Mandolins in progress

[Carleton Page]

Awesome color!

[Marty Jacobson]

Version #13 of the side application jig. Not perfect, but it works consistently and is not panic-inducing to use like the previous versions. The "daisy petals" are progressively clamped into place. After the glue initially sets, the whole body is flipped over to check for any areas that need a little extra pressure.

950009500195002

[billhay4]

Martin,
You're a whiz. Why not make the strap a heat element and bend the side at the same time?
Looks like there's a layer of something else under the sides. What's that? You're laminating these sides on the instrument, aren't you? Cool.
Does the top already have finish on it? Or something to make it easy to get glue off?
Bill

[Marty Jacobson]

Bill, whether using heat or laminae, the sides really should be pre-formed as a separate operation. Sometimes cracks develop as a result of the bending operation, and it's good to check them before committing them to an instrument. There's a LDPE compression strap around the body when applying the rim, but you're also seeing a contrasting stripe of curly maple between the bubinga rim and the back/top. That stripe acts kind of like binding, visually.

[Pete Jenner]

Marty are those flowery stem inlay thingies purfling?

[Marty Jacobson]

Marty are those flowery stem inlay thingies purfling?

I guess it's not really purfling because it's not right over the linings. But I intended it to look like purfling that had come alive.. or something.

[billhay4]

Martin,
Thanks for the reply. Can you take a top off of your instruments after it's been completed without damaging the rims?
Bill

[bernabe]

And another strung up today
95040

[rb3868]

Glam shot after first French Polishing session.

94979

Steve

excuse me, that is so gorgeous i passed out for a minute. The TS is so perfect I'd be afraid to touch it

[bluemoonofky]

Wish I had that much talent...I can't make 'em so I just buy 'em.....but I buy 'em cheap!!!
I'm not crazy........Beautiful work...very beautiful.....

[Cheryl Watson]

Very beautiful! I love the coloring.


And another strung up today
95040

[Pete Jenner]

I guess it's not really purfling because it's not right over the linings. But I intended it to look like purfling that had come alive.. or something.


It looks alive for sure - I really meant to ask is it inlaid or drawn on?

[Marty Jacobson]

Heh, cool. It's inlaid ebony dust.

[Steve Sorensen]

Finally getting this one to Ted -

95140 95141 95142

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

To all, thanks for the inspiration! You are putting out some awesome looking work!!

James, that is another awesome looking F5!

Martin, I love your jig! That in itself is a work of art!

Steve, really digging that blue mandolin! Makes me want to try something other than the traditional color!

[TDMpicker]

Here are some photos of my latest Army-Navy project in the works. An Engelmann spruce top, red-curly maple back sides and neck rosewood fingerboard and peghead overlay. Body bound front and back Nut width 1 1/8", overall length 24 1/2", Body width 9 1/2", Body Depth 1 1/2", induced radius top and back (96"), standard mandolin 13 7/8" scale length, adjustable steel truss rod.

951509515295151951499515495153

[Skip Kelley]

Terry, that is a great collection of pictures! I love seeing how other guys do things!
The mandolin is looking great!

[Dan Voight]

Nice bridge Steve

[Steve Sorensen]

Thanks, Dan. That's the Sorensen "Killer Bridge" TM/Copyright/etc. using Desert Ironwood. Thinking about offering them as part . . . someday. Here's a version on an archtop guitar --

95200

Steve

[billhay4]

Steven,
That's one fine looking guitar, not to mention the bridge.
Bill

[rb3868]

both are simply gorgeous. Is that ironwood as tough to work with as I've heard?

[Marty Jacobson]

Oh yea, the tasty, tasty, Californian guitar.... I really don't need a new car, the old '95 Saturn only has 215,000 miles on it....

[Steve Sorensen]

rb - Desert Ironwood behaves a lot like ebony. Love working with it . . . and am starting to get used to the manure-like smell of the sawdust.

Steve

[GarY Nava]

Hi Guys
Thought that you might like to see this photo of my next twin-point’s back (3 piece cocobolo) now that it’s had some French polish applied.
Cheers Gary

[Skip Kelley]

Gary, That cocobolo back looks awesome! Nice work on the french polish!!!

[Max Girouard]

Gary, that is really really nice. Wonderful job.

Here is an F5 I have ready for final sanding today. My real camera died so these are photos from my phone. Hopefully Lauri will get some stain on later this weekend.

[billhay4]

Nice piece of birdseye there, Max.
Bill

[Skip Kelley]

Max and Lauri, that is one sweet looking F5! Love that birdseye! Is it going to be blonde ?

[Steve Sorensen]

Gary,
Beautiful work!
Steve

[Max Girouard]

Max and Lauri, that is one sweet looking F5! Love that birdseye! Is it going to be blonde ?

Thanks Skip, this one is a burst.

[Steve Sorensen]

Now that Ted has his mandolin in hand, I guess it's fair to show the full picture -

95330 95331

Quite pleased with the look, tone and feel of this build.

Steve

[shortymack]

Wow, all I can say is one day......one day. I love the f hole design, classy and distinct. The fret markers really work well and that finish is other wordly. Speaking of that, is that an alien face I see on the back? :))

[Marty Jacobson]

Steve, I am pretty sure Jethro is looking jealously down from heaven at that blue Sprite.

[Glassweb]

Hi Guys
Thought that you might like to see this photo of my next twin-point’s back (3 piece cocobolo) now that it’s had some French polish applied.
Cheers Gary

Love that... beautiful!

[Dan Voight]

Getting pretty close on this one. I hope to have some strings on it to do the fine tuning within a few days.

953999540095401

[Harrison Withers]

955669556795568

finally took some decent pics of the finished mandocello

[Steve Sorensen]

Now that Sid has his mandolin in hand, here are a few shots from the last few moments before she headed his way -

95576 95577 95578 95579 95580

Englemann spruce top, curly maple back and JazzMando JM-11 strings added up to a really sweet, rich and full tone from the first seconds of tuning her up.

Can't wait to hear where Sid takes her from here !

Steve

[Marty Jacobson]

Here's my number 17 in the white... in the red? It was pretty muddy, as I had made the body significantly deeper on this one. Adding a side sound port balanced it out. Still has some final sanding and cleanup to do.

9558695587955889558995590955919559295593

And here's a video... feel free to skip past my verbal intro with this link. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cbuG8IWK0vU#t=152s)

cbuG8IWK0vU

[Jim Garber]

Fantastic, Marty, I'll take it... :) Nice tone and nice playing, too. Keep up the good work.

[Marty Jacobson]

Thanks, Jim. I was a little worried about the tone until I cut the sound port, but as it settles in and I refine a few things I am getting happier and happier with it. This will be the first Nautilus I sell, and it was built with another Cafe member in mind. I guess you'll have to wait for the Jim Garber signature model, which comes complete with vintage-size frets. :-)

[Steve-o]

Marty,
You hit #17 out of the park. Exquisite woods, and very tasteful and unique design elements. I love your artistry and experimentation with different designs. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[Pete Jenner]

Stone the flamin' crows Marty - all the years of hard work have paid off big time. That's really fantastic.
What scale length is it? It looks longer than the Gibson standard of 13 7/8ths in. Lots more questions ...so little time ..*sigh*.

[roady43]

Just aririved! Yesterday I picked up my new German bowlback: black rosewood ribs with flamed maple linings, arched spruce top (cant is NOT kinked but carved from solid wood) with rosewood scratchplate, slightly curved fretboard (lower on E-string) fluted between the frets, V-shaped neck, special "construction kit" of exchangeable pegs, nut and bridge for different stringing and tuning. Now strung up with Thomastik G D A and Hannabach E strings. Sound is very loud, direct, brillant with stunning sustain.


95613956119561295610


roady43

[Steve Sorensen]

Cool tuner-options! Beautiful.
Steve

[Max Girouard]

The elves have been busy...............

[rb3868]

Wow, all I can say is one day......one day. I love the f hole design, classy and distinct. The fret markers really work well and that finish is other wordly. Speaking of that, is that an alien face I see on the back? :))

If you look at it as if it were upright, it is very clearly the Lone Ranger

[Don Grieser]

Marty, congratulations on #17. It looks and sounds wonderful.

Max, those are some hard-working elves you have. Looks like a beautiful batch.

[Steve Sorensen]

A few quick shots before this one heads over to MandoDan - Danny Clark in Essie, KY. Englemann Spruce top and a neat bit of slip-matched Curly Maple for the back.

95790 95791 95792 95793 95794

Steve

[Steve Davis]

Nice!

[rb3868]

I am deeply jealous of those who are getting these lovelies and the people with the skills to make them

[Pete Jenner]

My first attempt at a compound dovetail neck joint went pretty well. While it's not perfect, it is a nice tight joint and the neck is perfectly aligned with no shim required.

Now to try and take it apart for neck shaping ...uh oh:whistling:
95851

[John Kelly]

Fine job!

[shortymack]

Interesting sound holes.

[Steve Sorensen]

Sprite Two-Point Mandola - checking that everything fits together - getting ready for binding. Got a few sets of D'Addario J76s ready and waiting!

95889

Steve

[Pete Jenner]

Interesting sound holes.

Yes I thought I'd see how having a large area in the middle uninterrupted by soundholes would affect the volume and/or tone.

[Marty Jacobson]

Looking great, Peter! Those soundholes came out well.

Steve, I'd love to hear that mandola some day.

[Pete Jenner]

Thanks Marty. The soundholes went well thanks to the zero clearance throat plate you suggested. Lining them was a nightmare however. ;)

[Dan Voight]

Here is my latest F in the white. I'll post a video clip tomorrow with an overview and some playing.

95974

[usqebach]

Well, it's now "tomorrow" and I want my clip!

Great looking mando.

I'm looking forward to seeing you this summer at Swannanoa Mando Week.

Jim

[jmagill]

Here is my latest F in the white. I'll post a video clip tomorrow with an overview and some playing.

95974

Beautiful work as usual, Dan. Can't wait to hear the clip.

[roady43]

Here a comparison of my 3 "Germans"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCmZBMFQf9g

#1 "The Blonde" flamed maple with Thomastik "stark" steel strings
#2 "The Ginger" flamed apple with Thomastik "medium", Hannabach E steel strings
#3 "The Ebony" with Thomastik "medium", Hannabach E, steel strings
#4 "The Ebony" with Aquila Nylgut Mandolin strings

Just recorded in my living room unplugged.
More pics see here:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?1898-Post-a-Picture-of-Your-Bowlback-(or-any-others)&p=1115684#post1115684

The pictures show the headstock option with the wooden pegs:

[John Hill]

Thanks for that roady. I think #3 speaks to me the best but they're all beautiful instruments.

[Austin Clark]

Nothing special, I just thought it was an interesting shot.

[Bob Clark]

Hi Roady,

Wonderful in all aspects. I particularly liked the sound of #2 and would love to be able to give #4 a try. Congratulations, you are doing outstanding work.

[Dan Voight]

Let me know what you think!

[video=youtube;9l-gcc0lVO8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-gcc0lVO8[/video

[JohnMandocaster]

I'm so busy remodeling my kitchen that I may never get to try luthier work but I keep thinking I'm working with a wood that would be great for instruments. The wood is kumaru, or Brazillian teak and is VERY dense. If you read up on it, some folks say it doesn't glue well because it's an oily wood. I am joining with Gorilla glue and I think it bonds as strong as the wood. It is a fairly coarse-grained wood but is unusually heavy and takes a very nice shine with 2,000 grit sandpaper. The wood is typically sold as 3/4-inch thick planks for flooring and decks. I seriously doubt it could be bent and I think it's too heavy for resonant surfaces but I think it would make beautiful fretboards and necks.

Here is a photo of a bar surface that has been sanded to within an inch of its life and then wiped with a thin coat of tung oil.

96212

[palosfv3]

Dan , Nice work. I had the pleasure of playing one of your first mandolins several months ago and after listening to the clip , all I can say is WOW !!!!!, And your still a youngun ...The future is yours .

[billhay4]

Dan,
Very nice sounding and looking instrument.
Bill

[roady43]

Hi Roady,

Wonderful in all aspects. I particularly liked the sound of #2 and would love to be able to give #4 a try. Congratulations, you are doing outstanding work.

Thank you Bob.

Remember, I'm only playing them. After I had bought the "Ginger" I asked the builder (who wishes to remain anonymous) to make me another instrument with special features: black rosewood bowl, arched spruce top (cant is NOT kinked but carved from solid wood!), scratchplate after my sketch, slightly curved fretboard (lower on E-string), V-shaped neck, special "construction kit" of exchangeable pegs, nut and bridge for different stringing and tuning. It was this option, I was specially looking for. And I'm very happy how well it works and how stable the headstock construction is. As the ribs are so dark, I call it the "Ebony" which is #3 & #4 in the clip.
The "Blonde" (#1) is a "La Gioiosa" by Klaus Knorr from 2009.

roady43

[Steve-o]

Dan,
Very nice sounding and looking instrument.
Bill
Ditto! Nice tone coming out that new mando, Dan. You've really got the right stuff, as a Luther and a player. If I was in the market for a custom mando, I'd certainly be considering a Voight.

[Glassweb]

Here a comparison of my 3 "Germans"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCmZBMFQf9g

#1 "The Blonde" flamed maple with Thomastik "stark" steel strings
#2 "The Ginger" flamed apple with Thomastik "medium", Hannabach E steel strings
#3 "The Ebony" with Thomastik "medium", Hannabach E, steel strings
#4 "The Ebony" with Aquila Nylgut Mandolin strings

Just recorded in my living room unplugged.
More pics see here:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?1898-Post-a-Picture-of-Your-Bowlback-(or-any-others)&p=1115684#post1115684

The pictures show the headstock option with the wooden pegs:

I like the tone of #2 the best but over-all for volume, tone and the sound of the final strummed chord I'd have to choose # 3.

[Pete Jenner]

Let me know what you think!



Wow Dan - that thing sounds superb!!! Not to mention the great playing.
I've not heard an f5 style instrument sound like that. Is it X braced?

[Glassweb]

Let me know what you think!

[video=youtube;9l-gcc0lVO8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-gcc0lVO8[/video

Superb on all fronts... great work Dan and great playing too!

[roady43]

I like the tone of #2 the best but over-all for volume, tone and the sound of the final strummed chord I'd have to choose # 3.

#3 has been strung up for only 2 weeks now, so it is still very fresh. #4 is the same instrument with nylon strings which makes it a completely different instrument. I like the sound very much though it is not as loud as with steel strings. #2 has a warmer sound and the character is definitively different because of the flat top and the bowl of apple wood.
They all are played in big opera halls and carry extremely well from the pit. Here is a sample from last June with the #2 playing the upper part:

[kyken]

Hey Dan, this is Ken Ratcliff here, fine sounding mandolin there, and the palying is great too.

[Skip Kelley]

Everyone is showing off some great looking work!! Very inspirational!
Steve, love the look of your Sprite!
Austin, cool looking picture!
Roady, those are some great sounding mandolins!
Dan, Love the F5! Sounds great and great playing as well! It's everything it should be!

[Bill Burch]

Dan,

Beautiful mandolin, great even tone, and masterful playing. I really like the tortoise binding, too. What are you planing for the finish?

Bill

[hank]

This thread never fails to please does it? Wow! Dan you've got a whole lota sustain going on for an F5. Nice balance and ring. I think you've built another amazing mandolin that someone is going to be very, very happy with! The silver wire and the trick magnetic TRC attachment are a great Voight signature touch. Does the finish dampen volume or tone?

[Dan Voight]

Wow Dan - that thing sounds superb!!! Not to mention the great playing.
I've not heard an f5 style instrument sound like that. Is it X braced?

Nope. Tone bar braced.


Dan,

Beautiful mandolin, great even tone, and masterful playing. I really like the tortoise binding, too. What are you planing for the finish?

Bill

I'm going to do something very light and most likely in the "blonde" spectrum of coloring. French polish over that.


This thread never fails to please does it? Wow! Dan you've got a whole lota sustain going on for an F5. Nice balance and ring. I think you've built another amazing mandolin that someone is going to be very, very happy with! The silver wire and the trick magnetic TRC attachment are a great Voight signature touch. Does the finish dampen volume or tone?

Actually, I think the finish refines and focuses the tone. I always like them better after finishing.

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's a new A style. I've had this wood since the mid 90's.

[Don Grieser]

Very, very nice, Jim. Is that wood any relation to the back on your next one?

[Jim Hilburn]

Not even close!

[usqebach]

Dan,

The new mando sounds as good as it looks!

#13, Eh? That's a really steep learning curve for so few instruments. Can't wait for #113!

[lauri Girouard]

Here are 6 out of 7 that have been strung up in the white and are now going into final sanding and finishing. I have my work cut out for me over the next few weeks.

96633

[George R. Lane]

Lauri,
Are the two dark tops cedar?

[lauri Girouard]

The one on the left is cedar and the right is redwood. The other tops are carpathian and red spruces. For backs, they are euro and red maples with a birch one thrown into the mix. I'll post pics once finishing gets under way. Some very highly figured woods.

[Pete Jenner]

96656

Carving this red maple is like carving Mt Rushmore with a Barbie doll.

[Skip Kelley]

96656

Carving this red maple is like carving Mt Rushmore with a Barbie doll.

:)) That is a great comparison!

[Pete Jenner]

96713

Apologies for the rush of posts but it's getting close and I'm getting excited ....and a bit drunk.........................:cow:

[Marty Jacobson]

Looking great. I know you weren't drinking when you did that inlay. It's quite hard to get it that clean without excessive visible filler, especially on such a light-colored overlay. How are you going to jig up your peghead drilling? Don't underestimate that part of it.

[Pete Jenner]

I'm a bit nervous about that Marty. Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm thinking of using the basic model of the Rubner tuners because they have no embossing or engraving on the plates and I think that would suit this mandolin.

The inlay channel I cut with a hobby knife - very tricky - there are a few gaps I have to fill too.
I broke 7 of those little jewellers saw blades cutting the pearl (glad they come in packs of 12) - must have been doing it wrong.:)

The bite in the peghead was done with a forstener bit and came closer to the inlay than I had planned - just glad it didn't hit it.

[Marty Jacobson]

Do you know any machinists? If you could get them to drill 4 1/4" holes in a chunk of steel or aluminum at the correct spacing (29/32 is standard), you could get a peghead drill jig on the cheap. Otherwise you could make your own with a drill press. It may take a few tries to get the spacing dead on, but once you have a metal or thick plastic jig with the holes in the right place, it's not too hard to clamp it in place and drill the holes. Stew-Mac sells a jig here (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Jigs/Mandolin_Peghead_Drill_Jig.html?tab=Pictures) which is a fair solution. It's not exactly easy to line up or to get both sides parallel, but it works all right. The ideal solution is to have a metal template exactly the same size and shape as the peghead.

I happily don't have to do any of that anymore -- scariest part of the process, to me.
96737

[Pete Jenner]

Yeah I was going to get the stewmac one with my last order from them but forgot.
I have a baseplate from a cheap set of tuners - might try using that as a template.

[Max Girouard]

Nice headstock Peter. It's hard to cut nice circles like that freehand. Great job.


We had a few pieces of wood that had some "defects" in them. One was a redwood top with a discoloration on one side, then a birch piece with what looked like the start of a branch growing out of it or a pitch pocket that actually went all the way through the piece. Instead of becoming kindling for the wood stove, we decided to pair them up into a mandolin that we would keep. We do love wood with character and beauty marks. Here are a couple of photos of the mando unstained, then stained.

[lauri Girouard]

Just a note, the mando above has no finish on it, just stained and sealed. Cant wait to see what it will look like with some finish on it!

[lauri Girouard]

Next up for staining....

96765

[GarY Nava]

Yeah I was going to get the stewmac one with my last order from them but forgot.
I have a baseplate from a cheap set of tuners - might try using that as a template.
You might find this blog post of mine interesting;

http://guitar-maker.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/batching.html

Cheers Gary

[Pete Jenner]

Thanks Max.
Gary and Marty, I'm going to start a new thread in B&R to show what I ended up doing.

[AaronVW]

Peter, I love the contour you carved in the back. The raised areas really accentuate the points in a good way!

[Don Grieser]

Max and Lauri, that's the wildest birch I've ever seen. WOW! Thanks for not burning it.

[mtolley]

Greetings everyone! I’m a long time looker and a first time poster. I just managed to get mandolin #20 strung up “in the white”. I’ve been building mostly archtop guitars, A style mandolins, and 2 point mandolins and this is my first go at a F style mandolin and the first instrument with inlay/logo. Off to the spray booth for this one. Thanks to everyone for making the Mandolin Cafe such an invaluable resource!

96793 96792 96794

[GKWilson]

Very nice Matthew. Love your two point.
Gary

[Steve Sorensen]

Red getting ready for hardware --

96896 96897
96899 96900

Steve

[Max Girouard]

Lauri has been going crazy with the finishing. These are what she is calling modern red and modern amber. The first and third mando are actually much more red than the photo dictates. Next week she will be staining and finishing three others that will have a traditional hand rubbed sunburst.

[Pete Jenner]

Gee - I might have to borrow Lauri. How does she feel about a trip to Oz? ;)

[lauri Girouard]

Gee - I might have to borrow Lauri. How does she feel about a trip to Oz? ;)

I'm game, but you'll have to feed me and I get to wear the ruby slippers, not you.

[Pete Jenner]

Ok:-)

[Steve Sorensen]

Just about ready to make some serious treble -

97074

Steve

[Pete Jenner]

97076

[Dan Voight]

#13 all sealed and ready for more varnish.

97144971439714297141

[Charles E.]

Good Lord, that scroll is beautiful!

[Skip Kelley]

Matthew, that is a great looking F5! Can't wait to see the finished mandolin!
Max, you better hang onto that little bride of yours! She does an awesome job of the finishing!
Steve, that is one wicked looking Sprite! Your work is one of my favorites!!
Peter, that is such a cool design! I don't have enough of creativity to come up with something so cool!
Dan, that is one clean looking F5!!! Nice work!

[oldwave maker]

Mixing my way to the knob creek single barrel reserve, hope it ends up looking as good as it tastes!

[Marty Jacobson]

If you can get the cask strength, you can just add shellac flakes.... :-)

[Marty Jacobson]

I haven't been slacking, guys... honest...

97337973389733997340

[Jim Garber]

I haven't been slacking, guys... honest...

Martin: I can't believe that you just build part time. 5 at once plus a mandocello -- or are there even more projects in the works?

[Marty Jacobson]

Actually, I'm building 7 right now... :-) Two are getting French polished. To try to sell instruments for under $2,000, you really have to make more than one at a time. Making 5 mandolin necks at a time takes about as long as making 2 necks separately. There's a point in the process where it's helpful to focus on just one -- final sanding and setup. But right now I'm just making "kits" for myself. It's actually really fun, now that the two years of brain-twisting initial development is behind me.

[brunello97]

Nice photos, Martin. Are you CNC milling the necks tops and then flipping and remilling the backs? If so, how are you registering them in your 'cradle'? What step are you using the router table for?

Not looking to steal trade secrets ;) just seeking to understand the work flow. We have a (fairly new) 5 axis mill here in the shop and I find the sequencing of the cutting operations to be an enjoyable bit of the learning curve.

Mick

[Marty Jacobson]

Mick, that 5-axis must be fun. A rotary table, mounted on a lathe, mounted on a mill!
You are right on the money. It's a "two-op part". I am actually doing a write-up on the neck construction for my Web site, including explanation of how to program the CNC paths -- wood isn't like metal, and you have to be careful or you will tear out all the parts you wan to keep. There's a lot of climb cutting on this side, conventional on the other. Every time the shape changes direction, your cut has to change direction. I have dozens of failed necks to prove it.

But the process is basically:
A. Mount the blank
B. Cut the truss rod slot
C. Roughing with a 1/2"x2 end mill, then profiling with a 1/2" ball-end. Roughing at 250 inches per minute, profiling at 350!
D. Flip the part onto a fixture. The truss rod slot indexes the part, and a 5/16-18 bolt through the dovetail secures it.
E. Roughing and profiling, same as before. The fixture establishes the correct angle for the dovetail.
F. Neck comes out ready for some light scraping and final sanding. No messing around worrying about neck angles.
973439734497345973469734797348

[billhay4]

Nice job, Martin. Isn't it awfully wood-intensive, though?
Bill

[brunello97]

Thanks, Marty, those are a really clear sequence of images and I think I understand your steps. (The guys here in the shop looking over my shoulder...) I can only imagine the issues working with grain direction. We have only just recently been working with anything other than plywood, MDF, foam, resins, etc. BTW, the fellow who runs our digital shop is out of Georgia Tech.

Is that the final profile for the neck joint? Do you mill your neck blocks as well?

I look forward to reading your website summary.

thanks,

Mick

[Dan Voight]

Getting shiny....

9736797368

[Pete Jenner]

Thanks for sharing the process Marty. Very edifying.

[GarY Nava]

Hi Guys,
Thought that you might like these backs- the maple one has just had a few coats of shellac sealer and the English walnut one is awaiting routing for purfling and bindings.
Cheers Gary

[Tavy]

Some very nice bits of wood there Gary!

[billhay4]

Ah, Gary, you're tearing it up again.
Nice work.
Bill

[oldwave maker]

Final finish coats on quilt ovals, stain and shellac sealer on flame goms, loving the trees that grow on this planet, and the people who work hard to supply them already cut up:

[Steve Sorensen]

Just sealed up the sunburst on this Sprite mandola. Tomorrow brings the zen of pulling tape and scraping bindings.

97604

Steve

[sgarrity]

I love that color Steve!

[Jake Wildwood]

Seeing all of this new stuff with classy wood is good for the eyes... especially when working day-in, day-out on all the old stuff that (even on the high end) seems rather drab in comparison!

Those guit-octaves are stylin'!

[wwwilkie]

97841
Doing some final sanding on this new 10-string.

[amowry]

Beautiful work everyone!

Mathew, it's great to see you posting some of your work here. It's looking fantastic. Hopefully I'll see you at Wintergrass (?)

[billhay4]

Wyatt,
Nice looking instrument. Mind if I ask what the small shapes are the appear behind the soundholes? Is there a virzi-like attachment inside this?
Thanks,
Bill

[wwwilkie]

Here's another one I've been working on. A 16" scale mandola.
97844

[wwwilkie]

thanks Bill. That's a carved "step-down" and not an insert. Purely ornamental.

[Marty Jacobson]

Those are some really nice instruments, Wyatt. That recessed ledge is very clever. Sometimes those arc soundholes look like a jack-o-lantern's eyes, but completing the arc underneath is a really nice touch.

[Pete Jenner]

Nice work Wyatt. Do you have to leave the soundboard of a 10 string much thicker than an 8 string?

[wwwilkie]

Hey thanks you guys. I think the top might be a bit thicker than usual but that's more because of the wider body than any thought of extra string tension. I go by flexibility so it's not something I measure.

[billhay4]

Thanks, Wyatt, very nice design element on a lovely instrument. Hope we get to hear it.
Bill

[Steve Sorensen]

Sprite Two-Point mandola glam shot from the finishing table -

97891

Steve

[Pete Jenner]

Mandolins look so much more like 'proper' objects when the are all stained and shiny.

[buckhorn]

97906 here is a pic of my next two Buckhorn mandolins...one has a light strip running thru its' centerline, and it is douglas fir.....I think it looks cool,but some might not like it...both have traditional maple and the other has engleman spruce for the top....the fretboard is ready to glue on,but it is just too cold in the shop...

[buckhorn]

97907 here are the next three that are in different stages of build,two F5s and an A5....do have three F5 rims and necks, and three A5 rims and necks ready to start but may just offer them up for sale to other builders...

[buckhorn]

97908 a little different take on the neck...I used walnut strips to make it look different...might have been cool if I would have used a strip down the centerline of the back.......

[mtolley]

Hi Andrew,
I'll be at Wintergrass this year. Look forward to seeing you and your creations!

[Pete Jenner]

Lots of woody goodness there Buckhorn.

[Tavy]

97908 a little different take on the neck...I used walnut strips to make it look different...might have been cool if I would have used a strip down the centerline of the back.......

"Go faster" stripes? Must be a speed neck? :)

Great work, I'll look forward to seeing that one finished!

[Harrison Withers]

Some progress on my latest electric mandocello. 25.5 scale, rosewood fretboard, african mahogany chambered body and trussed neck. Spalted maple drop top. GFS Lipstick humbucker. Stacked pot for Volume/tone control

9792097921

[D18dave]

9796097961

[Steve Sorensen]

Who knows when these two will meet again . . .

97999

Little 'Lin gets one last goodbye hug from Big 'Dola before heading out on that long, lonely trip to The Mandolin Store.

Steve

[OldGus]

Those are some sweet backs!

[D18dave]

980019800298003

My dad's Christmas present is starting to come to life. I hope to get it to him by St Paddy's day

[Marty Jacobson]

I like the Dearstone influence there... don't feel bad about it -- my boys are still waiting for their nylon string mandos I was building them for Christmas 2011!

[Pete Jenner]

That looks great Dave - some Dad's are very lucky.

[Pete Jenner]

#3 underway.

98084

[Pete Jenner]

oops duplicate post.

[rb3868]

97908 a little different take on the neck...I used walnut strips to make it look different...might have been cool if I would have used a strip down the centerline of the back.......

i like the look of that neck

[Marty Jacobson]

Feels good to be able to build an instrument without having to build all the fixtures, eh?

[Pete Jenner]

Yeah :)

[Steve Sorensen]

First Shellac French Polish session -

98165

Steve

[amowry]

Nice work, all!

[amowry]

Here's an octave I'm working on, headed for Italy. It's evolved into a bit of a homage to John Monteleone.

[Don Grieser]

I believe you should call that model the OMG.

[GKWilson]

Andrew. I saw the headstock for your Octave on your FB.
I wasn't sure if I liked it. Now I see the rest of the package.
WOWZER!!

[Steve Hinde]

98241Scraping binding on a Sunday afternoon.98240

[Steve Hinde]

Color on a grey burst 2 point.9824298243

[Marty Jacobson]

Digging that gray, Steve!

[Steve Hinde]

Mandola finished up and out the door last week. 9824498245

[Steve Hinde]

Now that is really cool Andrew!

[Harrison Withers]

Custom built to order. Chambered mahogany body, mahogany neck, Spalted maple top. Randy Bretz ebony and bone bridge. GFS lipstick humbucker. Golden gate mini button tuners, stacked pot for vol/tone98246982479824898249

[Marty Jacobson]

Rock on, Harrison. Looks great! Is it another 'cello?

[Harrison Withers]

Yes it is Martin. I gotta do a cigar box mando for a customer next than a have a solid body octave started.

[Marty Jacobson]

Now that I have built some Nautilus mandolins that sound good, and some that look good (not always the same instrument), I need to make sure they will all look good and sound good. I spent the last two weeks rethinking my fixtures. Now my back and top plates can be made on the same fixture, and I can rough out up to four at a time. Final finish passes are done individually, and I adjust the tool paths for each part depending on its properties. Final voicing is done by hand.
Bubinga, Khaya mahogany, and curly maple.

982959829698297

[Pete Jenner]

Beautiful Marty.

[amowry]

Very cool!

[Dobe]

[QUOTE=Harrison Withers;1133675].... Spalted maple top......
Nice Harrison, I love the look of Spalt, pictures never seem to do it justice.

[lauri Girouard]

I just stained and sealed this quilted maple. I'll be applying finish tomorrow. Not having worked too much with quilted bigleaf, I was amazed how easily it was to hand rub stain. I really like the wide grain of the sitka top too.


983469834798348

[Tavy]

I just stained and sealed this quilted maple. I'll be applying finish tomorrow. Not having worked too much with quilted bigleaf, I was amazed how easily it was to hand rub stain. I really like the wide grain of the sitka top too.


983469834798348

Oh my!

[Perry Babasin]

Beauty, I love the quilted maple! Nice staining throughout!

[Steve Hinde]

98420Not so happy with the stain on the back on 16 so took it off and reapplied. A lot closer to what I wanted. Nice thing is the darker stain is in the figure. Was after a very subtle burst. Flame is very strong and the hologram affect is visible under the seal coats. On to the finish coats. 98418

[GarY Nava]

This one may have a long way to go before completion, but I love the photo!;)
Cheers Gary

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

[billhay4]

Nice shot, Gary!
Bill

[mtolley]

Digging in on a new batch of mandolins, an A model and a 2 point. Plates are prepped and ready to carve!

985279852298526

[Marty Jacobson]

Top-notch wood you got there, Matthew.

[mtolley]

Top-notch wood you got there, Matthew.

Thanks! I've been sitting on these billets for quite a while waiting for that "special" batch of instruments to come across my bench.

[wwwilkie]

Finishing the 10-string with oil varnish.

[Pete Jenner]

Nice Wyatt.

Here's mine.
Water stained and first coat of Tru-Oil on.


98602

[oldwave maker]

Lauri- that quilt looks good enough to eat!
Blackheathen- I like that tru-oil for personal mandos and muzzleloaders.......
I see faces here, even before pulling on the Knob, graciously provided by wise customer as a color swatch!

[Jim Garber]

I see faces here, even before pulling on the Knob, graciously provided by wise customer as a color swatch!

There is an alien there, Bill. You are near Area 51, right?

[Bob Clark]

Nice Wyatt.

Here's mine.
Water stained and first coat of Tru-Oil on.


98602
Looks great. I hope you're bringing it to the US when you come so some of us get to see it in person!

[amowry]

Bill, you've got a good thing going there. The only color swatch I've ever received was a horsechestnut. I guess I should start promoting my "20-year single-malt burst" in a more prominent location on my web site.

[Pete Jenner]

Looks great. I hope you're bringing it to the US when you come so some of us get to see it in person!

Thanks Bob. Yes I'll have it with me for sure

[John Kelly]

That instrument is looking really good, Peter. Love the figuring and the finish you are getting,

[Steve Sorensen]

Bill,

Reminds me of the lush Tony Rice Californian Autumn lyrics -

"Autumn leaves look like they'd be sweet as bourbon whiskey."

Hmmmm. A "vintage Cabernet Sauvignon" burst might be in the works . . .

Steve

[lauri Girouard]

I haven't had any Knob (yet) and I see the famous 'grumpy cat' in your mando. Great color!

98630

[Charles E.]

That's too funny.

[Pete Jenner]

That instrument is looking really good, Peter. Love the figuring and the finish you are getting,
Thanks John - it's not a great photo it looks much better in real life.

[Pete Jenner]

Blackheathen- I like that tru-oil for personal mandos and muzzleloaders.......


Your opinion has been noted.

[lauri Girouard]

Some great work going on here...
Peter, I love that brown your getting.
Matthew, I cant wait to see them stained and finished.
Steve, Amazing wood figure there. Love it!

I just stained and applied finish to these two mandolins today. These are both hand rubbed stain. The western red cedar takes stain so nice and evenly. Very different from spruce and handrubbing.

986949869598696

[shortymack]

WOW! You'd have to wear oven mits to play those so you dont get burned by all that flame. Spectacular.

[Tavy]

Wow Lauri, those are almost too much - almost ;)

[Marty Jacobson]

Got my kits all machined for the next two batches. When everything's working, you run as many parts as you can!
Now if I can just find my scrapers, I can pretend to be a luthier for a while, and get some callouses back on my hands.

3 straight redwood tops, 2 curly redwood, 1 yellow cedar (70 grains per inch!), four Sitka. Five curly maple, three figured mahogany, four bee's wing bubinga.

9882998830

[Steve Sorensen]

Not too shabby for an afternoon's work, Marty!
Steve

[Marty Jacobson]

Heh, it's really about two week's work. Now for the hard part...

[Pete Jenner]

Sheesh - way to go Marty.

[Tim W]

I had the honor of going to see Marty's setup since I'm local and a tool freak. He's a very productive individual and obviously thinks a lot! Thanks for the tour and I don't know if it matters to all you folks but, this is one of my favorite threads in this whole forum.

[billhay4]

Martin is a whiz!
Bill

[j. condino]

That looks like the makings for one heck of a logjam in the finishing stage...'careful what you wish for!!!;)

j.
www.condino.com

[billhay4]

I'll bet Martin has a plan.
Bill

[Pete Jenner]

Yes he's going to open a can of elves.

[Marty Jacobson]

Thanks everyone.
I actually do have elves -- three of 'em - but since I can't get them to stop looking out the window long enough to learn some fiddle tunes, I think it'll be a bit longer before they're any help in the shop.

98868

The actual plan is to assemble and finish two mandolins at a time. It's just nice having the grunt work done, so I can focus on the really fun parts... fitting tone bars, assembly, inlay, setup, and playing them!

[Marty Jacobson]

Cuttin' f-holes. Or ff-holes. Or viking-ship-prow holes...?

98922

[Pete Jenner]

They are quite obviously plough shears.

[Jim Garber]

I love that modern look, Marty and those soundholes are unique. Keep the pics coming. Is this an official production run now or are these still prototypes?

[oldwave maker]

Great stuff- in the next life I hope to not do everything the hardest and most time consuming way!

[billhay4]

Cool, Martin.
Bill

[pumpdogg]

989729897398974My former mandolin in progress is now done.......Woo Hoo, picking her up next week!

[pumpdogg]

Finished product....Wiens #38 F-5p. more photos on the archive989759897698977

[pumpdogg]

Mine is the one dead center, 4 more F-5's, 2 mandoloas, picollo up front

[pumpdogg]

98980More9897898979

[Jim Garber]

It is nice to see that Jamie is back on track.

[Randi Gormley]

Pumpdogg -- incredible work, there -- what a stunner.

[j. condino]

A 16" K5 in 1987 Ted Davis red spruce....

j.
www.condino.com

[Bernie Daniel]

A 16" K5 in 1987 Ted Davis red spruce....j.
www.condino.com

Yummy! I sure hope you keep us updated on this one!

[Skip Kelley]

There's alot of great looking work on here guys!!!

[GarY Nava]

Here's my take on an electric mandolin- still a lot to do, but it's the first day she's look respectable enough to appear here ;)

[Ron McMillan]

VERY nice, Gary. I look forward to seeing more shots of the finished item. :)

[Marty Jacobson]

I figure if nobody ever sees the inside of the top, might as well have fun with it.
Maybe these'll give Frank Ford's great-great grandson a chuckle in 90 years...

9934699347

[sunburst]

How does that affect the sound??? Would a different color ink sound different? How much mass does the ink add? If you use black ink on the underside, does it sound better with varnish or lacquer on the outside? What about sepia ink? ;)

[JEStanek]

John brings up some valid questions. I'll check wikipedia!


Those look very cool. I like the whimsy and sense of humor.

Jamie

[Pete Jenner]

How does that affect the sound??? Would a different color ink sound different? How much mass does the ink add? If you use black ink on the underside, does it sound better with varnish or lacquer on the outside? What about sepia ink? ;)

I hear the black on the underside doesn't affect the sound nearly as much as a blue fingerboard.

[HoGo]

i hear the black on the underside doesn't affect the sound nearly as much as a blue fingerboard.

lol !!!!

[Ron McMillan]

'Bill Monroe never played this, but if he did, he would've loved it......'

[Soundfarmer Pete]

99381
My first electric with a Floyd Rose vibrato.....routing finished today.....
Body is sapele with a North American maple neck, rosewood board. Pickups will be a humbucker at the bridge and a P90 style single coil in the neck position wired to a 4 position switch.
Next job is to seal the body then it`s off to the auto repair shop for a spray job......I hate doing white :whistling:

[labraid]

The finished peghead for a Lyon and Healy mandolin.

99412

[mandolinlee]

Martin -
In post 6728, #18 looks like it has a tapered cleat glued at the end of the "f" hole. What is it and what does it do?
I like the idea of the info written on the underside of the top.
Thanks,
Lee

[GarY Nava]

Just finished the tail-piece for the electric mandolin- yep decided upon ball-end strings! ;)
99436

99435

99434

[Steve Sorensen]

Sprite Two-Point Mandola . . . Frettin' and Neckin' --

99441 99440

Steve

[Pete Jenner]

Sprite Two-Point Mandola . . . Frettin' and Neckin' --



Steve

Is that the one for Lee Roy?

[Steve Sorensen]

Peter - Yes. This is #2 of 3.

The first went to Robert Bruen of the dynamic Western duo Walking Rain.

Trying to get this one to Lee in time to slip in few tracks on the CD that they're currently working on.

Also doing one for The Mandolin Store that is a couple of steps behind this one.

Nice to see mandolas getting some love. The world needs more of 'em!

Steve

[Marty Jacobson]

Nice to see mandolas getting some love. The world needs more of 'em!

Amen! I'm sure a few more Sprite mandolas will make the world just a bit of a better place.


Gary, that tailpiece/tail plate design is brilliant. Well done, sir.

[Steve Sorensen]

Feelin' well-heeled today -

99480

Steve

[mandopete]

99381
My first electric with a Floyd Rose vibrato.....:

Congratulations, I have been waiting to see someone try this. Those Floyd Rose tremelo's are a b*tch to set up. Was this one a customer request?

I'm curious if anyone has ever tried a Fender Stratocaster type tremelo on an electric mandolin?

[Jeffff]

Or better yet a Kahler. Not nearly as finicky as the Floyd.

[Soundfarmer Pete]

Congratulations, I have been waiting to see someone try this. Those Floyd Rose tremelo's are a b*tch to set up. Was this one a customer request?

I'm curious if anyone has ever tried a Fender Stratocaster type tremelo on an electric mandolin?

Definitely.....customer request....perhaps I`m stupid...perhaps I like a challenge......maybe a bit of both :))
This is the first tremolo I`ve done on a mando but I did scratch build a 4 string Strat style trem on a tenor guitar.....
Those Brazillian luthiers are streets ahead when it comes to electrics (Guitarra Baiana) and many are fitted with tremolos of all shapes and sizes......worth investigating ;)

Have fun!

[Marty Jacobson]

Cooking along -- #17 (take 2) and #18 are boxed up and waiting for fretboards.

9948999490

I use a block plane to trim the sides after they're applied.. in this case, the old way is definitely the best way.

99491

[billhay4]

Nice, Martin.
Bill

[Steve Sorensen]

Looking forward to hearing how the redwood plays, Marty.
Steve

[Pete Jenner]

What's the body width on those Marty?

[Harrison Withers]

I know these things aren't super highly thought of around here, but this one was built as a commision for a customer with a vested business interest in cigar box based insturments. I scraped out a saga am-10 mandolin kit for most of it.

995089950999510

I'm not a great player but here is a video of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l1KHgdoDKDo