Hilburn #54

[Jim Hilburn]

I finally got the new octave done. I've been really looking forward to hearing it with the combination of woods I used and it didn't dissapoint. It sound like a Steinway.
I recently changed the strings on my octave from octave pairs on the D and G to unison. I was thinking I liked it but in on one song in one of my bands it just didn't work so I switched it back. And that's how I strung this one. I'm sold on that sound. It's so complex and brilliant.
By the way the wood is a red spruce top with a lot of bearclaw and tight quartersawn red maple for the back. The fingerboard is a compound radius which goes from about 7" to 12".

[F-2 Dave]

Wow Jim, that looks great. I'm sure it sounds great too. I've never been a big fan of bound f holes, but they really suit the over all look of the instrument. Just gorgeous, great job.

[Glassweb]

SPEC-tacular!

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's a close-up of the tailpiece.

[bernabe]

Jim...superb!!!! Youre one of the best IMO

[TonyP]

Just love your work Jim. And you are quite the photographer too! It really has that "look" like a top of the line jazz archtop. I'm sure it looks even better in the flesh, so to speak.

Hope you are going to put some sound files up of it(hint, hint).

[JEStanek]

The craftsmanship you put into your binding and finishes always takes my breath away. So clean.

Jamie

[Ed Goist]

Wow, just breathtaking. Outstanding. Congratulations.

[Bill Halsey]

Remarkable. I'd love to hear that one in an ensemble setting.

[amowry]

That's a beauty, Jim!

[Steve Sorensen]

Stunned.

[Tavy]

Stunned.

Me too!

Great work Jim!

[Alan Epstein]

That looks like another incredible instrument Jim...and I bet the sound is just as amazing.

Congratulations,

Alan

[mandopete]

As usual, flawless work Jim!

Any chance of hearing a sound clip of this beauty?

[Skip Kelley]

That's beautiful Jim! A real work of art!

[jasona]

Oh man. I need one of those.

[Mark Seale]

You never fail to impress Jim!

[Austin Clark]

That is super sharp, Jim! What's the finish?

[Jim Hilburn]

Thanks for the nice comments.
Austin, someday maybe I'll make a batch...oh probably not. This is nitro over sprayed aniline.

I had just a few minutes between getting the final set-up done and taking it to the post office and I recorded this. I had hoped to get a really good player to stop by and record but it just didn't work out.

[Dobe]

I had just a few minutes between getting the final set-up done and taking it to the post office and I recorded this. I had hoped to get a really good player to stop by and record but it just didn't work out.[/QUOTE]

Damn !! I was just gonna ask if I could come play it; keep me in mind if you'd like a simple video done, I've got a pretty simple to use Flip corder.
Oh yeah, Beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks !

Dobro Dave

[MandoNicity]

That's one Jazzy looking GOM! Beautiful!

JR

[Bill Snyder]

Beautiful instrument and the playing wasn't too shabby either.

[ShaneJ]

Dropdead gorgeous, Jim. Beautiful tone too. Excellent work.

[Dick Hutchings]

Dang that is nice. After seeing and hearing it, it's on my list of future builds. After all, how many F5's do I really need. The only problem I see is that Siminoff hasn't written a book on how to build one yet.

[mandopete]

Sounds as good as it looks - thanks Jim!

[Jim Hilburn]

I recorded that close-mic on an Olympus LS-10 at 24 bit/44k. I converted it to MP-3 in Audacity because I can never remember how to do it in Media Player.
I wish you could hear the difference between the original and the MP-3. It really sounds distorted online. The original file is clear as a bell.
The new owner is going to do some recording with it. Can't wait to hear that.

[Dick Hutchings]

What does GOM stand for?
That's one Jazzy looking GOM! Beautiful!

JR

[Will Kimble]

I just got to play this octave and it is fabulous! Great work Jim!!!

Best wishes for the holidays,
Will Kimble
www.kimblemandolins.com

[Dick Hutchings]

Is it Guitar Octave Mandolin?

[Rick Albertson]

#54 now up on Jim's website: http://www.hilburnmandolins.com/gallery54.html

[Mike Black]

What does GOM stand for?

It's Guitar-body Octave Mandolin

[Dick Hutchings]

Thanks Mike. I was beginning to wonder if it was too dumb of a question for anyone to bother. I have some more:grin: Is there an off the shelf case that these fit into? I'm pretty sure I want to build one sometime next year. I was thinking that I might want to get a case before I build since there aren't any plans for them anywhere. I'll make the instrument fit the case.

[Jim Hilburn]

Getting a case is the hard part. I built the first octave for myself and for the 2 years till I made the second I carried it in a $25 gig bag. When I made one on order I knew I had to get some decent cases so I contacted GWW. This is the company that makes Ameritage. They are great about making custom sizes with a lot of options for interior and exterior coverings. I got 3 cases, kept one for myself and now I'm out again.

[Dick Hutchings]

Thanks Jim. I have a feeling I'm not going to like the cost of getting a custom case made. Of course if I like the outcome of the build enough I'm sure it will be worth it.

[oldwave maker]

Wunnerful wunnerful, Jim- somewhere up there Denny Stevens is smiling down on this.......

[David Houchens]

Jim, Tone bars or X or other bracing?

[Jim Hilburn]

It's an X.

[tburcham]

Jim,

Fabulous!!! Stunning!!

[Alpha_Bean]

Dang! That looks amazing! Great job