In the white

[JeffS]

There used to be a company that sold violins in the white. I guess people like buying them this way, finishing them, and playing them. Any pac rim makers doing this with mandolins? The worst thing about my Korean made is the finish. The scroll binding is bad. I think it would be fun to finish one myself. I love buying unfinished furniture, I think an unfinished instrument would also be rewarding and with patience I could do better than a sweat shop assembly line. Not quite as much work as a kit, but rewarding none the less.

[futrconslr]

I would guess the closest thing to this would be some of the kits (stew mac comes to mind) that seem to have just about everything done accept final assembly and finishing. I have never built a kit but from my understanding thats about as close to "in the white" as I have seen.

[grandmainger]

Perhaps you could ask someone from Eastman if they'd import one unfinished one for you.
Keep us posted on this, it's interesting.