Black #6

[Mike Black]

Here is my #6.

It's a GBOM (Guitar Body Octave Mandolin).

It has a one-piece bearclaw Sitka spruce top. Quilted Maple sides and back. Side Sound-port. Double bound top and back. Floating Ebony tail-piece and pickgaurd. With a Varnish and Prench Polish finish.

I really love the way this one turned out. Very classy.

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_01.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_02.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_04.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_03.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_05.jpg

[Mike Black]

A couple more photos. :)

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_06.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_07.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_08.jpg

http://threebeansalad.net/images/Octave_09.jpg

[Mike Black]

Sound files will also be added for this one later tonight.

[Larry S Sherman]

Beautiful! Amazing! Love it

Larry

[F-2 Dave]

That's some good looking GBOM. I really, really like it. really.

[Andy Miller]

Looks beautiful. What's the scale length?

[Skip Kelley]

Mike, that is awesome! I love the wide grain top!

[blmjr]

Holy Moly! Man, that's beautiful!

Can't wait to hear what it sounds like.

Keep up the good work,

[Tripp Johnson]

Wow, I love the look of that A5, but the GBOM is stunning! Very nicely done. Looking forward to the sound files.

[PaulO]

That is stunning. I've had a hankering for GBOM for a couple of years. I thought I had the urge under control... no more

[Mike Black]

Looks beautiful. What's the scale length?

It's a 21.5" scale length.

[JEStanek]

Smokin' back! That looks fantastic.

Jamie

[Mike Black]

Here is an MP3 of the Octave straight from my ZOOM H2. I'm playing a tune my wife & I wrote called Biscuits & Gravy. It has a good representation of all the strings.

[Ed Goist]

Once again, Congratulations Mike: Looks & Sounds fantastic!
(And once again, GREAT sound quality on the mp3 file!, Oh, and great playing too!)

[Paul Kotapish]

Very nice, indeed.

[delsbrother]

I like that shape - it's very Epiphone-like with the narrow waist and tight f-holes. Was that a conscious homage, or just your own take on the shape?

[MandoNicity]

Wow! That is just simply stunning!!!! drool..... ;)

JR

[grassrootphilosopher]

Nice sounding and truely fine looking instrument. I was astonished when I listened to the rather traditional recording. The instrument is very melodious and I can see/hear it playing many styles of music (including bluegrass). It seems to have a great jazz tone in it.

[1NewPicker]

The looks, the sound, the playing all wonderful. Absolutly beautiful

[Mike Black]

I like that shape - it's very Epiphone-like with the narrow waist and tight f-holes. Was that a conscious homage, or just your own take on the shape?

You nailed it! Good eye! I've always like that shape and that was the design I took from.

[mandopete]

That one is clear off the charts!

[mrmando]

Howzabouta tenor guitar along those lines?

[Mike Black]

Howzabouta tenor guitar along those lines?

That's the plan someday. I've got 2 sets of some cool zebra wood for the back and sides.

[delsbrother]

If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out a book called, "Swing Era New York" (http://www.amazon.com/Swing-Era-New-York-Photographs/dp/1566394643), which is a collection of photographs by Charles Peterson. There are tons of great shots in there, including many of Eddie Condon playing several Epiphone plectrums and tenors with that beautiful hourglass shape.

[Jake Wildwood]

Nice!

[pjlama]

Wow, very nice, great job!

[benjam]

Wow. Very nice.

Heart-ache!

[Pete Summers]

Sensational. I'm dying of envy. :)

[nobullmando74]

Very Nice. Sounds Great.

[Avi Ziv]

Outstanding!

[Denny Gies]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

[John Gardinsky]

Sharp work there.

[Mike Black]

I had someone asking for more pictures so I figured that I'd post them here too.

[Jill McAuley]

What a beauty!

Cheers,
Jill

[Mike Black]

Thanks Jill & everyone else for their kind comments. I enjoy playing it as much as I can while I still have it.

[Eric Hanson]

That is gorgeous! I really like the three piece neck and how it works so well with the flame on the neck.
I now have the worst MAS I have had in some time.
Congrats on such a beautiful build.

[GKWilson]

This IS a gorgeous OM. But, Mike doesn't get to play it anymore. I do.
I've had it for 4 days and my fingers are raw. [who needs sleep?]
She sounds better than she looks and plays like 'butta'.
I would like to thank all of you who thought they might want her and hesitated.
And Mike for making her. I don't see needing another OM in this lifetime.
But, I might need a Black A5 in my future.
Gary
[I have no monetary interest in Mike Black Mandolins. Just an interest in quality mandolins.]

[Brent Hutto]

Gary,

Congrats. I grabbed the #5 A5 a few weeks ago. Happy, happy.

What kind of music are you mostly into? Based on Mike's sample clips, I like the fact that #6 isn't as clattery/clangy sounding as some of the OM's used in traditional Irish and Scottish music. I would think it might work well for a wide variety of styles with such a clear voice and full tone.

[Skip Kelley]

Gary, congratulations! That would be fun to play! Nice job, Mike!!

[GKWilson]

Thanks Skip. I am having fun. It's my first [and probably last] OM, and I'm busy retraining fingers. My little finger is about worn out.
Speaking of nice mando's. I wouldn't mind being 'stuck' with one of yours someday. I live on the wrong Ocean so I haven't seen one in person. But the ones I've seen via the net are awsome. The sound from them is KILLER.

Hi Brent, I like most music. I'll be playing Blues, Traditional, Folk, Old Time, and some Irish. The sound on this little beauty is amazing.
If you pick it back towards the bridge you get that more traditional 'zouk' sound [without the clatter]. By the time you work your way up to the fret board it's so mellow you could fall asleep while playing it.
Glad you like your A5 too. That's a beautiful looking and sounding mando. I was 'eyeballing' it also. But, a guy can only do so much. Mike is such a good guy. I think he is going to be very busy as word gets out about his mandolins.
Gary

[hank]

Congratulations Gary. I really like the body shape and ornamentation Mike used. I think a shrunk down version for a mandola would be my dream build.

[Mike Snyder]

Mike, how are those juniors coming?

[Mike Black]

Mike, how are those juniors coming?

They are going to be A4's, and one is already spoken for. I fitted the dovetail on that one tonight.

The other could easily become an A1. :) :mandosmiley:

[Nick Gellie]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for posting the sound clip. Quite frankfully, I can't place the sound of your Zoom H2 guitar-bodied bouzouki? I have two traditional tear drop shaped bouzoukis and they don't sound anything like you beautifully sculptured work of art.

Nic

Stuart 2010 flat-topped celtic mandolin
Burgin 2011 archtopped bouzouki
Gallacher flat-topped octave mandolin

[Bill Snyder]

NG53 this is what a Zoom H2 looks like. :)
83983
FWIW, as noted in an earlier post Mike's instrument is an Octave Mandolin with a 21.5" scale length. Besides shape if your bouzoukis have a longer scale length (25 + inches) or have oval holes that could explain some of the difference,

[Ivan Kelsall]

Astounding looks & sound to match ! - what more can be said ?. Well done Mike,
Ivan

[Rosemary Philips]

I'm having serious OMAS! Absolutely stunning!

[roberto216]

Gorgeous instrument. It's a work of art. I must say though I'm really jealous of what can be seen of your workbench. Wish I had that too.

[blauserk]

Lordie that's gorgeous. I'd like to see more like that.