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TDMpicker
Apr-26-2010, 8:05pm
Just finished my latest flat top project and wanted to share some photos.
I used to Old Standard Wood from Fulton, MO on this mandolin.
It has an Adirondack red spruce top, curly maple sides, back and neck.
The fretboard, and peghead overlay are ebony. Double bound front and back.
Semi-gloss lacquer finish over Colortone stains.

Specs on the mandolin are:

Overall length 24 1/2"
Body width 9 1/2"
Body Depth 1 1/2"
neck width 1 1/8" @ nut
radius top and back (120")
standard mandolin 13 7/8" scale length
adjustable steel truss rod
Grover 309, 18:1 tuning machine (nickel plated)
scalloped nickel plated tailpiece
M.O.P. inlay on peghead
Ebony nut
Ebony compensated bridge

I am quite happy with the sound. Took it to a folk fest jam and held up well against a bunch of guitars, banjos and other mandos.


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JEStanek
Apr-26-2010, 8:15pm
Looks great, Terry. I do like a fine flatback mandolin and that fits the bill!

Jamie

Charles E.
Apr-26-2010, 8:21pm
Terry, that mandolin looks great. I really like the way the back intersects with the heel cap. That looks like a pretty tricky neck set. Is it a bolt on?

Andy Miller
Apr-26-2010, 10:10pm
That looks great! It looks like quite a bit of induced arch on the top - I'm curious what the radius is?

Ivan Kelsall
Apr-27-2010, 1:25am
That's a great looking Mandolin & the colour (color), i'd call it 'cinnamon',is stunning. I've never played a 'flat top' Mandolin,but looking at that one makes my mouth water,
Ivan

TDMpicker
Apr-27-2010, 6:17am
Thanks for the kind words folks.

The necks is one piece and is glued to the body. A tongue cut in the heel of the neck slips down in a matching
groove in the body from the top. Then the cover cap/overlay is glued on to cove the joint. The neck pretty much
self-aligns. The fingerboard glues to the top and covers the joint there as you can see in the photo.

The radius I used on this mandolin is approx 120" for both the front and back.
The neck angle on this mandolin is about 4 degrees which resulted in the bridge
being higher than I wanted. I am reducing it on my current builds.

I used a 2:1 ratio of dark brown and red dyes to get the cinnamon color, which
was what I was shooting for.

Flat tops are definitely fun to play and they are amazingly loud with a powerful chop
that can be heard in any big jam session.

TDMpicker
Apr-27-2010, 6:27am
Here are a few more photos of the flat tops.

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mculliton123
Apr-27-2010, 8:05am
Stunning!! 'nuff said.

michael

Skip Kelley
Apr-27-2010, 8:13am
Terry, the mandolin looks great! Awesome job!

ISU Trout Bum
Apr-27-2010, 3:08pm
Looks great! Thanks for posting the pics. Nice work!

Fstpicker
Apr-27-2010, 5:47pm
I love the thick profile neck you have on that. Are you going to sell it? Make some more?

Jeff

TDMpicker
Apr-27-2010, 5:59pm
Jeff,

The neck is not that thick. I think the photo is deceiving. The dimensions and shape are out of the
Siminoff manual for a typical F style. I also tried to make it the same shape as the neck on my Kentucky KM1000.

This is the third flat top I have made. I have a 4th just about finished that has a red cedar top.

I will need to thin the inventory out and sell a couple when I get #4 done.
I can only play one flat top at a time. :-)

Jake Wildwood
Apr-27-2010, 6:21pm
Nice looking mandolin!

Markkunkel
May-04-2010, 8:59am
WONDERFUL work, Terry! As the proud owner of one of your earlier mandos, I am delighted to see your more recent work. Look forward to more... Mark