New Mandolinetto

[Champlin]

Howdy folks,

Here's photos of a custom mandolinetto I just finished. I've built a few based off an old Vernon mandolinetto from circa 1905. This customer wanted a longer body, so this is basically the old Vernon shape with 2 extra inches on the bottom. He also wanted the headstock color to match the top color, hence the maple overlay there. Back, sides, neck are mahogany, and it's engelmann spruce for the top. The finish is oil based varnish, then french polished shellac. It's mostly built with hide glue. It turns out that extra couple inches goes far for the sound of the instrument. There is added depth and warmth compared with the smaller size. I'm still very fond of the smaller body sound, which works great for what I like to play, but it's really fun to change a shape and hear what happens! I'll be mailing this off in a few days but I'll try to post a video before I do.

Thanks for looking,
Devin Champlin

[Champlin]

One more of the back...

[F-2 Dave]

Very cool Devin. Beautiful work. Your chicken looks awe struck.

[Larry S Sherman]

Really really really cool!

Great pics too.

I love an original approach...nice work!

Larry

[JEStanek]

Very nice to see one of these newly made. Great work.

Jamie

[Steve Sorensen]

Lovely. . . .
Steve

[SincereCorgi]

That this is really nice-looking! Can you post a sound clip? Does it have much volume? ...does it cost a lot?

[Tavy]

Great work, I love it when these old designs get revived!

[Champlin]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

The chicken was even more awestruck when I played "old hen cackle" for her.

SincereCorgi- It does have a good deal of volume, especially compared to it's slightly smaller counterpart (which I think still has good volume). Of course, these type of ideas of volume and tone are relative and in the ear of the beholder. I will post a video later today. This one is already spoken for of course, but they are not very expensive. Of course, "expensive" is also relative and in the pocket of the beholder. so to speak.

[Champlin]

and here's a video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=___6ELdelgk

[billhay4]

Devin,
How did you brace this?
Thanks,
Bill

[Champlin]

Hi Bill,

It's ladder braced like the original that it's loosely based on. I did angle the braces slightly. I've seen a similar thing done on some old ladder braced parlor guitars that I like, so I tried it here. It sort of gives the effect of fanning out, wider on the bass side, tight on the treble. It really is a pretty slight angle and I'm not sure of the overall effect on the sound. I am very pleased with the sound, myself. I didn't photograph the top under construction, but here's a picture of a no name guitar in my shop that has a similar thing happening.

[Tavy]

Hi Bill,

It's ladder braced like the original that it's loosely based on. I did angle the braces slightly. I've seen a similar thing done on some old ladder braced parlor guitars that I like, so I tried it here. It sort of gives the effect of fanning out, wider on the bass side, tight on the treble. It really is a pretty slight angle and I'm not sure of the overall effect on the sound. I am very pleased with the sound, myself. I didn't photograph the top under construction, but here's a picture of a no name guitar in my shop that has a similar thing happening.

Interesting bracing design, I've ben thinking of trying something similar, but based on the Emberger mandolin bracing:

67827

[billhay4]

Thanks, Champlin,
Interesting method. Obviously it worked pretty well.
Bill

[Kramster]

Very cool.. you done good

[Mandolin Holm]

Looks and sounds really good! Nice job!

I'm afraid the guitar-shaped body wont exactly help when it comes to people asking "oh, you play ukulele?" though :P