a mandolin as I have ever seen!
Great job; keep building!
Scotti Adams
Mar-24-2006, 7:54am
..very nice indeed.
Yonkle
Mar-24-2006, 8:48pm
Beautiful Adrian: I just finished #5 too. That first photo is outstanding, the mandolin looks very "clean"!
Great job, I like the plain Ivoroid binding, I was going to do that on my last and didn't, wish I did. JD
Neil Dean
Mar-25-2006, 9:51am
Adrian,
Congratulations on a beautiful instrument. #I'd be honored to play it someday. #I
I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you personally for your obvious hard work on the Loar plans that you put out. #I got a set from Bruce at IBMA and I can't tell you how much they have helped me study the Loar form without having an actual instrument on hand. #It's clearly important to have the opportunity to study the originals. #I've been lucky enough to aquaint myself with a number of them. #However, once they're gone, they're gone. #Your plans do a great job of bringing all aspects of these instruments to life. #
Many Thanks and keep up the good work.
Neil
Zdenek
Mar-26-2006, 2:48am
Hi,
I am happy owner of this nice mandolin ! It sounds very well. Strong, "rounded", well-balanced sound .
Zdenek Vitek
pickinNgrinnin
Mar-26-2006, 10:29pm
Congratulations! That's a BEAUTIFUL Mandolin.
Welcome to the Cafe http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Thanks to everyone!
Sunburst, thanks for the lesson. I do understand the difference, I wanted to type 'last for this week', but somehow didn't finish the sentence http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Yonkle, the binding is clear whit, not ivoroid, the varnish makes it appear yellowish.
Neil, maybe you'd be surprised but I haven't studied all that many original F-5s. I believe most makers aroun have personally seen and examined more Loars then me. I'm in Slovakia and haven't had a chance to see original for more than two years now...
Adrian
diamond ace
Apr-03-2006, 9:55pm
Great work! I'm sure it sounds great two if it's anything like the others two I played.
Michael Lewis
Apr-04-2006, 12:56am
Elegant scroll and binding work. Not over done or forced, absolutely elegant.