SlotHeadSlim
Feb-01-2009, 5:59pm
Hi All,
This is my first post on the Mandolin Cafe. I've taken guitar lessons for years and one day a few weeks back my wife says to me "I really would like to get you a mandolin as a combination Christmas, Valentine's day and birthday gift". I've always loved mandolin but never had one before. Of course I said yes and I bought a Weber Buffalo from a forum member. Well I travel for work on ocassion so I wanted an instrument I could take along. Lo and behold I came across a thread about Ken Olstead's experiences with ordering a Traveler Mandolin (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45261&highlight=traveler) and I was very impressed by your comments and what I saw. So before I continue I wanted to say a big thanks to all of you. The Mandolincafe seems like a wonderful resource. Now on to the story.
Friday I called up Steve at Red Line Resophonics and he is just the nicest guy to talk to and shared information very easily. We talked for quite some time on the phone about his business, mandolins and what I was looking to purchase. Steve sent me pictures of his mandolins in progress within an hour and I picked the one with the "mystery wood" (you can see this thread here from Steve http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47322&highlight=traveler about the search to the origins of this wood). Here are the results:
First a picture of the wood slightly wet so you can see approximately what the finish will resemble:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1643
Next a picture of the Carpathian Spruce top being glued:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1642
Here is a picture of the sides attached to the back with a view of the braces:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1640
Lastly here is a picture of the back attached to the sides (Sweet! :grin:):
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1641
Steve is cruising through the work. I'm amazed how fast he is going. I ordered a radiused fretboard, gloss finish, binding top and bottom (We'll be talking about the choices) and gold hardware. Yeah! Steve is still wondering exactly what the wood is but he thinks it might be some type of Brazilian Cherry, at least that is what we are calling it. I hope you like it.
Thanks,
Tom
This is my first post on the Mandolin Cafe. I've taken guitar lessons for years and one day a few weeks back my wife says to me "I really would like to get you a mandolin as a combination Christmas, Valentine's day and birthday gift". I've always loved mandolin but never had one before. Of course I said yes and I bought a Weber Buffalo from a forum member. Well I travel for work on ocassion so I wanted an instrument I could take along. Lo and behold I came across a thread about Ken Olstead's experiences with ordering a Traveler Mandolin (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45261&highlight=traveler) and I was very impressed by your comments and what I saw. So before I continue I wanted to say a big thanks to all of you. The Mandolincafe seems like a wonderful resource. Now on to the story.
Friday I called up Steve at Red Line Resophonics and he is just the nicest guy to talk to and shared information very easily. We talked for quite some time on the phone about his business, mandolins and what I was looking to purchase. Steve sent me pictures of his mandolins in progress within an hour and I picked the one with the "mystery wood" (you can see this thread here from Steve http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47322&highlight=traveler about the search to the origins of this wood). Here are the results:
First a picture of the wood slightly wet so you can see approximately what the finish will resemble:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1643
Next a picture of the Carpathian Spruce top being glued:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1642
Here is a picture of the sides attached to the back with a view of the braces:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1640
Lastly here is a picture of the back attached to the sides (Sweet! :grin:):
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=210&pictureid=1641
Steve is cruising through the work. I'm amazed how fast he is going. I ordered a radiused fretboard, gloss finish, binding top and bottom (We'll be talking about the choices) and gold hardware. Yeah! Steve is still wondering exactly what the wood is but he thinks it might be some type of Brazilian Cherry, at least that is what we are calling it. I hope you like it.
Thanks,
Tom