Mandolins in progress

[GKWilson]

Lauri. When you're diving in the 'Deep Blue' going ever deeper.
Often your buddies air bubbles dance in front of your
eyes as you strain to see the first signs of the bottom of the
abyse and all her mysteries.
I think this mandolin had to be blue.
Please let us see her when she's done.
Gary

[lauri Girouard]

Thank you all for the kind words about my mando. I will post pics and a video when she is complete. As of now, she has had all of the coats of water based lacquer (KTM 9) applied and now will need to cure a bit before I can buff her out and string her up.

Steve: What you said is what I think as well and I have to tell you that I almost chickened out and went with tobacco brown, red mahogany and vintage amber stains. Then once I did it, it was so blue that I almost put her in a closet and pretended it didn't happen. But then reason set in and I decided to continue on anyway. Now with finish and the way she looks under it, I am glad I took the plunge into Gary's abyss (that was pretty cool Gary, thank you). The sound being what matters and not the color ... this mando is loud, has great tone and has an overall great sound. Though that blister maple was the toughest piece of wood that I have ever carved. When tapped and then played it was very distinctive and powerful. I am hoping whoever purchases her will play around with some jazz, rock and alternative music.

Ed: Thanks! You have been with me right along on this :)

[Chris Oliver]

Speaking of deep blue... I got a few pics of my latest while on vacation.

79901799027990379904

79900

[GKWilson]

7990579906

This is Mike Black's #11.
Strung for the first time this week.
I think it's going to be a very good New Year.
Gary

[Jill McAuley]

looking forward to seeing the end results!

Cheers,
Jill

[Jim Garber]

Speaking of deep blue... I got a few pics of my latest while on vacation.

Hey Chris: I just noticed that this is an A5 but with a shorter neck. Very unusual. What kind of bracing is inside?

[Chris Oliver]

Jim, thanks for noticing.

I wanted to see how moving the bridge back to the fat spot of the mandolin would affect the tone. I kept the near parallel bracing and profile like an A2 (I did carve the top to accommodate the shifted bridge). I used a 13 7/8" scale and, of course, f holes instead of an oval.

I did this for two mandolins. This one has a Sitka top and the other, which should be complete after the holidays, has a Lutz spruce top.

[Keith Newell]

Wow there are a lot of nice looking mandolins being made. Here is a blacktop (face not shown yet) with natural color body gonna be shipped out soon.
Keith79917

[oldwave maker]

Astronomers have recently discovered more earth sized planets outside our solar system, wondering if they have life forms that exhibit chatoyance when made into mandolins and sealed with shellac.......

[Chris Oliver]

Astronomers have recently discovered more earth sized planets outside our solar system, wondering if they have life forms that exhibit chatoyance when made into mandolins and sealed with shellac.......

You darn well know there is. The biggest barrier is knowing how to interpret the alien law... Lacey Act and all.

[imleath]

You darn well know there is. The biggest barrier is knowing how to interpret the alien law... Lacey Act and all.

I think it'd be way cooler of the planet was just covered in a massive ancient forest. I'd hate to hear Gibson got raided by aliens to recover illegally imported alien fretboard blanks(or whatever it was they got in trouble for here on earth). Seriously though, I bet if there's trees out there anywhere there's some pretty cool woods.

[lauri Girouard]

My mandolin looks like it may be from another planet with some new alien wood for the back.... Thats ok with me though. My first build is complete.



80026800278002880029800308003180032

[John Hill]

Alright...anyone else have to google "chatoyance" but me?

[Chris Oliver]

Luari,
Wow. Pandoran.
Chris

[Ed Goist]

Lauri:
Striking...Fantastic...Congratulations!

[buckhorn]

looks cool.....I want to try that in pink for my granddaughter....

[GKWilson]

My granddaughter plays a purple fiddle.
Lauri, someones going to love playing that little beauty.
Very unique and classy.
Gary

[Don Grieser]

Anyone else notice all those backs in the white in Chatoyance Wave's post. Woah.

Lauri: I fear that's made with unobtanium.

[Steevarino]

We took a bit of a "Traveler Holiday" here at the RedLine shop during a major portion of 2011, while we further developed our line of acoustic guitars and resophonic guitars, and moving into our bigger and better shop space. I thought about not making them anymore, but customers kept asking for them, even when we weren't building them. So, now that we have more space, and an awesome apprentice added to the team, we are back to making the intrepid RedLine Travelers.

Here's a shot of a few recent builds. The one in the front has its back made from a book-matched section of Claro Walnut. We have nicknamed this one "The Shroud of Turin", because if you look just right, you can see a face, sort of...

80043

[Steevarino]

Oops! Sorry about that second picture. I grabbed the wrong picture at first, tried to edit it out, but it's still there. Oh well, that was one I took for our Facebook page. Deck the Halls, and all that...

[Carleton Page]

Congrats Laurie! Looks great!
Carleton

[Charles E.]

Laurie, that is beautiful. I am curious about the carved ridge (ripple?) in the top, below the fingerboard. Is that for acustic reasons? Or is it part of the aquatic theme? Either way it is nicely done!

[lauri Girouard]

Laurie, that is beautiful. I am curious about the carved ridge (ripple?) in the top, below the fingerboard. Is that for acustic reasons? Or is it part of the aquatic theme? Either way it is nicely done!


Thank you all. That is the recurve. It was an experiment to have the recurve go all the way around.

[lauri Girouard]

Congrats Laurie! Looks great!
Carleton


Thanks Carleton! Happy Holiday to you and your family.

[fatt-dad]

Love the blue mandolin!!

Really want to try an Old Wave oval one day too. Nice photo!!

I also would love to play one of the Redline pancakes. I get a lot of play on my pancake and really hope that these Redlines live up to the Flatiron performance.

What a fun thread!

f-d

[Jim Hilburn]

Hopefully won't be too long now.

[killerstiver]

Wow some very impressive cosmetics! Now how about the sound? Any clips?

[Markkunkel]

Wow there are a lot of nice looking mandolins being made. Here is a blacktop (face not shown yet) with natural color body gonna be shipped out soon.
Keith79917

Oh boy oh boy oh boy... looks VERY nice, Keith.

Mark

[Steve Sorensen]

Two-point headstock in progress.

80681

Steve

[Ed Goist]

Steve, Love that design! Very cool.

[JEStanek]

Great looking inlay as well, Steve.

Jamie

[oldwave maker]

Likker and lakker may kill the tone of a fiddle, but the latter sure makes a mando beer proof in a hurry......

[Doug Edwards]

My, my such great artistry going on here. Here's my humble offering in the white. Quite pleased with the tone. It's only been strung up a few hours before this MP3 (http://hillcountrystringworks.com/media/armadillowh5.mp3) was made.

8071880719

[George R. Lane]

Doug,
You are doing some mighty fine work. What color is this one going to be?

[Doug Edwards]

The customer wants a deep cherry burst. I'll be starting my first F5 very soon, a red spruce and KOA,

[GKWilson]

Steve. That headstock and inlay are beautiful. Modern Art Deco. I like.
Doug. That's going to be one purdy mando. Who made the armrest and pick guard? :grin:
Gary

[Jim Hilburn]

Getting the finish on.

[Steve Sorensen]

Jim,
That maple makes my heart skip a beat. Sure love seeing the Tiger come out!
Steve

[GKWilson]

Someones going to be very happy Jim.
Gary

[Jill McAuley]

Absolutely gorgeous, Jim!

Cheers,
Jill

[Max Girouard]

Jim that is really nice!!

I'm final sanding an A5 with a nice one piece back that shows some really great figuring.

80896

[Ben Milne]

Stunning page this 232. Great work all

[Jim Hilburn]

Is one more OK?
Final coats today. (this one is lacquer by the way)
I have a very nice Sata HVLP and you can see the way it lays down finish. At 25 # it shoots tiny gobs instead of a highly atomized mist. Just a little sanding will level it to a smooth surface.

[Chris Rogers]

811828118381184Just finished #1, enjoying playing some tone into it before a making some final adjustments.8118081181

[Max Girouard]

Chris looks great for your #1

Also, Jim that is just about as good as it gets!

Here is an A5 I have in finishing, probably one or two more coats of spirit varnish before the French polish top coat goes on...........

[Max Girouard]

Also here is an inlay of a Mayfly I just did that is going on an F5...........

81188

[Doug Edwards]

Love it Max. Ever try a dry fly?

[kkmm]

I feel very humble with all the beautifully made mandolines here.
Here is mine (I am assembling from a F-style kit), still in progress

8125481255

These photos were taken yesterday after I installed hardware (tuners, tail piece) on it.
The woods are still natural, not stained yet.

[Ed Goist]

That's a kit?!
Looks beautiful! Great job.
I love the look of those tonewoods - I think I'd go natural finish all the way!
Please continue to post in progress pics...I look forward to watching this one come to life.

[kkmm]

I am thinking going for a natural finish too, at least for the sides and the back. The top would use light color finish.
This kit only requires me to glue the neck to the body, install hardware, apply finish, then do the proper setup before playing. It took me only two evenings from the kit to get to this form (not counting days of searching for information on how to do things right).
That's why I feel humble compare to others who went thru very elaborate works to get to the final results. My next project will be a kit where I have to do most of the work up front.

[Max Girouard]

Love it Max. Ever try a dry fly?

Hi Doug, never tried inlaying a dry fly. I know Andrew Mowry has inlayed one into the back of one of his peg heads that was off the charts!!!!! I can't seem to find the picture. Andrew, if your reading this, can you post a photo of that inlay?

[GKWilson]

81270

[Steve Sorensen]

Impressive little inlay.

Steve

[Tavy]

81270

That gets me, hook, line and sinker ;)

[Doug Edwards]

I tried to do a simular fly inlay but could never get it to look right. Still thinking about giving it another shot.

[oldwave maker]

John, Zack, Dan, enjoy. Waiting on tailpieces. All engelmann spruce tops, turpentine wipe to show genetic warp/viral weft of backs.....

[labraid]

Been a while, the shop has been in much transformation over the last year.. Here's the new workbench, with chisels never far away. This is iteration 2.3. I'm looking forward to 3.0.

http://www.labraid.ca/posts/new-chisel-rest.jpg

Here's a shot of the slots for the latest mandolin being pared over the oak register.

http://www.labraid.ca/posts/paring-the-slots.jpg

The brunt of the material is first roughed out with the scroll saw. I always go at a skew angle to the grain for a nice clean cut, and only hair's thickness at a time.

I'm looking forward this Summer to completing the insulation of the shop and removing the ceiling attached to the lower bouts of the a-frame trusses, for a grand cathedral ceiling and storage above. The walls are in rough shape only for a little while longer now...

[Max Girouard]

The wife got an action shot of me French polishing an A5. Almost ready!!

[Kip Carter]

Purdy!
Kip...

[Jim Hilburn]

Very close now.

[testore]

Wow Jim, that looks yummy. More shots?

[oldwave maker]

Curing shot of those scrolly items above, with Kendra's quilty au naturelle, thanks again to Spruce, who cuts a fine figure!

[Jim Garber]

I like those two eyeballs on the au naturelle one.

[Mando Tristan]

I agree, beautiful work guys! Love to see anymore picture people have of their projects.

[Max Girouard]

This is a nice back! Finish is KTM-SV. Learning how to get the best settings from my new HVLP gun has proven to be a challenge. Lots of level sanding tomorrow.

[JEStanek]

Great looking back (and color), Max.

Jamie

PS, I'm so reluctant to post in this thread for fear of omitting some praise. Everything looks so good.

[Mike Black]

Had a little side bending party tonight!

[Tavy]

Had a little side bending party tonight!

I think you need some more clamps ;)

Seriously.... like Jamie, it's hard to know what to say on this thread, so much amazing stuff here. Max: that back looks pretty level as it is!

[Steve Sorensen]

Max,
Looks like you've found a new finish!
Steve

[Mike Black]

What's with the new thread title Steve?

[Steve Sorensen]

Doh!

Was sending a note to Scott about a site issue I was having. Accidentally pasted into this string. Couldn't figure out how to change the title . . . Should be fixed now.

Sorry,
Steve

[labraid]

Eileen's classical German mandolin. Ready to clean up the outside of the bowl now...

82108

82107

[brunello97]

Eileen's classical German mandolin. Ready to clean up the outside of the bowl now...

Great photos! I dig the facets carved into the neck-block to match the bowl-stave geometry. Sharp work..

Mick

[Steve Sorensen]

Three backs --
82117

Three fronts --
82118

From top to bottom - Sprite Two-Point with Red Spruce top, F8 with old one piece Sitka Spruce top, and Pacifica with bearclaw Sitka Spruce top. All have maple backs and sides and necks.

Ready for last looks and finishing.

Steve

[labraid]

Thanks much, Mick.

Elegant twists there, Steve. Ah, and some ebonized curly maple I see there too, nice.

[Elkhorn1]

82157821588215982160 Here's the latest Elkhorn ready for varnish and french polish. Koa with a western red cedar one piece top. The combination makes for a deep rich tone. Enjoy!

[Trey Young]

Great looking and killer sounding, very nice Robb!

[billhay4]

Nice, Robb.
Bill

[Ed Goist]

Jamie has it right...Everything posted here is gorgeous!
I just want to go on record that I am very impressed by all of the beautiful instruments being showcased in this thread.
They are all stunning!
Hats off to all of the remarkable builders here on the Cafe!

[usqebach]

Robb,

Love the figure in the Koa, and the beautiful peghead inlay!

Will it keep the natural color, or will you stain it?

jim

[Elkhorn1]

Hey Jim, It's going to be a natural finish. Here's a picture of the backboard with just a light coat of french polish I applied just after I got done carving it. I just had to see what it was going to look like. 8217382174

[Skip Kelley]

There is some incredible looking work on this thread! Brother Robb, I love that koa mandolin! That is some kind of sweet!!!

[j. condino]

Beautiful work Rob. I've been wanting to build a koa mandolin for several years....

j.
www.condino.com

coming soon:
www.blueridgeschooloflutherie.com

[Max Girouard]

Great koa back!

Speaking of koa, this is my first time working with it and wood binding in general.

[Mando Tristan]

Thought I would post a few pictures of my templates so far. I'm planning on at least starting the neck today. 82329 A practice block made of 3/4" yellow pine. The real one will be a solid piece of Mahogany. 82330 The template for the soundboard. I opted to use some 1/8" hardboard I had on hand to make the templates and make a separate template for the back, instead of the single template as describe by Roger Siminoff.82331 The piece of hard maple for the neck is in the top right corner of this shot.
-Tristan

[Steve Sorensen]

Can't wait to see how this maple finishes. Amazing depth of curl --
82384
This week!

Steve

[oldwave maker]

A style mandos ripening in the late winter sun, companion planting with lettuce and arugula helps with the weedy sound, and they'll be ready to pick way before the garlic can spice them up.....

[oldwave maker]

errr, woody sound

[Mike Black]

Bill, you almost have too much fun. Better keep it up! :)

[Steve Sorensen]

Bill,

I'm sure that you, like me, must really enjoy the benefits of a being in a warm mando growing region.

Nice to be able to harvest the first A-styles by mid-February and see fully developed scrolls by the time mandos are just starting to bud-out in colder regions.

82457

It is so warm this year, I'm thinking I might have a two-point harvest before the end of the month!

Steve

[Bill Snyder]

I want to know where I can purchase some of those seeds. :)

[Jim Hilburn]

Back to the beginning.
Here's my fret slot method. Never have had a table saw so this seemed to make sense.
Makita used to make this 7 1/2" miter slider. I think the only way you can get it now is as a battery pack model. But with Stew-Mac's ground down 6 " blade, a table with a pin and fences, and a notched template it works pretty well. It has a depth of cut adjustment that makes it easy to get the slots just right. I made the octave template out of pickguard material.

[Doug Edwards]

Got'r done. One of my Armadillo A5's going to California.
Did a quick MP3 (http://hillcountrystringworks.com/media/armadillo5.mp3) with Thomastik lights &, Red Bear Tri-tip hvy. More photos here (http://hillcountrystringworks.com/armadillo5.html)

82523

[Jritter3]

Had a little side bending party tonight!


Love the sketch of David Grisman in the corner! classic garcia sketch.

[Bill Snyder]

Doug, what did you use for the black nut on the Armadillo?

[Doug Edwards]

Composit Graphite I believe. I obtained some replacement saddles and nuts used on the CA guitars (Composit Acoustics) when the closed up shop. I used one of the nuts on and acoustic guitar and liked it.

[Stanley Cox]

Hey Doug, You better bring one of them there "Amarillos" :grin: up here to Argyle
in a couple of weeks. I hear there might be a mandolin player or two here.

Stanley ~o)
PS that Armadillo looks good>

[Steve Sorensen]

Playing with some colors other than brown . . .

82656

Steve

[amowry]

Nice colors Steve!

Here's some work on an octave.

[labraid]

Awesome work, Andrew.

[Pete Counter]

Playing with some colors other than brown . . .

82656

Steve

Love the green....LOVE the green!

[labraid]

Mandolin in Progress:

82898

Bud the Spud, from the Bright Red Mud:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAotMU8BmZI

:cool:

[billhay4]

Ah, Brian, you've become fully Canadian! Congratulations.
Beautiful bowlback, by the way.
Bill

[labraid]

Thanks Bill! Got the papers to prove it. :)

Here's another that's just gotten underway.. They start out rough....

82949

[billhay4]

"They start out rough...." and end up superb.
Bill

[Steve Sorensen]

Just a little peek for the Mandos In Progress crew -- Bearclaw Sitka ready for French Polish.

83013

Steve

[Mike Black]

I like the green fingerboard :grin:

[amowry]

Sweet! Cool soundholes too.

[Jared Heddinger]

Bill,

I'm sure that you, like me, must really enjoy the benefits of a being in a warm mando growing region.

Nice to be able to harvest the first A-styles by mid-February and see fully developed scrolls by the time mandos are just starting to bud-out in colder regions.

82457

It is so warm this year, I'm thinking I might have a two-point harvest before the end of the month!

Steve

Who said money...err mandolins don’t grow on trees?

[Steve Sorensen]

Mike - my guess is the ebony in the fingerboard will ripen to a nice deep brown just about the same time I finish French Polishing!

Jhedd - I realized some years after planting it that Mandolin Trees are a very different Genus and Species from the Money Tree. Mandolin Trees seem to be most closely related to Happiness Trees - which can benefit from cash fertilization but will thrive in very tough situations where Money Trees would wither.

Steve

[Ribak]

Just a little peek for the Mandos In Progress crew -- Bearclaw Sitka ready for French Polish.

83013

Steve

I lurk more than I post but I have to say that is beautiful.

[Bill Snyder]

Steven S., that bearclaw in that Ocean burst gives the illusion of waves. Aptly named.

[Kip Carter]

Just a little peek for the Mandos In Progress crew -- Bearclaw Sitka ready for French Polish.

83013

Steve

Steve, ah.. is this one sold? This Irishman is in a total state of lust!!!!
Kip...

[Jake Wildwood]

Thanks Bill! Got the papers to prove it. :)

Here's another that's just gotten underway.. They start out rough....

82949

Is this going to be a "regular" bowlback with fluted ribs or is this one somehow special (dumb q, considering your work)? The bowl looks wider and shallower than norm to me.

[Steve Sorensen]

Why maple sometimes makes my hear skip a beat --

83064

Just finished scraping the bindings after sealing up the 'burst.

Steve

[usqebach]

Steve,

Wow!

Love the offset two-point.

Any chance of a frontal shot to complete the visual?

Thanks!

jim

[buckhorn]

831038310283101 here are the next three that i have been working on this winter..one is a custom for a friend that wanted a wider body for more bass... the A style is my first effort and am very happy with the outcome...i have made six more rims and am going to try a different type neck joint ....keith

[oldwave maker]

Great stuff here, a fine job, boys and girls! Once upon a time I got into a 12 step program to break my addiction to staring at stained curly maple mandolin backs, but when I looked down, even the stair treads were figured.........partial cure was to only look at fronts, like the chocolate and butterscotch about to leave home:

[Steve Sorensen]

Steve,

Wow!

Love the offset two-point.

Any chance of a frontal shot to complete the visual?

Thanks!

jim

Jim,

Here's the flipside.

83105

Steve

[Jill McAuley]

Great stuff here, a fine job, boys and girls! Once upon a time I got into a 12 step program to break my addiction to staring at stained curly maple mandolin backs, but when I looked down, even the stair treads were figured.........partial cure was to only look at fronts, like the chocolate and butterscotch about to leave home:

Absolutely gorgeous them two! Drooling here!

Cheers,
Jill

[Jim Hilburn]

So I said to myself...how hard could it be?
Then I found out.

[Max Girouard]

Nice inlay Jim!

Had a form made up for binding those pesky pegheads. I have to use a heat gun to get the binding in the slots in the upper left hand and lower right hand corner, but the rest is just pushed in. Pop it in the oven at 150 degrees for 20 minutes, and then push out the bindings via little holes drilled on the other side. No more fighting binding into place, it retains the correct shape. I wish I could say this was my idea, but I stole it from Don MacRostie, he make something similar which I saw on another site. This is a prototype, once I try it a few times, I'll have another made to correct any issues.

[Jill McAuley]

So I said to myself...how hard could it be?
Then I found out.

Oh, very nice indeed!

Cheers,
Jill

[labraid]

Haha, "face"!

Beautiful inlay, Jim. That's all handcut and assembled! Which is saying something in this day and age. Precision workmanship.

Jake, the form you see is indeed a new instrument. It was conceived specially for a client, and will be quite a bit bigger than the average mandolino. You might think of it as more akin to a lute, in fact.

[Jake Wildwood]

Haha, "face"!

Beautiful inlay, Jim. That's all handcut and assembled! Which is saying something in this day and age. Precision workmanship.

Jake, the form you see is indeed a new instrument. It was conceived specially for a client, and will be quite a bit bigger than the average mandolino. You might think of it as more akin to a lute, in fact.

RE Jim's inlay -- I was thinking just the same thing.

RE your bowl -- can't wait to see more. I thought something was up. :)

[Jim Hilburn]

Just to be clear there was no assembly needed. It's all one piece of pearl but it did require drilling 15 holes.

[Max Girouard]

Just to be clear there was no assembly needed. It's all one piece of pearl but it did require drilling 15 holes.

That makes it even more impressive!! How many hours did that take?

[amowry]

I think that's the right way to do it, Jim-- I've tried doing those knots both ways, and getting all the little parts lined up again (not to mention keeping track of them) is a challenge.

[Jim Hilburn]

I would have never contemplated tring to do individual pieces and put it together. That would be crazy.
Those 1/32" carbide cutters Stew-Mac sells go right through the pearl so you do have to thread the blade through all of them but the cutting goes pretty quick. I had it all cut out in about 1 1/2 hrs. But then you scrape off the paper template and see how much filing you need to do to get it to look right. And getting into the little spaces isn't too easy.
Then to get the cross-over look you have to engrave those lines and that's still something I'm trying to master.

[maj34]

Gotta love those Old Wave F4s!

Bill: Do you use the old Gibson-style brace or X-bracing on your oval-hole Fs?

[GKWilson]

Jim. That inlay is very nice. But, does KNOT look easy to do.
Ole W. The butterscotch and chocolate look yummy.
Steve. Your green Pacifica is very cool.
But, the Sprite is awesome. I must resist...... I must resist.......
Gary

[kyken]

Jim. That inlay is very nice. But, does KNOT look easy to do.
Ole W. The butterscotch and chocolate look yummy.
Steve. Your green Pacifica is very cool.
But, the Sprite is awesome. I must resist...... I must resist.......
Gary

Here's a Fantasma I'm working on.

[Max Girouard]

First time binding a headstock with wood bindings. I got these from stewmac. I was afraid it would be much more difficult than regular plastic binding, but actually wasn't that bad. The photo of the side is washed out due to the flash, which is hiding the nice curl on the maple.

[Toycona]

Me likey!

[Jim Hilburn]

Inlay cutting time.

[Steve-o]

Here's a Fantasma I'm working on.

Looks like you caught a tiger by the tail, Ken. Nice.

[Steve Sorensen]

Jim,

I'm worrying about the MOP dust heading towards your lungs with that fan. Here is a stand design (I think I copied from Larry Robinson) with a built-in hookup to the shop vac. Uses 2" sewer line curves. One of the few good uses I've found for Gorilla Glue -- stuck the pipe halves to the wood and foamed up to seal the cracks quite nicely.

8325783258

Works great -- most of the dust gets sucked away, but the MOP doesn't (usually). Also lifts the work level up so cutting it is a little more comfortable.


Steve

[Jim Hilburn]

I'm not.

[wwwilkie]

832608326183262
This is an unusual one for me. My customer hand picked the wood herself.

[pjlama]

Jim,

Here's the flipside.

83105

Steve

Wow, wow, wow!

[Toycona]

The inlay is beautiful, as is the quilting, but the asymmetrical sound holes are super cool. Any effect on tone with that? Would you characterized the tone in any genre (jazzy, etc.)?

[GKWilson]

Wowser Wyatt. She ought to love that.
This is why I always check this thread.
The builders on these pages not only build fine instruments,
but beautiful works of art.
Gary

[Bill Snyder]

The inlay is beautiful, as is the quilting, but the asymmetrical sound holes are super cool. Any effect on tone with that? Would you characterized the tone in any genre (jazzy, etc.)?

They look symmetrical to me.

[Toycona]

Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or are the sound holes not shaped alike?

[wwwilkie]

Thanks! The soundholes are symmetrical, just a shadow in the photo.

[Toycona]

Well, I'm sure it's really, really beautiful in one's hand. I really like the inlay!

[Bill Snyder]

Toycona, if you click on the thumbnail it brings up a larger photo that clearly shows the shape of the soundholes.

[Steve Sorensen]

83664

Steve

[Tavy]

83664

Steve

Gulp!

[Andy Miller]

83664

Steve

Wow. A great piece of wood has met just the right finisher, that is off the hook!

[Kip Carter]

83664

Steve

Simply breath taking!
Kip...

[Randi Gormley]

wow. And again, wow.

[oldwave maker]

'There's more pretty backs than one,
More pretty backs than one,
Any old thread that I ramble all around,
There's more pretty backs than one'
Great inspiration here, all y'all!

[Chip Booth]

Here are a couple that have just finished being french polished by Lawrence Smart. There is an F style 'cello in this batch also. I plan to try to take pictures of the finished instruments next week. It looks like the F 'dola is going to be up for grabs!

[Steevarino]

Here's a shot of seven of our RedLine Traveler mandolins in various stages of having the finish applied to them. Various wood species and types in this grouping.

[Marc Berman]

Here are a couple that have just finished being french polished by Lawrence Smart. There is an F style 'cello in this batch also. I plan to try to take pictures of the finished instruments next week. It looks like the F 'dola is going to be up for grabs!

Hey Chip,
How's it going? I bought my lottery ticket today. Who knows, I might be calling Lawrence about that dola :grin: Can't wait to see the group shot.

[Charles E.]

Here's a shot of seven of our RedLine Traveler mandolins in various stages of having the finish applied to them. Various wood species and types in this grouping.

Steve, is the second from the right Poplar? Nice looking group!

[Steve Sorensen]

Pleased with the way this is going --

84250

Steve

[billhay4]

"Pleased with the way this is going --"
As well you should be.
Bill

[Jim Hilburn]

here we go again.

[sunburst]

Thought I'd better grab a snap shot of this black top, after buffing and before I get a chance to scratch it up! (Just ignore the dust specks...)

[Ed Goist]

John...Gorgeous!
How can one not love a blacktop?! :grin:

[Mike Black]

Thought I'd better grab a snap shot of this black top, after buffing and before I get a chance to scratch is up! (Just ignore the dust specks...)

NICE!!! :grin:

I've got one coming up hoping to look like that.

[Max Girouard]

Awesome John!

For some reason, dust is attracted to black tops along with fingerprints :)

[lauri Girouard]

Hi John, That is incredible! I can't tell if it is a mandolin top or a warp in the space time continuum. I love it.

Here is a photo of one of our latest. We have been using the finish schedule from Rolfe at Phoenix mandolins using KTM-SV.

[sunburst]

That used to be my measure of buffing progress; when I could clearly read the wattage of the light bulb, I was done buffing. (I see yours is a GE, but I can't quite see the wattage in the image on my monitor.) I've got compact fluorescents in all my shop lights now, so...
The black is something else! It is so reflective that sometimes my eyes have trouble distinguishing the surface from the reflection, and though any slight scratch left behind shows up like a neon sign, sometimes I have to stare at the same place until my eyes find the surface!

[Tavy]

Thought I'd better grab a snap shot of this black top, after buffing and before I get a chance to scratch it up! (Just ignore the dust specks...)

John that's amazing! Great work... pity it won't last like that! :mandosmiley:

[Steve Sorensen]

A Sprite Two-Point ready to take flight.

8440584409844068440784408

Simply a joy to build at every step along the way. Next one is a curly redhead. . .

Steve

[Ed Goist]

Beautiful, beautiful work Steve!
I love your peghead design, and that inlay is killer!

[Kip Carter]

Breath taking Steve! Just breath taking!
Kip...

[Bob Bronow]

Beautiful Steve!

[pfox14]

Beautiful work. Suck a fine line up of custom mandos. Bravo

[Mark Seale]

Beautifully done Steve. What do you reinforce the neck with if no adjustable truss rod?

[Max Girouard]

Decided to rework the graduations on #16, so I'm calling it 16.1 Lauri is doing all the re-finishing.

[Max Girouard]

Stringing this one up in the white next week!

[Ed Goist]

Max;
That's a gorgeous back on that A-style! Also, the stain and finish are spectacular! Congratulate Lauri for me.
I also really like the custom A-style in the white. Very cool custom peghead shape, and I like the slope to those shoulders. Oh, and those block inlays are sweet!
Impressive work.

[oldwave maker]

Can't quite figure out how all this garlic came up in the mandopatch, hope it doesn't affect the flavor. Here at Gopher Broke Farms we used to plant half a ton of California early white and never even got an F5 to germinate in the field........

[Steve Sorensen]

Love that shot, Bill! I'll bet the light rainfall this year will get you some real dry-woody choppin' come harvest time.

Steve

[tree]

How tall is that deer fence? Does it keep them out of your garlic, or are those scare-mandos?

Looking great, mine looks almost like that except there isn't nearly so much of it.

[Bob Bronow]

Can't quite figure out how all this garlic came up in the mandopatch, hope it doesn't affect the flavor. Here at Gopher Broke Farms we used to plant half a ton of California early white and never even got an F5 to germinate in the field........

Wow, rarely do you get to see them growing in the wild!

[fatt-dad]

The full-frontal photo is a bit blurry, but my Cohen is complete and I love it. I think somewhere in this thread there are pictures of his wacky braces and the plates in their "just-carved" stage. It's walnut and redwood. I asked Dave for the worm-under tuners and he drilled the peghead for the "restoration tuners" from stew-mac. Here's the finished product.

84583

84584

84585

84586

84587

84588

f-d

[JEStanek]

Congrats, Fatt-Dad. That is a really good looking mandolin. I really love the colors (I know I would like the tone - love walnut instruments) and the headstock fleur di lies is a great take on the design.

Jamie

[Dan Voight]

Here is my first batch of work from Nashville, TN. Numbers 10-13. Two F styles, a new 3 point design, and an A.

846208462184622846238462484625846268462784628

[Jim Hilburn]

You haven't had fun till you do this.

[Bill Clements]

Awesome mando, f-d.
You've got a beautiful instrument destined to be an heirloom!

[Mike Black]

You haven't had fun till you do this.

Jim, That's too much fun for me. :) Great job!

[Jim Hilburn]

I posted the pic of a bound F-hole but sticking with the "in progress' theme, here's one in the middle of the process.

[Steve-o]

Here is my first batch of work from Nashville, TN. Numbers 10-13. Two F styles, a new 3 point design, and an A.


Dan, nice to see you back in the shop creating. Looking forward to more build pics. Hope you get a boost to your career down in Nashville, but also hope you remember your roots and root for the Red Wings in Round 1 over the Predators!

[lauri Girouard]

That used to be my measure of buffing progress; when I could clearly read the wattage of the light bulb, I was done buffing. (I see yours is a GE, but I can't quite see the wattage in the image on my monitor.) I've got compact fluorescents in all my shop lights now, so...
The black is something else! It is so reflective that sometimes my eyes have trouble distinguishing the surface from the reflection, and though any slight scratch left behind shows up like a neon sign, sometimes I have to stare at the same place until my eyes find the surface!

This mando you can see that it is indeed a 40 Watt bulb. I should change it to a compact florescent soon. The next one I have lined up for finishing is going to be a custom A style black top. Cant wait to see the reflections!

84897

[Jim Garber]

Here is my first batch of work from Nashville, TN. Numbers 10-13. Two F styles, a new 3 point design, and an A.

I don't see any 3 point mandolin -- am I missing something?

[Tom C]

I don't see any 3 point mandolin -- am I missing something?

Yes, the left pic in middle row.

[Jim Garber]

Yes, the left pic in middle row.

Huh? Looks like 2 std f shaped tops to me.


Here is my first batch of work from Nashville, TN. Numbers 10-13. Two F styles, a new 3 point design, and an A.

84623

[Steve Sorensen]

"Ocean 'Burst" finished.

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84930
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84928

Love the result on the Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top.

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Wow to all the great work posted recently! Steven, I love your Ocean Burst! Everything about that mandolin is awesome!

[Bill Snyder]

With the bearclaw figure and the bluish green tint that top does look like an ocean pool with the light reflecting off of it.

[Gregory Tidwell]

"Ocean 'Burst" finished.

84931
84930
84929
84928

Love the result on the Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top.

Steve

Ordinarially I am not a fan of non-traditional finishes on traditional instruments, but this one kind of takes my breath away. I really love the way this looks. I think you have done a fantastic job expressing your themes with every single part of this mando.

[Bob Bronow]

"Ocean 'Burst" finished.

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84930
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Love the result on the Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top.

Steve

Oh yeah, and it sounds as good as it looks! I know, I've played it!

[Steve Sorensen]

Thanks, guys!

Steve

[Jared Heddinger]

Something about blue and/or green mandolins gets me every time!

That one really reminds me of the ocean.

[Max Girouard]

Excellent work Steve!! Love that bear claw.

Here is a tourture device I've been meaning to make for a while to sand that impossible to sand spot between the scroll when getting the rim and maple cap block true for neck fitting.

[Max Girouard]

Also, here is a shot of us pore filling flammed Koa bindings. Not sure if it was necessary to pore fill, but figured it couldn't hurt!

[Mando Tristan]

My first mando is underway! All I've got so far is the neck, which is just plain ole hard maple.
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[Steve Sorensen]

For some reason, this shot I grabbed right after stringing up Bob B's mando explains why I love making these things.

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Steve

[Ben Milne]

Love those hooked F-holes, Steve. Does the mandolin have an open scroll?

[Kip Carter]

For some reason, this shot I grabbed right after stringing up Bob B's mando explains why I love making these things.

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Steve

Steve,
Your mandolins are nothing short of works of art. Again a beautiful instrument. One of these days i'm gonna find the budget to own one of these beauties. Just breathtaking.

Kip...

[Steve Sorensen]

Ben,
Here's the whole mandolin -

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Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Max, nice looking binding! That mandolin is going to look great!!!

Steven, your sound holes really compliment the lines of your mandolins!!

[GarY Nava]

Hi Guys, here's the next one- cocobolo back & sides with a red spruce top and a cocobolo rosette.
Tomorrow I route!
Cheers Gary.

http://www.navaguitars.co.uk/mandolins.html

[Max Girouard]

Nice Cocobolo on that one Gary!

[Max Girouard]

Buffing this one out today......

A little bear claw in the grass, or what should be grass and not weeds.

[Ed Goist]

Steve, beautiful and unique design executed wonderfully!
Magnificent back and sides, Gary!
Max, that is beautiful! I love the contrast between the top and the Ebony of the fretboard and peghead overlay. Really nice.
This thread continues to be very dangerous territory for those of us particularly susceptible to MAS and its related afflictions. :)
Keep up the great work all!

[crazymandolinist]

That two point is up my alley. Inspires me to start building again rather than messing about.

[Max Girouard]

Just got this one strung up yesterday. Just a few more tweaks on the setup and she is done! Modeled after the Ms. Griffith A5, but on the red side.

[Steve-o]

That A is a real beauty Max. I'd love to play it or hear it.

[Dan Voight]

I don't see any 3 point mandolin -- am I missing something?

The pics of the 3 point are on their way soon.

[Charles E.]

Hi Guys, here's the next one- cocobolo back & sides with a red spruce top and a cocobolo rosette.
Tomorrow I route!
Cheers Gary.

http://www.navaguitars.co.uk/mandolins.html

That looks really nice. I am looking forward to seeing what binding you install and what the headstock design will be.

[Ben Milne]

Ben,
Here's the whole mandolin -

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Steve
Looking good Steve... I'm impartial to well executed open scrolls and those hooked ff holes compliment it nicely.

[Max Girouard]

I hope I'm not posting too much! Just doing my part to make this one of the longest threads on the forum! We just stained an A5 that features a black top, bursty sides back and neck and flammed Koa wood bindings. This one will be going to a repeat customer as his 4th order! These photos were taken after a couple of coats of shellac where applied as a sealer. The plan is to get it into finishing tomorrow, as long as I can figure out how to replace the bad bearings in my spray booth.

[Ed Goist]

Gorgeous Max!
The contrast between the top/binding/rim is spectacular (especially as seen in pics 5 & 6).

[billhay4]

Lovely, instrument, Max.
Bill

[HoGo]

That's mighty cool Max! I made few with flamed maple bindings and it is major PITA to keep the color away from the binding. I wonder how did you aproach this... sealed with lacquer or masked, or both? Or color in the finish?

[Max Girouard]

That's mighty cool Max! I made few with flamed maple bindings and it is major PITA to keep the color away from the binding. I wonder how did you aproach this... sealed with lacquer or masked, or both? Or color in the finish?

Hi Adrian, you are right, major PITA.

First we did a pore fill on the koa bindings as they had large pores. Then Lauri masked off the whole instument and painted shellac onto the bindings. I think she did three coats. Then she took all the tape off and stained by hand as usual. Unfortuanatly everywhere the pore fill (z poxy) touched maple, it also seeped into the wood rejecting the stain. So out came the air brush with some dyed shellac, and that fixed the problem. Next time I don't think we will use the epoxy pore fill and just brush on a heavy cut of shellac. Once the staining was done, we scraped with a razor blade to reveal the bindings again. Then we seal coated the instrument with a few coats of pure shellac. It was our first time with wood bindings so we learned a lot from this experience.

[Arnt]

Here's a couple that is about done; a big leaf / sitka A-style, with cocobolo fingboard and appointments

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...and a red maple / red spruce F-style

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[Arnt]

Strung up in the white, to do the final work on the f-holes, neck etc

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[Bill Snyder]

Nice Arnt.

[Steve Sorensen]

Arnt,

Looking forward to seeing that pair with finish -- very nice work.

Steve

[Max Girouard]

Great work Arnt! Can't wait to see the finished results!

Here is an inlay I'm doing for one of my current customers. Seems there has been a lot of requests lately for fishing related inlays, first the mayfly, now the trout...........

[Dan Voight]

more progress

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[Keith Newell]

I'll get some pictures of the octave strung up in the next few days. I'm having to much fun playing around and tweaking the action in now.[/I]858608586185862

[Kip Carter]

I'll get some pictures of the octave strung up in the next few days. I'm having to much fun playing around and tweaking the action in now.[/I]858608586185862

Impressive piece of work!
Kip....

[Max Girouard]

Keith!!

That looks amazing! Can't wait to see it strung up! Will you have any sound clips?

[Chris Oliver]

Just got this one strung up yesterday. Just a few more tweaks on the setup and she is done! Modeled after the Ms. Griffith A5, but on the red side.

Max, beautiful mandolin. I really like the 'red side'. Which features of yours are based on the Ms. Griffith's A5?

[Mando Tristan]

Wow Keith, that cool! I never realized how big an octave mando was until now. So I'm doubly impressed.
-Tristan

[Max Girouard]

Max, beautiful mandolin. I really like the 'red side'. Which features of yours are based on the Ms. Griffith's A5?

Pretty much the overall shape, bridge and F hole locations and binding scheme. I also regraduated the top and back according to the measurments that were taken off of the Ms. Griffith A5.

[Charles E.]

I'll get some pictures of the octave strung up in the next few days. I'm having to much fun playing around and tweaking the action in now.[/I]858608586185862

A one piece back!? Keith, that looks pretty darn cool, can't wait to hear it.

[Max Girouard]

Somethings fishy here.....

[Ed Goist]

Max, that peghead/inlay is incredibly striking!
Well done.

[Steve Sorensen]

French polishing session completed as the sun goes down.

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Steve

[Max Girouard]

Lauri finished up this burst yesterday, also shot the seal coats on.

[Ed Goist]

Great pics Max. That binding really 'pops'!
Oh, and I love the juxtaposition of the monkey-wrench next to the F5! :)

[amowry]

A color sampler...

[Mike Black]

A color sampler...

Very cool Andrew! Love that Red-burst, second from the right.

[buckhorn]

86260862618626286263 here are a few pics i posted on the builder site........keith

[Max Girouard]

Andrew, absolutly amazing work. You've always been an inspiration!

Also nice work buckhorn, really dig the points!

Here is a wonderful piece of European maple I got from John Preston at Old World Tonewoods, will be used for a Benedetto inspired archtop mandolin that we are calling the Jazz Box Mini......

[Steve Sorensen]

A final sunrise before the bridge.

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Steve

[Max Girouard]

Now here is something you usually don't see, quilt with flame. This slice of nice came from "Spruce" Bruce over at Orcas Island Tonewood a while back and I did not realize how nice it was until now!

[j. condino]

First carving sessions for a few Brazilian rosewood backs from a 50 year old beam along with a mandolin in the white. 'Gonna have some tired, stiff old hands at my gig tonight.....;)

j.
www.condino.com

[nobullmando74]

Great work Arnt! Can't wait to see the finished results!

Here is an inlay I'm doing for one of my current customers. Seems there has been a lot of requests lately for fishing related inlays, first the mayfly, now the trout...........
Its a KEEPER. :))

[Arnt]

Getting there...

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[billhay4]

Yes you are, Arnt.
Nice looking instrument.
Bill