Torzyn mandolin t3

[mandolinrick]

After about a year and a half, I'm finally finished with Torzyn Mandolin #3, T3 and will be parting with it Thursday night. I built it for a local musician, Ron Davis, who is quite a character. He really likes how it turned out - likes the solid color with no binding - says the color just flows better that way. And he likes how it sounds and plays.

Specs:
One piece Engelmann spruce top
Two piece flamed maple back, neck, and sides
Ebony radiased fret board
Ebony adjustable bridge
Allan cast tail piece
Grover tuners
Antique bone nut
Satin oil varnish finish
No binding
Internal K&K Twin Spot pickup
MOP inlay

Here are a few links to video's of Ron playing T3:
Ron Playing T3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tbmZt6o1lY)
Ashoken Farewell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6WzsjMEy04)
Eliza Jane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obweNJw5YdM)

Here is a link to my instrument blog post: Torzyn Musical Instrument Blog (http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/blog/wordpress/?p=17)

[mandolinrick]

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_front1.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_front3.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_front4.jpg

[mandolinrick]

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_scrollfront.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_front2.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_side2.jpg

[mandolinrick]

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_side1.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_back1.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_back3.jpg

[mandolinrick]

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_back4.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_back5.jpg

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_back6.jpg

[mandolinrick]

http://www.torzynmusicalinstruments.com/images/blog/final/final_peghead2.jpg

[Sitka]

Wow, I know that Bill has an anti-gravity booth, but how cool in an anti-gravity tree!

You did an excellent job on that!

Micah

[Chris Baird]

Wow, it really is just floating there. Looks good.

[Bertram Henze]

It would be more convincing if the mando cast a shadow on the grass...

However, consequently good-looking instrument, if a bit on the sinister side (to be played behind the dark glass of a limousine, or in Hogwarts).

Bertram

[Skip Kelley]

Nice looking mandolin! What I want to know is how you got it to float in the air for the pictures? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[JEStanek]

Cool photos (fishing line???). I like how the finish gives a textured to the instrument. Very stealthy... black ops mando! Looks like something Dr. X would play. The vids were nice too.

Jamie

[Steve Cantrell]

Beautiful mandolin. I'm curious about the off-center strap button on the back. What prompted that?

[Mark Walker]

Very nice! #I can't even get my Silver ANGEL to levitate like that! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[JEStanek]

I think that Strap button is the pickup jack. In the videos Ron is playing seated... maybe it was by his request...

Jamie

[billhay4]

Very nice. Would you mind giving us some information on the finish and how you applied it?
Thanks,
Bill

[mandolinrick]

Jamie is right about the off-center strap button - its actually the pickup jack. And Ron specifically wanted it placed there because he plays sitting down, no strap, and so that placement doesn't interfere with his playing style. I just put a small mahogany block on the inside to reinforce it a bit. Worked out quite well.

And the reason there's no regular strap button is because when I took the pictures...oh, wait, I'll be giving the secret of my levitation trick away... see there's actually a virzi levitation device attached to the inside of the top. You didn't think the virzi was just for enhanced sound production, did you???

The finish is an oil varnish applied with a cheapo Harbor Freight HPLV sprayer and also a small airbrush for some of the tight spots (scroll and underneath the fretboard extension) 5 or 6 coats of gloss, then 3 or 4 coats of varnish. The texture is consistent and helps keep the shine down and I like the way it looks and feels. And I didn't buff it out or anything as I think that would just wear away the satin finish. If it was a gloss finish, I would have sanded it flat after each coat (after having a base of 3 or 4 coats) and buffing would have made it smooth in the end. He originally wanted me to do some distressing, but after seeing it, he decided to just distress it naturally. He plays just about everyday for a few hours and plants his fingers on the top (no pickguard), so I think it will get distressed quite rapidly.

I'm having a friend design a new website for me and he commented on past pictures I had taken of instruments - I had always taken kind of straight on shots, and he told me "don't be afraid of angles." I guess he inspired me to take better pictures and be a bit more creative. I also took the pictures on an overcast day to cut down on reflection and that also resulted in lack of shadows. These are probably the best pictures I've ever taken.

Thanks for the comments.

Rick

[Amandalyn]

Very Nice work Rick.... is that from a kit?
Teri

[steve V. johnson]

I really like the dark color of the sides and back, with the grain coming thru but still dark. It invokes an older time, say the 19th-century to me.

And I LOVE the texture!

Very handsome, well done. And kudos on the anti-grav bit also!

stv