Mandolins in progress

[oldwave maker]

final finish coat on Petes 13.5" wide 1 pc om back

[JEStanek]

Wow! That's an awesome back, figure and finish.

Jamie

[markishandsome]

slobber... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Pete Martin]

slobber... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
I'm slobbering even more!

[Steevarino]

Bill B.,

I used to have a tractor that looked quite a bit like that. #An Allis Chalmers B Model, as I recall, but I might have the letter wrong...

Steve

www.CumberlandAcoustic.com
www.RedLineResophonics.com

[oldwave maker]

Steve- you had a curly maple veneered ACB tractor? awesome! Might have to try that with my AC300lp. Mesquite flooring and veneer supplier David Perino coated his refrigerator with titebond, let it dry to the touch, and then used a hot iron to stick 1/28" mesquite to it, what a kitchen appliance- suggested for $2.50 a sq ft I could do my toyota pu.....
Pete- 28 days!
Gary- were those points bison or water buffalo? bought some lmi wb horn nuts that were too soft for mandonuts, would have made great points tho.....

[mandopete]

Pete- 28 days!
I can hardly wait!

[buddyellis]

Working on stain, darker on the edge? Whatcha think?

[buddyellis]

Front:

[Stephanie Reiser]

Working on stain, darker on the edge? #Whatcha think?
Darker around the perimeter for sure.
Looks great! Love that curly maple back!

[buddyellis]

Thanks, I've used a mix of hand rubbed and a blending of the airbrush to even out the edges, but I think I'm almost happy with the transition on this one. Lesson learned and applied from previous builds: if you don't want stain there, don't ever touch it with the rag, even if you don't have 'much' stain on it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Lesson learned on this build: when you cut out the back, remember the button.

[markishandsome]

I like it the way it is.

[Eric Hanson]

Don't know about the rest of you. I LOVE to see as much of the wood grain as possible. The wood used for mandos is some of the best to be found. IMO why cover it up just because that is the tradition.
OUCH!! OK, OK, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come across so opinionated. Man I must get to bed soon.:p

Eric

[labraid]

should I bring it to life?

http://labraid.ca/ip/55ip6.jpg

[Eric Hanson]

That is a beautiful pattern! I say go for it.

Eric

[JEStanek]

Fantastic.

Jamie

[otterly2k]

hey! where'd it go?

[labraid]

oops, updating a site can be dangerous ;) one sec...

[labraid]

's better. It's hard doing these because I'm always fleeing the "Gothic" tendencies the younger folks have so popularized. Trying to keep away from vampire aesthetics, while capturing some of the glory days of stone architecture.. Harder than one might think, to balance. This was a test drawing. I'm really just torturing the ghost of Mike while he's away without email or phone.

[billhay4]

Looks like a very interesting hammer beam roof mirrored on a pond.
Bill

[labraid]

That's a cool thought, I like that

[otterly2k]

wow

looks like gothic windows to me

stunning

[Ken Olmstead]

All I see is a really cool looking snowflake!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Kent Barnes]

Moving right along on Harlan # 6. #This one is for my cousin.

http://www.kentium.net/mandolin/mandolincafe/harlan6/top%20and%20rim%20outside.jpg http://www.kentium.net/mandolin/mandolincafe/harlan6/top%20and%20rim%20inside.JPG

[Stanley Cox]

Looking good Kent, Is that a new shop floor? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Stanley

[bradeinhorn]

here's a new voight a-5 in the making.

[bradeinhorn]

and

[bradeinhorn]

and

[bradeinhorn]

and

[Hans]

Spring planting...

[Timbofood]

Nice Crop!

[Dan Voight]

Bravo Johann!

[markishandsome]

Can't wait to see the harvest!

[Andy Nichols]

Here is my latest project. #This is my third ADAL manolin still under construction.
Andy

[Andy Nichols]

here is the peg head, body, and scroll after stain

[Andy Nichols]

scroll

[buddyellis]

Lots of scraping, lots of cleanup, lots of FPing to do, at this point but, here goes. First couple coats of spirit varnish on, final leveling and etc, to be done. Maybe a hit or two more around the edges to level out, but, will see. This is with a bit of garnet shellac with a few other things tossed in (benzoin, mastic, etc) Other than the yellow 'smokers fingers' from working with it, really my favorite finish so far. Lacquer is 'easier' but this is a much friendlier finish to work with, even if it is a bit more work.

[buddyellis]

Pictures are a bit too red, its really more gradual in person, and the back looks much better than this in person. I need to work on my photog, but oh well. Don't see much of these 'ugly stage' photos with the tape and the scraping not done.
Back:

[Mark Walker]

You folks building mandolins just amaze me. #I just remodeled two rooms in my 110-year old farmhouse, and struggled with all new baseboards, crown and cove moldings. (Cutting AND staining. Coping saws and cope cuts in crown molding are a PAIN!) #

Everyone who've been in the remodeled rooms rave about it, but I'm nowhere NEAR the point of tackling a mandolin - let alone the staining and finishing! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Hans - I'm GOING to drive to the next-door state and visit you this year! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Golman8]

Hey adal04 I see you learned how to post a picture , That adal#3 is looking good! Maybe the third time will be the charm for you. I was impressed with @s one and two! Keep on picking, your friend golman8

[Hans]

Mark, you're going to have to drive thru that next door state. Welcome anytime.

[Austin Clark]

mmm, purty backs.....

Left to right, mine, mine, Joe's, Ted's, Andre's and again, mine.
Well, mine for the summer anyway...
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[bradeinhorn]

yum.

[first string]

Drool.

[Joe F]

My fingers are itching with anticipation!

[Stephanie Reiser]

An F-4 in the binding process.

[JEStanek]

Looking sweet Amanda! Blohm buttons?

Jamie

[Stephanie Reiser]

Looking sweet Amanda! Blohm buttons?

Jamie
Yes http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[bropete]

polishing another White Dove

[bropete]

cont.

[bropete]

cont.

[bropete]

still polishing!!

[bropete]

Rounding out a dozen
I decided to make number 12 a custom oval...
here it is with one coat of lacquer

[bropete]

cont.

[bropete]

and again..

[bropete]

one more...

[Playing8]

Real Perty Brother Pete! Hope to see you soon, If I can get a lone for Gas Money. HA

[oldwave maker]

Stained and shellac sealed, no adult supervision in sight:

[Dan Voight]

Hey Bill, does that second mando have rosewood back and sides?

[labraid]

Pete, extremely classy indeed... The non-cursive text adds a bit of astuteness, and well, I dunno, it's a very, very nice choice. Soundhole treatment is a-1 too.. bravo!

Bill. Hey, it's walnut, hurrah!

Well, I'm getting accustomed to these quartered spruce reinforcing strips. And I don't know a luthier who wouldn't love to just make them all day, that beautiful "schhhhhhck" of the plane as it slices off another curl. Here they are wetted, to be put aside near the fire to dry (still cold up here mornings, come on sun!).

[Bob McRee]

Here are some photos of what's going on with Jade mandolins in China. Here is one of some maple, walnut and cherry bodies. The walnut and cherry bodies will have maple binding.

[Bob McRee]

Here is one of the walnut bodies that happens to be an oval hole.

[Bob McRee]

Here is another of the walnut body.

[Bob McRee]

Here is a black topped A that is on its way to Missouri,

[Bob McRee]

Here is the back of that black topped A.

[Bob McRee]

I have started doing some of the finishing here at my home. The black topped A and this sunburst F are some of the first. Everything has a varnish finish.

[Bob McRee]

This is the back of the F pictured above.

[Bob McRee]

OK, a couple more photos and thanks for indulging me in this long string of photos. Here is the violin varnish on an F. This is the finish that "brought Jade mandolins to the dance" and I am keeping it going. The great news is that the finisher who does these has vastly improved. There was a big learning curve for him going from violins to F style mandolins and he is getting it right now.

[Bob McRee]

Here is the back of the violin varnished F.

[BiscoMando]

i love that violin finish! very classy.

[bropete]

labraid, Thank you for your kind words. The F-style dove has taken flight to north Georgia, and I polished and strung the A-Oval yesterday. I used an experimental bracing pattern and I am glad to be able to say, "she really sings". (you always run a risk with unproven means). The dark finish and final polish really brought out the MOP around the soundhole. Thanks again, Pete

[oldwave maker]

screen capture from my recent audition for "America's Most Disturbing Home Videos"

[Dan Voight]

Haha very nice bill.

[labraid]

who's the leprechaun with the ipod glaring at us in the orb of night?

[crazymandolinist]

I love that pic!

[JEStanek]

Reminds me of a cross between Alex DeLarge and David Jones (http://cdbaby.com/cd/djones). Great photo.

Jamie

[mandomick]

Stained and shellac sealed, #no adult supervision in sight:
JMO, Old Waves have the "cleanest lines" in their "F" hole design.

[Jim Hilburn]

How to tell if your pattern carver is set up well.
This top started with penciled crosshairs all the way down the centerline and across at the bridge location. After carving it looks like this.
I make all the early passes in straight lines parallel to the centerline and only do the side to side on the final pass to remove as much material as possible.

[Dan Voight]

nice jim. I didn't know you used one of those. Seems like a nice investment...

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's some fingerboard binding going on. You can't really see the fingerboard but the cam clamps are holding it flat to the table, the quick clamps are holding the boards I use for pressure square to the table and those cool black British clamps are applying the pressure.

[markishandsome]

Those British clams do look pretty cool. Details?

[Troy Harris]

Nice work Jim…
Carving the top is one of my favorite steps in the building process. I like to cut for the binding around the center of the scroll while I have a level working surface.

[Troy Harris]

Detail of the scroll… begins to take shape.

[Troy Harris]

Here I’m scraping the final arching.

[wannabethile]

that is just beautiful!!!

[buddyellis]

Got impatient, and strung it up. Still some finish work to do but before I finished the neck I wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong neck angle wise. After a week of playing time this thing is really starting to surprise me. Plenty of mid-cut with solid but not overwhelming bottom end.

[buddyellis]

Front. All spirit varnish, although I'll probably end with a couple thin coats of lacquer just to toughen it a bit.

[McCandolin]

And a top for the same.
Hey, whats the story with the location of the blade in that finger plane? Why so far back?

This is the internet, my curiosity need not go unfulfilled.

[Stephanie Reiser]

A couple of pics of an F-4 I'm building in my spare time.

[Stephanie Reiser]

Only just started binding the headstock today, so wont show that side till the inlays are finished. This F-4 will be from the 1911 - 1917 period.

[Steve Cantrell]

Nice work, Stephanie. That rosette looks sharp.

[Dan Voight]

Nice F4. Here are some shots of #5. I really like red maple for sides.

[Dan Voight]

another

[Dan Voight]

The inside

[elvisNoir]

Nice F4. Here are some shots of #5. I really like red maple for sides.
VERY nice f-hole design. As the kids say...Sweeeet!

Keep up the great work.

[Chip Booth]

Elvis, I was thinking the same thing. Nice F holes!

Chip

[oldwave maker]

Great f holes, should lower the resonant frequency of the box.

[amowry]

And a top for the same.
Hey, whats the story with the location of the blade in that finger plane? Why so far back?

This is the internet, my curiosity need not go unfulfilled.
I just noticed your question-- the edge of the blade is roughly centered on the sole of the plane. It's just the angle of the blade puts the tail end so far back. That blade is from a circa 1960 Bombardier snowmobile leaf spring. A last remnant from my childhood!

Nice looking work, everyone!

[amowry]

Hey Jim, have you tried thin CA for gluing fretboard binding? I find I can just hold a section in place with my fingers, and wick in a drop of CA, then move to the next section-- no clamping or tape required, and it's done in a few minutes.

[Dan Voight]

Great f holes, should lower the resonant frequency of the box.
Thanks. After doing some reading here (http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/Helmholtz.html) and calculating the internal volume of my mandolins, I developed my opinion in that a lot of F hole mandolins with Gibson stle apertures had f holes that covered too much surface area for their given cubic volume. I designed a crossbreed of traditional violin and Gibson stle F holes and reduced their surface area to coincide with the cubic volume of my instruments. I am pleased with the tone I am getting with them. The pictures show them right after routing and I have yet to open them up with files. I cut them small to leave room for adjusting.

[mandopete]

"Thanks. After doing some reading here and calculating the internal volume of my mandolins."

like this....

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Dan Voight]

"Thanks. After doing some reading here and calculating the internal volume of my mandolins."

like this....

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Actually, I just filled it with rice. I used the equation on the site for the opotimun aperture size given my volume via rice.

[pelone]

Now I know where some of my error may have occured. I used rice crispies, perhaps their lighter density lead me to believe that my calculations were correct.

[Christopher Standridge]

Rice, crispies, don't you know any scientist worth his salt uses mustard seed???
Jim, that top looks very nice. #I also do all vertical passes before I do the side to side passes. #Troy that top is very clean and I agree it is very easy to establish the binding channel at this point.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is the source of my most recent frustrations...I am glad that I bought enough of this to be able to practice, you don't even want to know how much this cost me. I could have gotten a lot of nice maple...

[Christopher Standridge]

two engelman tops, one red, backs of birch, maple, and koa!

[Troy Harris]

Koa is beautiful wood…
I’m working on a batch of F5’s… here are some photos of the next top in progress.

[Troy Harris]

Routing for binding around the center of the scroll…

[Troy Harris]

I use a small palm plane then finger plane with a toothed iron to do the rough arching before moving to scrapers.

[amowry]

Nice photos! So, do you guys do the binding channel for both the top and back before gluing them on, and then cut the scroll opening in the headblock to match? Or is the headblock completely cut beforehand? That looks like a real timesaver not having to deal with the binding channel once the plates are on the instrument.

[Christopher Standridge]

Andrew,
I don't think I should be giving you any time saving tips, but this really works better for me. I prep the channel on both plates and then trace to the block, then cut the block, sand smooth, and glue plates to the block with registration pins.

[amowry]

Cool, thanks Chris! That's good food for thought. I love the fact that everyone does things a little differently. Keeps it interesting.

[oldwave maker]

Another month or so before its ready for picking, and already a melonius thonk!

[JEStanek]

Bill,

How many watermandos have you made now. Their whimsy is great.

Jamie

[charlesa46741]

This is a Siminoff F4 kit in the white. I'm still trying to decide on a brown or red sunburst.

[Troy Harris]

Andrew, here is my current working method…
First I trace/draw the blocks, linings, and body/scroll outline onto the top…

[Troy Harris]

Then I cut out the body outline and begin rough carving the plate. I route for the binding (only around the center of the scroll) when I have a level working surface and before I carve the scroll. The left side scroll is cut for side binding; the right side scroll is cut for triple top binding.

[Troy Harris]

Next I trace/draw the scroll shape onto the block and cut out the block. I repeat the steps with the back, making sure everything lines up. I do all the tracing while the ribs are in a mould. I carve both the top and back before gluing them onto the ribs. I route for the body binding after both plates are glued to the ribs.
My understanding is that the early Gibson scrolls were cut out after both the tops & backs were glued to the ribs. I’ve thought about trying that method…
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[amowry]

Thanks for taking the time to explain that, Troy. I guess it's similar to what I currently do, except I cut the opening in the headblock and then trace that on the top and back. I like your way better, though, because it seems you have better control over the shape of the scroll when you draw it directly on the top and back.

I've seen photos of several builders cutting the scroll opening after assembling the box. I guess you need some way to hold it level on the bandsaw. It makes sense to me, because you'd have less sanding to do inside the scroll.

[Geoff B]

brilliant work with the pre-binding, I like that a lot! Also, as usual, the caliber of this little corner of the internet is quite startling! good work all. here is my humble contribution.

I just posted a youtube video of my latest (#19). It is in the white and coming along well for being strung up for only a day. I'm not sure if the video compression also messes up the sound, but I thought it would be worth sharing. I realized after playing a bit that I didn't level the frets, so there are a couple buzzies in there. This is an engleman topped, big leaf back F style and my nineteenth effort. I'm a happy camper. Dedicated thread is to come... check it out: somewhere over the rainbow (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CsRr7Snx0Zg)

by-the-way, I got this tab from mandozine.com
Whoo hoo! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Stephanie Reiser]

Nice job, Geoff

[french guy]

#15 in the white :

[Brandon Flynn]

#15 in the white :
Very clean. I like the headstock a lot.

[amowry]

Here's a royal coachman I did last week.

[Hans]

Now cut that out!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[amowry]

But, like, I already did!

[Geoff B]

And on the back of the headstock, where precious few will see! Nice!

[JEStanek]

Andrew, that's bloody micro-surgery! Do you use a dental pick to clear the inlay cavity? Not to mention cutting the individual pieces out. Amazing.

Jamie

[french guy]

Andrew , what a work !! I like that .
By the way , if you love beautiful inlay , you MUST have a look to a friend website , he make old time banjos , but his inlaying work is really fantastic look here :
http://perso.numericable.fr/%7Erevephil/mybanjos/mybanjos.htm

[french guy]

just an exemple

[amowry]

Thanks Jean-- I was just looking at his site, and it's amazing stuff. The engraving is mind-boggling.

[Chris Biorkman]

Andrew, your attention to detail is amazing. Just keeps getting better and better. I always enjoy seeing pics of your work.

[Geoff B]

Andrew, your work really flies here! I mean, it is a catch. Which is, of course, to say that I think people are hooked. Sorry, I couldn't resist!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[Hans]

That mush be a western Coachman...looks to be about a #8 or #10. Wouldn't catch a thing here! # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Skip Kelley]

We are certainly living in the age when the finest instruments are being built! There are so many gifted craftsman on the board. The work you guys post on here is absolutely perfect! Fine piece's of art!

[amowry]

Hans, very true. The customer originally asked for a size 16, but that seemed a little small. I'm guessing it's around 12, but I didn't get out a hook to be sure.

Around here we tend to use Royal Wulfs instead-- they float long time!

[Hans]

Round here, the "credit card boys" (they all have new waders, vest, rod, reel, store bought flies, etc) are standing where they should be fishing, fishing where they should be standing and the wife is taking the video while they whip the water to death. They are the ones using Coachman flies.
You couldn't catch a trout on a #22. Trouts are way too wary around here for Coachmen... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Geoff B]

some nice figure on this one....

[JEStanek]

I can't bear to look at that much quilt in the summertime! Too hotThat's gorgeous.

Jamie

[amowry]

Nice quilt!

Carving necks...

[Joe Dodson]

Around here we tend to use Royal Wulfs instead-- they float long time!

I'm the lucky customer on that one. Once again Andrew, thanks for the beautiful work.

That birdseye is looking great too!

[Chris Biorkman]

Ooh, sweet birdseye!

[Jim Hilburn]

Getting a little work done on the 4th.
Starting on the routing for my name. Looks pretty strange at this point.

[igowing]

Alembic inspired 5 string electric I'm currently working on. This will be the second instrument I've built.

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6267/countertopxm2.jpg

[Stephanie Reiser]

After a week more of sanding I will be reading for filling and staining, then varnishing.

[Larry S Sherman]

Alembic inspired 5 string electric I'm currently working on. #This will be the second instrument I've built.

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6267/countertopxm2.jpg
Looks great, and I love the inspiration!

[Hans]

Some necks...H5 mandola, 3 PML's, A4 snake, Eclipse V6.
Oval hybrid in the foreground.

[Timbofood]

Gee, Andrew one might just say "There ain't no flies on you" but then again that would not be entirely correct, very cool!

[labraid]

dust

[Glassweb]

Hans... you're killin' me brother! I'm loving you're signature "flower urn"... that's classic!

[Doug Hoople]

Fan-fret 10-string mandolin A-style. First stringing. No frets yet. Sam Crossan, my father-in-law, is building this, loosely based on Mike Marshall's Smart, and taking into account Mike's feedback (mandolin body, straighter nut angle for easier first position playing).

[Glassweb]

Fan-fret 10-string mandolin A-style. First stringing. No frets yet. Sam Crossan, my father-in-law, is building this, loosely based on Mike Marshall's Smart, and taking into account Mike's feedback (mandolin body, straighter nut angle for easier first position playing).
easier playing position? damn, i'm gonna have to go to my chiropractor tomorrow just looking at that thing! attention all mandolinists... proceed at your own risk...

[Doug Hoople]

Fan-fret 10-string mandolin A-style. First stringing. No frets yet. Sam Crossan, my father-in-law, is building this, loosely based on Mike Marshall's Smart, and taking into account Mike's feedback (mandolin body, straighter nut angle for easier first position playing).
easier playing position? damn, i'm gonna have to go to my chiropractor tomorrow just looking at that thing! attention all mandolinists... proceed at your own risk...
If you look at the pictures of the Smart 10-string on this thread: Lawrence Smart 10-string (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=49716;hl=smart+and+man dola), you'll notice that the nut is even "worse" there.

Plenty of discussion on the same thread about playing with a fan-fret instrument. I've done it, and I'd agree with everyone else that it's not that bad.

In Sam's 10-string, he's essentially reversed the angles of the nut and the bridge, so the nut is more "normal" and the bridge is more radical. The frets are going on even as I'm writing this, so there will soon be a picture to show how the angles graduate up the fretboard.

The radical bridge angle is the big question mark. You can see that it calls for pretty out-of-skew f-holes (and the tone bars inside follow the line of the f-holes, not the neck line).

[markishandsome]

Reminds me of those melting clock paintings - love it

[Jim Hilburn]

Doing frets today. Big ones.
I press them in and use the Stew Mac nipper to remove the section of tang that goes over the binding, ala Don McRostie. You have the whole length of wire to hold this way instead of trying to hold just the fret. Much easier to keep it upright and aligned. It cuts out just enough tang to do the next fret on the far side of the board without cutting again.
I glue them in with Titebond ala Bob Bennedetto.

By the way I got to meet Sam Crossen at the 2006 Symposium and that instrument doesn't suprise me at all. Great guy.

[mandopete]

Those do look like big frets, what's the measurement?

[Jim Hilburn]

They're Stew-Mac #147 frets which they used to call banjo wire. .08" wide compared to .053" for the smaller mandolin wire. I think they look wider in photo's than they appear in person.
Everyone who gets them loves them.

[mandopete]

Agreed, I have those on my Flatiron and will likely put 'em on the Collings when the time comes.

Jim - your work is flawless as always!

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's some tortoise binding going on. When I do ivoroid with top and side lines I can get it pre-laminated from Axiom but not the tortoise. Bill may be making it but I need to use up what I have anyway.
I pre-glue the blk/white strip to the bottom of the tortoise for the sidelines. Then I do the blk/white for the top separately. It's in place here and the tortoise is being added.

[Jim Hilburn]

This picture gives a little better view of what's happening.
At this point it needs that last bend and then cut to the final length, glued and taped on.

[Dan Voight]

Here is #5 in the white. I kept it simple on this one because I wanted to let the tone speak for the instrument.

[Dan Voight]

Magnets

[Dan Voight]

trc

[Dan Voight]

peghead

[Steve Cantrell]

I like those lines, Dan. Great work.

[pjlama]

Very nice, I like the font/logo, great movement.

[Mark Walker]

Dan - looks great. #I gotta get over to that side of the mitten one of these days and meet you! (And check out your mandolins of course.) #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ellisppi]

the start of a new A-5 project, more pics with progress.

[oldwave maker]

Tom- glad to hear you're celebrating national rim week too!
Nice f holes Dan!

[sgarrity]

An Ellis A5.......I can barely contain myself!!! That is exciting news.

[buddyellis]

And a little something different from my shop.

[buddyellis]

A little dirty, but I just strung it up, and I'm loving how this one turned out.

[buddyellis]

Headstock, we've nicknamed this one 'cookie monster'

[buddyellis]

Top and side bound thanks to Bill James' celluloid, this was a breeze compared to previous attempts.

[Chris Biorkman]

the start of a new A-5 project, more pics with progress.
Can't wait to see the results. I'm sure it will be spectacular as usual.

[labraid]

Interesting variation, Buddy. The scroll tip matches the angle of the area just below the scroll, giving it a "rolling", live feel. And the accentuated top point which also matches that same angle. Very cheeky of you, and very bold looking.

Here's one I've got cooking on the side. I thought she'd look good as a white mandolin, but having second thoughts now..

[OzMando]

Love the pickguard shape and colour, very nice. If not white what sort of stain?

[labraid]

Hmmm... you got me..

Deep candied red wine perhaps?

[buddyellis]

Brian, thanks for the vote of confidence, we thought it looked like cookie monster had taken a couple of chomps out of the headstock #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #I've got an idea of reworking it a bit to be more 'flowing' with the same sort of shape, but more directly mirroring of the lower point on the body.

As for the color, yea there was an oldwave that was a merlot color. #That would be fabulous, especially with the edge treatment you do. #That wood has some GREAT silking. #What is that on the right side, the streak, just a wood oddity? #Love that grain. #Wine top, beer (blonde) back?

P.S. PM me with info on your tailpieces, cost, etc and what it would cost to do a design (you were the one that was working with casting, right?)

[MLT]

Brian,

Very nice indeed!

Although I have never been one for pick guards, I like this one. Even at this stage I can see that it adds something to the overall design.

[labraid]

I can't believe Collings nabbed my soundhole rosette idea, ha! Just saw this:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/uploads/oval-large-3.jpg

Kidding, it's more an odd coincidence... Funny too, the number of A's being made these days eh...

Buddy, re: tailpiece castings I'd be happy to help you out. I have a standard back with Gibson holes that I can weld onto your own waxes meaning you'd only need to design a top (unless you want to do both, but they'll need to be designed separately for wax repro purposes).. Send me your address and I'll send you a chunk of carving wax you can work with. Forty piastres gets you a rough casting.

MLT, I'm not used to such wide expanses of mando face any longer, especially after dabbling with classicals.. And the cytole is only 9" wide.. The full size A-model was just looking naked without the guard.. I liked this shape and went for it. Another one-off......

[ellisppi]

Here is the top carved and ready to glue on

[Austin Clark]

I thought this was a kind of a neat view....

[JEStanek]

You're right!

Jamie

[pjlama]

Tom, you're doing an A? Very cool.

[Skip Kelley]

Austin, That is a neat view! Exceptionally clean work! Nice job!!

[Dan Voight]

doing some varnish on #5

[Dan Voight]

and the front

[bradeinhorn]

nice dan,

can't wait to pick her.

[Skip Kelley]

Dan, very nice sunburst!!

[Hans]

A couple off to sanding and some other assorted necks. Gerry's Celtic special in front and a PML back. V6 neck...

[Dan Voight]

nice hans

[John Hill]

Agghh! I should have bought one of Han's mandolins back when I lived in St. Paul while I had the chance!! These pics are a sore trial but beautiful work to look at.

[amowry]

I love that headstock, Hans!

Staining week this week...

[Dan Voight]

Love that color Andrew.

[Onesound]

Love that color Andrew.
I'll second that! I can imagine that it would look equally good with a satin or gloss finish.

[Hans]

Thanks Andrew! Still drawing the redesigned body, making scroll mockups, etc. Getting close, but not quite right yet. Hoping not to have to make any changes after V6. Nice looking back!
Mn John...come to IBMA, come to IBMA... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[John Hill]

Mn John...come to IBMA, come to IBMA... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
If only I could. For those of us in the residential development industry, now is not the time to be drooling over new mandos or any other new toys.

Since I'm not quite awake & dreaming I'll take a PML, an A4c and, what the heck, a V6 just to cover all the bases.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[Hans]

V6 progress...

[Dan Voight]

Love that V6. The scroll has a very modern vibe to it.

[John Hill]

Nice.

[Troy Harris]

Carving backs…

[Troy Harris]

Scroll detail…

[Troy Harris]

...

[Chris Biorkman]

Nice work, Troy. Your pictures always look great.

[Dan Voight]

Great looking back Troy. Are you using an overhead router to remove material for the binding ledge around the scroll?

[Troy Harris]

I use a Dremel tool with down cut bits and a small base, working free hand with a level surface, before I carve the scroll.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Austin Clark]

nice work Troy, I do it very similarly except use a Foredom as I find it is lighter and easier to control the speed.

I just fretted these today.
Left to right, prototype 2pt mandola, Dennis,Corey,James,Brad,Mel,Bill.

[mandopete]

Nice line up!

[Chris Biorkman]

Austin, what's that one on the end? A two point?

[Bill Snyder]

...Left to right, prototype 2pt mandola, Dennis,Corey,James,Brad,Mel,Bill.
I believe that should answer the question. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Austin Clark]

the mandola...

[Ted Eschliman]

A dola? Oh, Grrreat...
Austin, my wife is going to hate you now!!!

[labraid]

I'm partial to that walnut sweetie... "bichin!"

[Brad Weiss]

I just fretted these today.
Left to right, prototype 2pt mandola, Dennis,Corey,James,Brad,Mel,Bill.
Huh? When did I order THAT?!!? I must have forgotten... thanks for sending it my way when you're done!

[Austin Clark]

It is actually not walnut, but Rosewood with Koa binding and Mahogany neck. It is really pretty wood, though. I can't wait to see it with finish on it!

[sunburst]

A couple of mandos fresh from the sanding machine at the mandolin building facilities here at Hamlett industries, ready for transport down to the finishing facilities and the trip through the staining machine.

[Austin Clark]

nice John, do you have a picture of that inlay? btw, great color in that veneer!

[Chris Biorkman]

Very nice, John. It's amazing how good robots are these days at woodworking.

[sunburst]

...do you have a picture of that inlay?
Check out this thread. (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=54709;st=0) There are pictures of several interesting inlays in there including a shot of this one right after sanding it down.

[JEStanek]

Those look great, John!

Jamie

[Skip Kelley]

Here's a pic of a F4 I have been working on. The back is a piece of master grade quilt I have been waiting to use for years. It is wet prior to sanding. Hope you enjoy!

[Chris Biorkman]

Looks nice, Skip.

[Hans]

Good work Skip, and the top is?

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks for the compliments! Han's, the top is a old piece of really wide grain sitka. This mandolin is probably the loudest I have made. Han's, by the way, I have always admired you work!

[Steve-o]

Here's a pic of a F4 I have been working on. The back is a piece of master grade quilt I have been waiting to use for years.
That's a gorgeous quilt, Skip. Looking forward to seeing it with stain!

[Troy Harris]

Cutting the sound holes…

[Troy Harris]

Squaring the top for the 15th fret position riser block…

[Troy Harris]

I’m ready to fit the tone bars. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Mike Black]

Troy, I always admire your clean lines! Yours and others pictures make me a little self-conscious about posting my progress pictures.

[Troy Harris]

Thank you Mike… I’d encourage you to show your work. The Café presents a wonderful opportunity to share your work, get valuable feedback, and to see the work of other builders. I continuously learn from other builders and the information that is shared on the Café.

[Skip Kelley]

Troy, your work is outstanding! Very clean!!

[ellisppi]

makin a little more progress on my new A model ready for back

[Austin Clark]

almost done scraping....

[Austin Clark]

and another...

[amowry]

Nice!

[Hans]

Big guy...the H5C progress. WV red and back (right) to be very hard red maple.

[Glassweb]

i'd say there's some ridiculously talented builders out there, and my hat's off to them all... how do you guys and gals do it?!

[Austin Clark]

That is a perfect scroll, Hans.

[Mandolusional]

Clean lines and talent are right, and a whole lot of time and hard work- beautiful stuff all around.

[Hans]

Thanks Austin...I have to redefine the scroll ridge a little as it looks too much like an F5. Here's a quick size comparison.

[Hans]

All ready to sand...

[labraid]

Rockin her ready for CMSA

[MLT]

I with I were going to be at CMSA Montreal '08! I would love to hear #57 being played by some of our members. She is going to be a beauty. Are those staves maple?

[labraid]

Well, Michael, I hope it will be at the convention myself. We're getting mighty close to still be on the bowl, but... we'll see!

It is indeed maple, here's another shot.

[MLT]

I have every faith.

I hope other members are seeing this! And those scallops--wow!

BTW--Nice Avatar too! :))

[JEStanek]

Very ship-like, Brian. Can't wait to see more of it.

Jamie

[buddyellis]

Brian, how in the heck do you carve that pattern in the back. That's GOTTA be tough to get clean.

[labraid]

Laser vision. It's how I plowed through college too. Well, that and a nicely cut rattail. File I mean, not the sweet hairstyle.

Hey'd you ever get that wax, buddy? I figure customs might've smoked it if they found it going cross border. They ate my oranges once.

[buddyellis]

Wasn't sure if you chiseled down to a certain point and then went at it with a file, or what -- alot of work either way, but oh so cool looking. Very, very fine work.

Yep I got it, just not had any building time in the last few weeks: start of semester at work == me not wanting to do much when I get home :-) I just got a couple orders in at the last festival I went to, though, so I suppose its time to get my butt back in gear.