Wood. tone. beauty. art. love

[mdlorenz]

excuse the short back story...

My girlfriend & I got engaged in January (sugarlorenz.com) (http://www.sugarlorenz.com). Unbeknownst to me a month later Jenny contacted #Joe Cleary (http://www.campanellastrings.com) about having a mandolin made for my wedding present. She knew him from being a yoga instructor, & I had been taking my flatiron to him to get worked on.

So 6 months later I get home from work on a friday afternoon. Excited that my new tone-gard had arrived earlier that day, I open my mandolin case... and inside... that ain't no flatiron...http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4442.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4443.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4448.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4454.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4458.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4461.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4462.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4464.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4465.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4466.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4468.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4469.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4476.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4486.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4488.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4488.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4490.jpghttp://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4491.jpg

[mdlorenz]

http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_4500.jpg

[Gutbucket]

It's a beauty. Looks like a fiddle with frets. It has a really different look to it. I like it.

[JEStanek]

Congratulations and Congratulations! Great story and wonderful photos. Joe makes a sweet looking mandolin.

Jamie

[Steve Davis]

Congratulations on your engagement and your mandolin. Looks like you got a keeper.

[mdlorenz]

yep she's a keeper... the mandolin is nice too... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[MandoSquirrel]

Amen to all that; must be nice(both!) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif .

[Bill James]

Very cool! I love Joe's mandolins!

[jasona]

Lovely!

[mdlorenz]

Thought I'd add some in progress pics.

The Block:
http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/IMG_5646.jpg

top arched, back pending, the ribs bent and neck begun
http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/mail-4.jpg

Red Spruce:
http://www.mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/mail-6.jpg

[mdlorenz]

Back, before chanelling and arching.
http://mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/mail-7.jpg

First coat of varnish drying.
http://mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/mail-1.jpg
http://mdlorenz.com/img/campanella/images/mail-2.jpg

[lastchair]

Internal mould and double purfling. And a nice message if you look through the endpin. What an auspicious beginning to marriage and a lifetime of MAS. Congratulations!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Jonmiller]

How about a photo of the type of woman who would do such an thing as this.

[James P]

That signed block is all I need to see. #Very cool! #Much happiness to you both.

My better half (and then some) put me on Andrew Mowry's waiting list for my birthday. #Good gals are the greatest. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[F5G WIZ]

You should post the "Love You Babe" picture in this thread:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=47073 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=47073)

[Ivan Kelsall]

Mike - That's different with a capital 'D'. A gorgeous instrument,you're one lucky guy on two counts - best wishes,
Saska

[mdlorenz]

Although she looks nice & pretty, she's a banjo killer from day one. The pick hits the strings & THUD! Amazing tone & Volume to match her beauty.

I'll try to post sound clips later in the week.