View Full Version : Built my First F5
Terry Braund
Aug-14-2006, 1:22pm
Here are pics of my first F5 - it was built from a Stew-Mac kit. The finish is KTM-9 water base. It plays nicely and sounds pretty good. I'm currently working on an A5 that I'm building from scratch. Thanks for all the good info everybody provides on this msg board!
thiggins
Aug-14-2006, 1:43pm
Wow, looks great. You must be very proud.
Tim
ab4usa
Aug-14-2006, 2:49pm
Ditto! I am very impressed.
Jason Kessler
Aug-14-2006, 2:51pm
Beautiful!
Very pretty mando, like the color.
Onesound
Aug-14-2006, 6:34pm
Congrats on a beautiful job. Best as I can tell from the pics, it looks like a professional build. Frequently, the finish gives away the novice builder, (I know from personal experience!) but your coloration and blending are perfect. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. You make a good advertisement for Stewart-Mac kits.
ShaneJ
Aug-14-2006, 7:55pm
Kinyo, that's very beautiful! You should be proud. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Mark Walker
Aug-15-2006, 7:50am
Terry - Well done! Pat yourself on the back! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #(But don't dislocate your shoulder doing so!) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Terry Braund
Aug-15-2006, 10:12am
Thanks all! I am very happy with the mando and it feels great to get your good feedback after the many many hours of hard, but enjoyable, work I put in to it. I play it regularly in our church band. I have a number of years of part-time, hobby type, guitar and other fretted instrument repair experience under my belt and that experience helped, however, there were many firsts for me in building this mando! Getting good coloring and finish was one of the most challenging aspects - but it came out very close to what I had envisioned - I too like the color very much.
Mandopluker - I really have no cons about the Stew-Mac kit or my experience with it. I have not seen other kits so I can't compare. I felt the quality and fit was good. The video tape that comes with it was extremely helpful for me. There are obviously lots of different methods to build a mando. The kit is put together to correspond well to the methods in the video tape. I learned a lot!
Thanks Again!
mandoman15
Aug-17-2006, 9:05pm
wow, thats truly incredible that mandolin looks awesome. For a first build that is incredible. Most folks don't get the scroll to come out so clean and even, that looks professional...wow!
BadeInBulverde
Aug-17-2006, 9:10pm
OUTSTANDING!! Really well done! Did you apply the KTM-9 by spray or brush? Any special comments about using that finish?
Hope mine comes out CLOSE to that nice!
Bade
Terry Braund
Aug-17-2006, 10:29pm
Thanks!
BadeInBulverde - I sprayed on about 8 or 10 thin coats of the KTM-9. I sprayed on a coat of fresh shellac before to seal the color. I probably got the KTM-9 a little thicker than needed. It drys to a VERY HARD finish. So be prepared to use a lot of elbow grease to rub it out! Follow the directions closely and it should come out good. I believe LMI has links to some directions on how to use it.
grandmainger
Aug-18-2006, 1:23am
Holy smokes! http://www.grandmainger.com/avatars/smileys/eek2.gif That's #1? Even from a kit, it's still fabulous work! Well done!
Germain