POE #5 Finished!

[F5G WIZ]

MY new POE is Finished!! I'm excitedly awaiting the Big Brown Truck, should be here sometime tuesday. Here are some pictures Andy sent me. I'll post more detailed ones when I get them along with a full review of the mandolin. If it plays as good as it looks it will be a dream! Details:
Waverly Tuners with ebony knobs
Radiused fret board
Stainless steal frets
One piece quilted back
SAndwiched neck
James Tail Peice
Varnished finish
Block inlays
Hand made ebony pick gaurd
Hand made ebony bridge
Shipped in a nice deluxe calton case





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[F5G WIZ]

Picture

[F5G WIZ]

Back

[Doug Edwards]

Love that quilt! Very nice. I glad I don't have a mandolin like that. I'd never take it out of the case for fear of scratching it. A work of art.

[JEStanek]

Wow! The blonde quilt and the blue velevet look like they were made for each other!

Jamie

[Skip Kelley]

That is one awesome looking mandolin! Andy builds some fantastic looking mandolins!!

[Scott Schmidt]

That is one slick looking instrument! I too love the quilt on the back! Congrats!

[F5G WIZ]

Sorry about the small pictures, tried to load larger ones but kept getting the "your file is to big" message.
I am very happy with the finished product. It's one thing to by a new mandolin, it's quite another to get one that has every option that I personaly chose myself from the wood and color to the headstock inlay. It's a dream come true!

[B. T. Walker]

Whoa! That back is a stunner.

[F5G WIZ]

Close up of the Veneared(sp?) headstock and Waverly tuners.

[F5G WIZ]

OK Fred that's what I was trying to do, now what was I doing wrong?

[Dfyngravity]

That's tasty, real tasty! Man that's just one awesome mandolin.

[F5G WIZ]

Andy will treat you right! Couldn't ask for a better guy to work with. Gave me exctly what I wanted and got it done when he said he would. This is a much nicer mandolin than I thought I would ever own.

[DryBones]

I love the ebony tuner knobs with the gold hardware.

[cooper4205]

he is such a talented builder, that is stunning

[Gail Hester]

Wow, that is a beautiful mandolin. Just fantastic from all angles, congratulations.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Mando Porn!!

If it sounds as good as it looks, you have a keeper for generations to come.

[F5G WIZ]

Yeah, my kids will be fighting over this one when I die! I couldn't ask for anything more. Not saying it will be my last Mando but I will keep it forever.

[Lane Pryce]

Darrin very well done. I know you are a proud new papa!! Lp

[Kevin K]

Whoa, very nice mandolin there. Enjoy.

[gschmidt]

Every so often, somebody will post a pic of a mandolin and an some audible "whoa/oooh" sound will automatically come out of my mouth.

That just happened. Fantastic!!

[F5G WIZ]

That was my exact response the first time I went to Andy's website, just had to have one for myself.

[thiggins]

Love it. It's another beaut.

Tim

[Arnt]

What a handsome looking mandolin. Congrats!

[LeoR]

So - (waiting with bated breath) - How Does It SOUND?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[F5G WIZ]

Won't get my hands on it until Tuesday. But Andy says it sounds great. Will take some time for it to get it's true voice. I plan on working it pretty hard.

[labraid]

Hey, I wanted to comment on the originality of the scroll work, very nice 3D touch. Looks like you could take a bite out of it and it'd taste right good.
Beautiful coloring! And the sunburst facial, interesting idea. Strange but interesting. It doesn't take away.
Wish I could get my pictures to come out like that. I need a yard too. ;) Nice work.

[JEStanek]

Looking at the larger photos the scroll work really shows. Not that a craftsman like Mr. Dean needs a hack like me to second the motion, but that scroll is beautiful.

Jamie

[ledmandlin]

F5G WHIZ and Andy, ...I should be ecstatic (and I am) about what's coming to my house later this month, which I'd have thought to have been a temporary end to my inexcusable MAS, but after all my exchanges with this remarkable builder, who's been so gracious with my thinking outloud, I've got a couple things to add to everybody else's kudos and awe. Congrats, F5G, there's something preternaturally promising in the sonic possibilities just viewing the pics. Andy, I am heading east and will most definitely be visiting with you in early/mid September, if it works with your schedule. Nice collaboration, fellows--wonderful execution, Andy.

[F5G WIZ]

Thanks for the nice comments ya'all. Andy and I appriciate it although Andy deserves it all! He is the master craftsman here. It added so much more to the building experience being able to input my ideas and have them implimented. Makes the mando so much more personal. Andy's scroll work is awesome. I have been overly impressed with his artistic skills. His enlay work speaks for itself he designs cuts and inlays it all himself. If you go to his website and look at Driftwood #6 you will see where I got the idea for the coloring. I loved how the dark front, highlighted the blond back, sides and neck, but I didn't want the totaly dark front so Andy suggested giving the whole instrument a light golden amber color and sunburst the front fading to the gold in the middle. I think the results are stunning. And Andy's wood selection is amazing. That quilted back which is from the same peice of wood as his Driftwood #17 is amazing. I didn't want any of that grain covered with a sunburst. I was wanting a mandolin with a traditional look but with a twist and Andy nailed it.
Ledmandlin--are you getting a POE built as well? If so what # is it? Also how far east are you traveling? I live about an hour east of Cincinnati. If you are in the area stop by and I'll let you thump on #5 for a while.

[F5G WIZ]

As far as the scroll, it is pretty traditional. I think the light in the picture distorts it a bit. Here is a picture of it in the white.

[Amandalyn]

Nicely finished mando- beautiful color, makes me even more excited about my Poe #8 being built. Is it possible for you to post a closeup shot of the headstock design? Thanks

[Burner]

Awesome is an overused word but in that mando shows its true meaning. Congratulations.

[Doug Edwards]

That'd be right dandy as a blonde. The block inlay, ebony pick guard, bwb binding and ebony points would really accent a light top like that. You're one lucky guy.

[ronlane3]

That looks great just like that.

[F5G WIZ]

Headstock design as requested.

[DryBones]

That was my exact response the first time I went to Andy's website, just had to have one for myself.
do you have a link to his website that you could post for us?

thanks, I can't find it anywhere. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif

[F5G WIZ]

Sure Andy's website is Http://www.driftwoodmandolins.com He is also listed under the builders page and under Eye Candy, which was the cause of my MAS attack. Hopefully I will have some new more detailed pictures soon.

Pluker-as far as the block inlays go the only major difference in what Andy does and most other builders is he doesn't over do it by putting one on the first fret. That's the only thing I can think of.

It would look great as a blonde but I already have one blonde mando so I wanted something with some color, plus a touch of color brings out the grain in the quilt a bit more I think.

[DryBones]

I'm liking that #17 F4 on his gallery page! NO MAS!!!

[F5G WIZ]

The owner of #17 also owns #6. You'll notice the same headstock inlay on both.

[b.pat]

Ooooo, Did I hear my name mentioned ?

Congrats. Darrin I think yours looks to be Andy's best work to date. [ And that's saying a lot }
Pat

[F5G WIZ]

Thanks Pat. That IS saying a lot!

[Yonkle]

I am on #6 also... If it comes out anywhere close to that I will be happy, your blend on the burst on the front is A+
Great shades and a perfect transistion! Mazel Tov! Jd

[F5G WIZ]

Yonkle- make sure and post some pictures of POE #6, I beleive it is an F4 right?

[fredfrank]

It seems my pictures disappeared from this post. I'll attempt to get them back up in a little while.

[F5G WIZ]

Andy is supposed to send me some detailed pictures today, I will post them when I get them.

[fredfrank]

let's see . . . .

[fredfrank]

another--

[fredfrank]

and . . .

[fredfrank]

=^)

[fredfrank]

If you can resize your original files to 155K or less, the Cafe allows you to post them. I have a Windows resizing thingy that gives me three different resizing options.

It would appear that my web hosting site is experiencing a glitch of some sort.

The only thing about using the Cafe's image posting is that the edges of the image are somewhat jagged.

[F5G WIZ]

Well the new pictures arrived in my email today, so enjoy.

[F5G WIZ]

Closeup of back.

[F5G WIZ]

James tail peice.

[F5G WIZ]

Close up scroll.

[F5G WIZ]

Complete front.

[Skip Kelley]

Boy, thats a great looking mandolin!

[grandmainger]

That's a gorgeous stand too!

[F5G WIZ]

Hey there Germain, were ya been? That is a nice stand. I assume Andy built it as well but I'm not sure. He could sell a few of those I think if he wanted.

[mandoJeremy]

That IS a great looking mandolin! Love the block inlays and the color of it.

[mountain cur]

WOW !

[F5G WIZ]

Well it arrived yesterday and WOW what a beautiful instrument. I haven't really had time to give it a good thrashing yet but initial play on it is superb. Has great sound and easy playability. I will know more after I get to play with the band and after this weekend I should be able to give a more in depth perspective on the instrument. Fit finish and workmanship are of course top notch. The stainless steal frets are nice and shiney. Has to be the most visually appealing mandolin I have ever laid my hands on. I am extremely satisfied with Andy's work. It is exactly what I wanted. If any of you have been on the fence about getting a POE, I would say, hop the fence and go for it. You will not be disappointed. The mandolin arrived exactly 5 months from the day I sent the deposit. If anyone wants more detailed photos of anything on the mandolin I would be glad to oblige. Never have been shy about posting pictures. haha

[Kevin Briggs]

That is spectacular. It looks really classy, and I'm sure it sounds and plays classy as well.

Dang nice.

[F5G WIZ]

Together at last! #A little front porch pickin'.

[Charlie Ayers]

I can't find the Poe website, for some reason... can someone direct me to it?

Thanks,
Charlie

[F5G WIZ]

http://www.driftwoodmandolins.com It is also listed under "Eye Candy" and under the builders page.

[Amandalyn]

Hey F5G- How is the Poe sounding, now that you've had a chance to play it ?

[F5G WIZ]

She is starting to open up quite well. Went to a festival this past weekend and got to pick it along side a brand new Gilchrist and a Dude. The Gil was amazing especially for being brand new, the Poe was closer in sound to the Dude. Still need more time on it before it truely opens up. The owner of the Gil and Dude was very impressed with the Poe. He played it for a while and said it was a very good quality mandolin and expected that I made a very good investment in the Poe. He made the comment that it was a keeper and I might want to hold onto it, which I totaly entended to do anyway. I'm no expert but I'm thinking it will take 6 months to a year to really get it's true sound. It will take at least that long for the Varnish to finish curing and polymerizing.