Mandolins in progress

[Bill Clements]

Here are the latest photos of the Cohen Classical Dr. Dave is building for me.
In an earlier post I inadvertently identified the wood used for the headplate, bridge, and fingerboard as Macassar Ebony, when actually Dave is using African Blackwood for these components, which looks much the same. Darn those senior moments of mine.

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[Tavy]

Nice!

[Tavy]

One last look inside my 10-stringer before the back goes on for the last time, new sound port in place and some more "thrust protection" (which was working well when I had the back tacked on for a test stringing):

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[Dick Hutchings]

I noticed you switch to an inside mold for the A model. Care to elaborate on that. I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my upcoming A build.

[GarY Nava]

Just completed the abalone rosette on my carved top mandocello........
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Cheers Gary

[Dick Hutchings]

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New batch. A 3 point mandola, An F and an A.

Bryce, this is what I was talking about.

[billhay4]

That's a beauty, Gary.
Bill

[Tavy]

Just completed the abalone rosette on my carved top mandocello........

Lovely stuff, should be a monster!

[hank]

Great looking blue abalone rosette Gary. Did you have to fit it together between the rope segments. The narrow blue line looks sleek and balanced with the rope bindings. How are you gonna finish this masterpiece?

[David Houchens]

I noticed you switch to an inside mold for the A model. Care to elaborate on that. I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my upcoming A build.

I have an outside A mold as well. It had another project in it. I like both inside and outside for different reasons. I made my first inside one after one Ward Elliott had. Small drop of hide glue to the blocks hold them right in place.

[GarY Nava]

Great looking blue abalone rosette Gary. Did you have to fit it together between the rope segments. The narrow blue line looks sleek and balanced with the rope bindings. How are you gonna finish this masterpiece?
Hi Hank,
Thanks for the comment. Here it is before the shell went in; as you guessed.
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It will be French polished, but the client wants it satin instead of gloss.
Cheers Gary

[Clinton Johnson]

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#5 scratch build...I now have a box ��

[Steve Sorensen]

Working on a prototype for a new design -- The FX Blade.

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Color is on and varnish is going on . . . so more to follow.

Steve

[Pete Jenner]

How many wheels does it have Steve?

[Skip Kelley]

Clinton, nice looking work! Can't wait to see more pictures!

Steve, that is one sweet looking peghead! Come on, quit teasing us and let's see more!!!
What kind of tuners are those?

[Steve Sorensen]

Skip,

Alessi tuners -- bought them used from the 'Cafe Classifieds. Really very nice and smooth even without the bushings installed on the top.

Steve

[Ron McMillan]

Working on a prototype for a new design -- The FX Blade.

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Color is on and varnish is going on . . . so more to follow.

Steve

Does it require a Concealed Carry Permit? :)

[j. condino]

Working on a prototype for a new design -- The FX Blade.

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Color is on and varnish is going on . . . so more to follow.

Steve

#&@% YEAH Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!

j.


www.condino.com

[oldwave maker]

Nice inlay, Steve! used to have a truck with a rear bumper sticker- 'if guns are outlawed, can we use swords?'
No idea how this scrolly thing got into my oval and octave littering.....

[Mandoborg]

Bill, that's about as close as you can get to the perfect piece of backside splendor !!!

[Skip Kelley]

Bill, that is some killer maple!

[Pete Jenner]

Working on a prototype for a new design -- The FX Blade.

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Color is on and varnish is going on . . . so more to follow.

Steve

That really is thinking outside the box.

[Steve Sorensen]

FX - first French Polish session completed -

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Steve

[terzinator]

pics of the front or it didn't happen

[Steve Sorensen]

Ha! Not 'til she gets strings Chris.

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, can't wait to see more!

[terzinator]

Ha! Not 'til she gets strings Chris.

Steve
:popcorn:

[craigw]

I thought I would post some shots of the two 2-point mandolas I have going. #19 has a one piece West Virginia red maple back, sides and neck and a very exotically figured bearclaw sitka spruce top. It is currently curing in varnish. #20 has quarter sawn white oak back, sides and neck with a walnut burl veneer underlay on the peghead and Sitka spruce top. I just got the oak parts stained today after two applications of black pore filler. The top is Sitka and will have a clear pumpkin color stain. Both have been strung up "in the white", are quite strong and should make fine instruments. I should have them available at my luthiers booth at the Grass Valley (CA) festival this June..

[Steve Sorensen]

Wow Craig! Love the way both are coming together!

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Craig, that is a wild looking bearclaw top! I love it! That oak is really cool looking!

[Geoff B]

Here's a piece of torrefied maple I'll be making into an A-style... Bigleaf, quilted, and cooked... smells like molasses... next to it is Engelmann spruce for the top. I'm very curious to see how it works! The last A-style I built in just about 2 weeks for the online video I did with Robbie O'Brien, hoping to match that time frame this time.

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[Bill Clements]

Here's the latest update photos from Dave Cohen of my Classical 2-point:
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On to the "finish line"!

[pianoman89]

I really like that ebony tailpiece cover. That is what it is right?

[Bill Clements]

I really like that ebony tailpiece cover. That is what it is right?
Thanks.
It's African Blackwood.

[hank]

Very nice Bill. Can you tell us your and David's thoughts behind using the slotted headstock and other leading particulars like sound chamber, wood, bracing, etc. for your "Classical mandolin" design? I notice Dave's bridge base shape and footprint seems to reflect the size of string guage above in the saddle. The neck inlay pattern is understated but outstanding in it's eloquent utility.
To be honest , I'm not sure I understand what to look/listen for in a classical instrument. The headstock makes me think classical guitar, nylon strings, etc. playing classical music mostly solo. The term classical makes me think of a concert instrument like Loyd's F5 that Bill turned into a Bluegrass axe but most advertisements for classical/concert mandolin are anything but that. Am I confusing the term Classical with Concert?

[Tavy]

Top coats of EnduroVar going on. After level sanding 320 grit, these are wiped on with a cloth about as thin as I can get them. When you get right round the instrument the first parts are set hard and can be wiped over again. This is 3 times round. I think for a satin finish I would be done, but this will be rubbed out one more time and buffed.

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Faux-TortoiseShell binding has gold leaf behind for a bit of added glow:

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[pianoman89]

Man Tavy, aint that purdy!

[Dave Cohen]

Very nice Bill. Can you tell us your and David's thoughts behind using the slotted headstock and other leading particulars like sound chamber, wood, bracing, etc. for your "Classical mandolin" design? I notice Dave's bridge base shape and footprint seems to reflect the size of string guage above in the saddle. The neck inlay pattern is understated but outstanding in it's eloquent utility.
To be honest , I'm not sure I understand what to look/listen for in a classical instrument. The headstock makes me think classical guitar, nylon strings, etc. playing classical music mostly solo. The term classical makes me think of a concert instrument like Loyd's F5 that Bill turned into a Bluegrass axe but most advertisements for classical/concert mandolin are anything but that. Am I confusing the term Classical with Concert?

The single strongest influence on modern lutherie is the classical guitar design evolution of Torres, Bouchet, Hauser,..., etc. That is the main reason why you see the design elements you do in Bill's mandolin. Regarding "sound chamber": that mandolin has a fairly conventional arch top oval hole mandolin body. Bracing design is unique, but I don't claim any special sonic advantages from the design. Wood choices are unremarkable; Engelmann spruce and quilt big leaf maple. What I want in all of my wood is a high ratio of stiffness to density, or put another way, a low ratio of density to stiffness. That gives instrument parts that are more easily set in motion. There is nothing sonically special about the bridge design. I started using it when I thought there might be something to it, but I no longer think that. The advantages of my bridge are (i) that the width of the foot on the G-string side counteracts the tendency of the bridge to tilt or tip over as the strings are tightened, and (ii) lower mass. Bill's bridge has a mass of about 10 grams. Typical Gibson-type adjustable bridges have masses between 14 and 18 grams.

The slotted headstock has the advantage of lower mass, as well as a look that I think complements that of a classical guitar (albeit a simplified, "modern" one) in a duet. I have found that my necks w/slotted headstocks tend to weigh about 30 or more grams less than post-through headstocks for the same instrument, other things being equal. I have reasons, first theoretical and more recently experimental, to think that lower (neck + headstock) mass is a good thing. That, and mandolins tend to be headstock heavy anyway, principally from the mass of the tuning machines.

The ff-hole type archtop mandolin is not really dominant in classical mandolin music. If you go to a CMSA convention, or to something similar in Europe or Asia, you will see many different types of mandolins. To be sure, some players that have migrated to classical music from bluegrass have brought their ff-hole archtop mandolins with them. Still, the Neapolitan or bowl back has a strong presence in the US, and an even stronger one in Europe and Asia. There are many serious classical players who think that the Neapolitan sound is the one best suited to classical music. The sound of the ff-hole archtop type mandolin is the farthest from that of the Neapolitan. Oval hole flattops and archtops don't sound like Neapolitans, but they are less different from Neapolitans than are ff-hole type mandolins. One thing I am going for in my classical mandolin is low mass, which gives me some (though not all) of the brightness of a Neapolitan. That brightness is better heard in a mandolin orchestra than is the percussive midrange "pop" of an ff-hole type archtop. The other thing is balance. Neapolitans can be somewhat anemic on the lower strings. I think that oval hole archtops have more fullness in the lower end. So, I am trying for more bandwidth, i.e., better compromise of both the high end and the low end response.

[Mandoborg]

Hopefully the worker on the left doesn't get fined for not wearing a hard hat.......... 133695

Jim

https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.combra

[Clinton Johnson]

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[Dick Hutchings]

Brings back memories of going to the shop to work on one of mine and saw a mouse looking out of one of the f holes. There was a whole family in there. I stopped building for a while after that.

[terzinator]

Brings back memories of going to the shop to work on one of mine and saw a mouse looking out of one of the f holes. There was a whole family in there. I stopped building for a while after that.
It's not a mandolin, it's a house. Think of it as Habitat for Humanity: Rodent division.

[Bill Clements]

Top coats of EnduroVar going on. After level sanding 320 grit, these are wiped on with a cloth about as thin as I can get them. When you get right round the instrument the first parts are set hard and can be wiped over again. This is 3 times round. I think for a satin finish I would be done, but this will be rubbed out one more time and buffed.
Very pretty, John!

[Bill Clements]

The single strongest influence on modern lutherie is the classical guitar design evolution of Torres, Bouchet, Hauser,..., etc. That is the main reason why you see the design elements you do in Bill's mandolin.
Thank you, Dave, for this eloquent insight into your design concepts for this mandolin.
I look forward to sharing more photos with our friends here as we near completion!

[Clinton Johnson]

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Installed some frets this weekend...seems I'm moving at a snails pace on this thing. Oh well it is what it is

[Pete Jenner]

Slow and steady wins the race. Nice work, well done.

[Dick Hutchings]

Been I while, but I'm finally starting my fourth, and this one will be my first A5. All the wood came from Bruce at Orcas Island Tonewoods. Fantastic looking wood. I started right out hand planning the highly quilted maple for the back. Of all my hand planes, the old Stanley #5 did the cleanest work. I'm not sure what the top material is. I'm sure Bruce told me but I forgot. I told him I wasn't too fussy but I think he sent a real nice block of wood.
Here's som pics of this Hutch mandolin in it's infancy.
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[Pete Jenner]

Nice lump O' wood.

[Clinton Johnson]

That is some beautiful wood Dick..should make a good one!

[Dick Hutchings]

Thanks, I see no reason to go through all this work and not have beautiful wood to look at when it's done. I've used so so wood before. Never will again. The side wood is so densely flamed, I'm glad I'm making an A. I've broken quite a few pieces of this quality trying make F models. I get it done though. Pics of side wood and neck wood to come.

[labraid]

A new Baroque mandolino started recently.

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[John Kelly]

That looks like a fascinating piece of construction! Love the inlays.

[hank]

As graceful as nature building a Nautilus.

[D18dave]

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Applying my first hand finish. Using tru oil over shellac and really like the results so far, as well as the ease of use.

[Clinton Johnson]

That's looking real good D18...how many coats of shellac did you apply before Tru Oil?

[Dick Hutchings]

I have a friend that uses tru-oil and his finishes look great. The only issue I have with it, it takes quite a while for the smell to go away. I'll have to try it some day, it sure is easy and looks great.


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Applying my first hand finish. Using tru oil over shellac and really like the results so far, as well as the ease of use.

[Clinton Johnson]

I have a friend that uses tru-oil and his finishes look great. The only issue I have with it, it takes quite a while for the smell to go away. I'll have to try it some day, it sure is easy and looks great.

I've used Tru Oil in the past but never over shellac..I do like the finish it produces but have to agree on the smell issue

[D18dave]

I put three thin coats of spray shellac and sanded it lightly. Had to sand the headstock a little more becase flat surfaces coat so easily.

I hardly smell the tru oil. I was hoping it would smell a little more like a gunstock but I'm not following the bottle instructions. I'm applying very thin coats (over shellac) and wiping them off quickly. there's probably not much tru oil to smell and it's not penatrating the wood.

[Skip Kelley]

Nice work Dave! I love your mandolin design!

[Tavy]

A new Baroque mandolino started recently.

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OMG - beautiful as ever!

[Rob Michalski]

Nice use of depth of field in the photo of the bowlback.

Rob

[billhay4]

Brian is as good a photographer as he is a luthier, which is to say quite good.
Bill

[oldwave maker]

Inspiring as always, Brian!
Until further notice, I'm using this as the excuse at to why the garden sucks........

[Steve Sorensen]

The Wave may be Old, but it's on a roll!
Steve

[oldwave maker]

#559 leaving home this week, not on a roll, but a cowboy hat that won't blow off in the wind!

[JimKo]

Inspiring as always, Brian!
Until further notice, I'm using this as the excuse at to why the garden sucks........

Bill, Don't tell me you were working so hard you missed National Naked Gardening Day on May 2nd this year! Jim

[Clinton Johnson]

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Playing in the white..so far so good..needs a little more wood off the neck, it's a little bulky. The air chamber emits a C# when tap so I believe the F holes need to be opened up

[Dick Hutchings]

OK so it's a little more than lumps of wood now. After sorting out some issues with plane blades, adding a back bevel to my #6 I got them glued up. On to the next step which is to make an inside A5 mold. Don't hold your breath waiting but I'll continue adding things as I find time to get em done.
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[amowry]

Beautiful work everyone! Here's what's hanging in my shop today...

[billhay4]

They don't need to be hanging around, Andrew. Send them on to me.
Lovely work.
Bill

[pianoman89]

Beautiful work everyone! Here's what's hanging in my shop today...

Some fine work there, my friend! May I ask were you obtained the wood for the mandocello? I'm about to start on one myself, and I think Ive located my back/sides. But I'm having some trouble finding spruce for the top. Is a traditional cello wedge generally thick enough to accommodate the thickness of the scroll? Also, did you find planes for your, or draw your own?
Thanks, and again, absolutely gorgeous work!

[amowry]

Thanks! That one is atually an octave, but it's close to 'cello size. I drew the design myself, but it's basically my F5 design scaled up. I believe the top came from Old Standard back when they had some Engelmann, and the back came from Northwest Timber, here in Oregon. Sometimes I use archtop guitar wood if I have trouble finding wood in octave size. I'm not sure about the dimensions of cello wedges, but I would guess they would work.

[GKWilson]

Sweet. Honey, carmel, and molasses.
Beautiful stuff as always Andrew.
Gary

[Pete Jenner]

Get dressed number seven.

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[wildpikr]

Interesting sound hole shapes on that one. What color[s] will you stain it?

[Pete Jenner]

I'm not sure yet Mike. I might keep it blonde.

[Steve Sorensen]

French Polishing a Sprite Two-Point mandola. Getting close . . .

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Steve

[Clinton Johnson]

Dang Steve that's beutiful. Now if I could make instruments like that I'd quit my day job!

[D18dave]

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Finished one up and got to hear it on stage on Saturday.

[Clinton Johnson]

D18 that's awesome. Bet it sounds terrific!

[D18dave]

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also finishing up an F

[Clinton Johnson]

Man that is super nice bro! I can only hope my finish turns out that nice

[Dick Hutchings]

One small step for mankind... I'm slow but I finally got 45 minutes in my shop to glue my cutting plans on the top and back. Originally I did this. You can see there isn't quite enough figure to go around.

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So, I changed the orientation which leaves the figure radiating upwards. I'm OK with that.
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This one shows the top and the back with the back the way I was going to make it. I don't know why it's an attached thumbnail. I did something goofy.

[Clinton Johnson]

Lookin good Dick..that's definitely going to make a fine looking instrument!

[pianoman89]

Dick, where did you get that spruce? Looks like its got a little bear claw in it. I like that look...

[Dick Hutchings]

I got it from Orcas Island Tonewoods (http://www.radiofreeolga.com/tonewoods/). I see no reason to look elsewhere.

[Dick Hutchings]

That bear claw is just planing marks.

Dick, where did you get that spruce? Looks like its got a little bear claw in it. I like that look...

[Dick Hutchings]

Got some work done on the top this morning. Got to try out my new holdfast. They work great for this.
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[Tavy]

Tailpiece under construction:

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This is mark 3, having rejected 1&2 :(

[fscotte]

Just finished my first blonde top.

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[Dick Hutchings]

Love it! What kind of tailpiece is that?

[Clinton Johnson]

Beutiful piece Fscotte!

[fscotte]

Thanks! That's an Ashton Bailey tailpiece - kinda like a cheaper version of the Allen tailpiece. First time trying it, they are heavy and die cast, don't know about the lasting quality...

[Clinton Johnson]

Man all you guys are experts at finishing technique ..that's the part I seem to go south on though I've watched sunburst and condinos video over and over lol. I'm attempting a honey amber burst using the natural wood color on the top on #5 but wouldn't dare post the results until at least some top coats are on. I sware I'm about half color blind and just can't seem to match stuff very well

[Clinton Johnson]

Well after working on it in my garage several hours tonight I guess I'll go ahead and be a sport and post a couple (in progress)before topcoat pics. Why the heck not134895134896

[GarY Nava]

Tailpiece under construction:

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This is mark 3, having rejected 1&2 :(

I like this Tavy, very elegant. I take you're going for ball-ended strings on your monster?
Cheers Gary

[Dick Hutchings]

Is that a brushed finish or shiny. I can't really tell from the photo.

Thanks! That's an Ashton Bailey tailpiece - kinda like a cheaper version of the Allen tailpiece. First time trying it, they are heavy and die cast, don't know about the lasting quality...

[D18dave]

Tavy,
Killer tail piece!

Clinton,
Looking good!

[fscotte]

Is that a brushed finish or shiny. I can't really tell from the photo.

Shiny.

[Tavy]

I like this Tavy, very elegant. I take you're going for ball-ended strings on your monster?
Cheers Gary

Yep. I may or may not put pins in to hide the holes - you don't need them as the string just hooks into the slot.

Now I need to go and re-do the finish on this, as I sanded through when level sanding :(

[Vernon Hughes]

Been a while since I had a chance to work on anything since taking a new job but I have one in the finishing stages now. Coming along.

[Pete Jenner]

Polishing.

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[D18dave]

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Finished just in time for Weiser!

[Marty Jacobson]

Polishing.

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You make it look peaceful and meditative. (I am not fooled.)

[Pete Jenner]

You make it look peaceful and meditative. (I am not fooled.)

Shhh ...that's why I didn't show the top where I burned through the varnish. ;) Only set me back a week or so.

[Marty Jacobson]

Happens so easily. Enduro-Var all the way for me, now. Five coats and buff it two days later. It's still shrinking at that point so it looks like wood rather than plastic after the rest of the week-long curing phase is done.

[Pete Jenner]

Yeah I think this stuff is pretty similar to enduro-Var.

[Tavy]

Shhh ...that's why I didn't show the top where I burned through the varnish. ;) Only set me back a week or so.

I feel your pain, I have one small dull spot on mine, trying to decide whether I can live with it or not :(

[Dick Hutchings]

Happens so easily. Enduro-Var all the way for me, now. Five coats and buff it two days later. It's still shrinking at that point so it looks like wood rather than plastic after the rest of the week-long curing phase is done.

Marty, I'm so accustomed to shiny plastic looking finishes, I almost take offense at your remark. When Martin started making lower priced guitars with a satin finish, I assumed it was because it was a cheaper and easier process. Now I see mandolins like this and I'm starting to appreciate them a little more. Give me shiny, I'm too old to change.

[Marty Jacobson]

Oh, it is shiny, it's just not dead flat. It shows some of the texture of the wood underneath while being mirror glossy. Kind of like a lacquer finish that's decades old and has really and truly cured. It's not like a satin finish at all (which I also dislike).

[Dick Hutchings]

Now that I like.

[GarY Nava]

Hi Marty,
Out of interest, do you spray the Enduro-Var?
Cheers Gary

[Marty Jacobson]

Hi Gary, I brush the first 2 seal coats so that I have pores filled and everything leveled nicely. Then the rest are sprayed, usually in one day. It's ready to buff two days later.

[GarY Nava]

Hi Gary, I brush the first 2 seal coats so that I have pores filled and everything leveled nicely. Then the rest are sprayed, usually in one day. It's ready to buff two days later.

Thanks Marty- always like to keep my options open!
Cheers Gary

[Tom Haywood]

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[Bill Snyder]

Tom, it looks like you have done a fine job on that. Is it laminate or solid?
FWIW, I watched the video (I think of this instrument in the white) on facebook and enjoyed it.

[Tom Haywood]

Bill, thanks. Laminate is too nice a word. It is thin 3 ply Baltic birch plywood radiused with sitka spruce braces. The neck is maple. This is the first full body I've done in lacquer. Definitely a learning curve there. My instruments are known for being loud, and surprisingly this one is the loudest and has a pleasing tone. It should hold up to any travel conditions. The next one will likely be be solid curly maple with spruce top.

Marty, I'm trying to have it together to bring Wednesday.

Pete, it's not a Pagan but it's pretty neat.

[Pete Jenner]

As long as it is a sun worshipper Tom.

[Pete Jenner]

Speaking of Pagans, number 7 will be out the door in the morning to hang among the Chinese mandolins at Katoomba Music (http://katoombamusic.com.au/).

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[sunburst]

Nothing in progress to report here, I was just catching up on this thread and felt compelled to mention this:

A high quality, dead flat, mirror gloss finish over a well prepared surface looks great.
A high quality less-than-full-gloss (call it satin, flat, whatever) finish over a well prepared surface looks great.

A poor quality, dead flat, mirror gloss finish over a poorly prepared surface looks like ****.
A poor quality, dead flat, less-than-full-gloss finish over a poorly prepared surface looks like ****.

We tend to paint finish types with a broad brush (poor pun intended), and when we see a cheap gloss finish we decide we don't like gloss finishes. When we see a cheap "satin" finish we decide we don't like "satin" finishes. In most cases, what we really don't like is a cheap, poorly done finish over a poorly prepared surface.

Quality of surface, quality of finish material, and most of all skill of the finisher are what determine the quality of the finish.
Before you decide you don't like a less-than-high-gloss finish, look at a cheap pac-rim mandolin beside a Nugget or similar. See the difference? Same for high gloss.

Now back to progress posts...
Looking good folks!

[Pete Jenner]

Nothing in progress to report here, I was just catching up on this thread and felt compelled to mention this:

A high quality, dead flat, mirror gloss finish over a well prepared surface looks great.
A high quality less-than-full-gloss (call it satin, flat, whatever) finish over a well prepared surface looks great.

A poor quality, dead flat, mirror gloss finish over a poorly prepared surface looks like ****.
A poor quality, dead flat, less-than-full-gloss finish over a poorly prepared surface looks like ****.

We tend to paint finish types with a broad brush (poor pun intended), and when we see a cheap gloss finish we decide we don't like gloss finishes. When we see a cheap "satin" finish we decide we don't like "satin" finishes. In most cases, what we really don't like is a cheap, poorly done finish over a poorly prepared surface.

Quality of surface, quality of finish material, and most of all skill of the finisher are what determine the quality of the finish.
Before you decide you don't like a less-than-high-gloss finish, look at a cheap pac-rim mandolin beside a Nugget or similar. See the difference? Same for high gloss.

Now back to progress posts...
Looking good folks!

:) ...but having said that, I don't like satin finishes - well done or not.

[Tom Haywood]

Speaking of Pagans, number 7 will be out the door in the morning to hang among the Chinese mandolins at Katoomba Music (http://katoombamusic.com.au/).

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Really nice!

[Tom Haywood]

About to call it done.

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[Marty Jacobson]

Thanks for letting me play it today, Tom. It sounds great, just like a Flatiron type instrument should. I guess we'll have to add model aircraft plywood to the list of available tonewood species.

[Vernon Hughes]

Got this one strung up today,letting it settle in overnight before I go to wailing on it..They always sound better after 24 hours though i'm impressed an hour in.

[Magnus Geijer]

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Just the very last little bit left now, and this batch will be done.

[Steve Sorensen]

"Big Dog" octave peghead -

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Steve

[Skip Kelley]

That's just too cool, Steve!

[GarY Nava]

These two; 10 string mandocello and mandola, have just been set-up "in the white". Next week sees them taken apart again and the finished applied.
Cheers Gary

[John Kelly]

Two fine instruments, Gary. Elegant!

[oldwave maker]

mandoweeds in the cowpea patch

[Dick Hutchings]

They appear to be almost ready for picking.:))

[Skip Kelley]

Bill, nice work! You have a great sense of humor! Picking time!!!

[GarY Nava]

Thought that you might find this interesting! The last touch on the 10-string 'cello.
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Did a whole blog post about my version of pin point capos here.

http://guitar-maker.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/pin-point-capos.html

Cheers Gary

[Tavy]

Thought that you might find this interesting! The last touch on the 10-string 'cello.
136501
Did a whole blog post about my version of pin point capos here.

http://guitar-maker.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/pin-point-capos.html

Cheers Gary

Fascinating - be really interesting to see those in action at a gig and see how well the idea works in practice!

[Steve Sorensen]

The whole shop smelled like warm maple syrup while I was bending quilted maple binding for this build. What a sweet benefit as this one comes together!

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Steve

[Pete Jenner]

The whole shop smelled like warm maple syrup while I was bending quilted maple binding for this build. What a sweet benefit as this one comes together!

136588

Steve

That's some pretty thick maple you're bending there Steve.

[oldwave maker]

Some fresh hanging maple mandomeat in the spray locker, the New Horizons probe can travel another 5 billion miles and it won't find a life form like this stuff!

[Steve Sorensen]

Love #4s maple-icious figure.
Steve

[Charles E.]

mandoweeds in the cowpea patch

Sounds like the name of a fiddle tune. ;)

[Magnus Geijer]

And now for something completely different...
Something ES335ish, except 5-string and 19" scale. Probably.

136803

[Steve Sorensen]

Neckin' again.

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Big Dog Octave

Steve

[Steve Sorensen]

And, finally --

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Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, I'm loving the looks of that Big Dog Octave! Nicely done!

[Dan Douris]

Latest build progress.

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[Skip Kelley]

Dan, that is progressing nicely! I like the looks of that recurve!

[Dan Douris]

Thanks Skip!

[Kevin Stueve]

And, finally --

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Steve

very cool

[oldwave maker]

First of the C#'s and big boys group, Maine birdseye, desert ironwood, turquoise, and compression red spruce I got from John Arnold at the Nashville ASIA convention 15 yrs ago, these are more fun to spank in the white than a bowl of vanilla ice cream on a hot day.....

[Dan Douris]

still lots more to do but pretty psyched on the progress so far.

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[Clinton Johnson]

You the man Dan! Watching your progress is giving me inspiration bro

[Dan Douris]

Thanks Clinton! Are you thinking of building? If so this is the best forum for help from other builders.

[Clinton Johnson]

Dan I've recently completed my # 5...but watching your work makes me want to start another already lol. And yes this is a great forum, I've been gleaning valuable info here for years.:mandosmiley:

[GarY Nava]

Latest mandolin coming along nicely;)
Cheers Gary

[oldwave maker]

Progressing right out the door to fedex later this week:

[Steve Sorensen]

Test string-up for the first CaliMando -

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13-7/8 scale; Curly Redwood and Curly Claro Walnut with Quilted Maple binding and details; Rubner tuners; Killer Bridge and new Killer MandoTail.

Looking forward to getting some shellac on this baby for sure.

Steve

[sgarrity]

That looks jazzy!

[Ron McMillan]

Progressing right out the door to fedex later this week:

These are so handsome. I applaud makers like yourself who are continuing the great tradition of the A4/A5 instruments of another era.

[Ron McMillan]

Looking forward to getting some shellac on this baby for sure.


I look forward to seeing that :)

[Steve Sorensen]

Strung up this one in the white for a little test-drive before finishing.

137737

Steve

[Clinton Johnson]

Beautiful Steve as usual

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, very nice! I love your inlay on that one!

[hank]

A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness.
CHAO-PIEN

[Dan Douris]

Still lots to do but here is mando #4 progerss.

137754

[Steve Sorensen]

Thanks guys! I'm really looking forward to having this one completed.

The inlay work was a fun collaboration with the client (from Beijing) and features a branch of plum blossoms reaching up from the pickguard to the headstock where a stylized version of the character for "Dancer" flows between the tuners. The designs are based upon her amazing tattoos. I used stabilized camphor for the "branch", black MOP for the character and pinkish Abalone for the flowers.

Here's a closer look --

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I love doing the creative inlay work, but it makes me even more aware that the tone and playability for these "fancy" ones has to be really superior. I used the graduations and tonebar tweaks that I worked out with Randy Jones this spring, and I'm really pleased with how the bearclaw Sitka Spruce and Bigleaf maple back work together on this one -- really woody but powerful and balanced.

Steve

[Bill Snyder]

A sudden clash of thunder, the mind doors burst open, and lo, there sits old man Buddha-nature in all his homeliness.
CHAO-PIEN

What does this mean?

[hank]

"What does this mean?"
Bill this is a Zen writing that came to my mind viewing Steven's plum tree inlay. Much of my exposure to oriental art is thru Spiritual literature decorated with similar art forms. Thanks for sharing this one Steven.

[Dan Douris]

mando #4 progress.

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[Dan Douris]

weird...didn't mean to repost my mando progress.

[Clinton Johnson]

Looking great Dan, bet you can't wait to hear that puppy bark! :mandosmiley:

[Dan Douris]

Thanks Clinton! Hope to string it up in the white after I finish graduating the back plate. I am kinda cheating here since the back isnn't really attached yet! lol!

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[Steve Sorensen]

Absolutely perfect weather for French Polishing today.

137887

The CaliMando is starting to shine!

Steve

[Dan Douris]

Wow truly amazing Steve!

[testore]

New Vessel F5 finished today

[hank]

WOW! I don't know if it's the tree or your artistry but that is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

[Steve Sorensen]

Hanging around this weekend --

138084

Steve

[John Kelly]

138091138093

My two latest projects, one with spruce top and mahogany back and sides and the other with cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides. Both 360mm scales. On the cedar mandolin I modified the tailpiece (identical to the spruce top) by gluing on a piece of the rosewood to the reshaped tailpiece cover. Just a personal touch!

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, I'm loving that A model!

John, those mandolins look like they would be fun to pick on!

Here is a picture of an F model that is quilted maple/california redwood. I love that tonewood. this one rings like a church bell already.

138168

[Steve Sorensen]

Skip,
Looks like we've got another Redwood fan! Beautiful clean work!
Steve

[John Kelly]

Hey Skip, another Kelley, though I have a letter less in my spelling! That Redwood body looks great.

[Dan Douris]

Mando progress.

Sitka top
Big leaf maple back, neck, and sides
Ebony fingerboard
Wenge peghead veneer

138255 138254

[Dan Douris]

Hey Skip that F looks like it's coming along real nice! I had a chance to pick one of your F mandos (can't recall the #) at a bluegrass fest in Wind Gap, PA about 7-8 years ago. The sound and playability was awesome! Hope to get a chance on another sometime!

[Skip Kelley]

Dan, thanks for the kind words! Your A model is looking good! I love the figure in the maple!

[Dan Douris]

Thanks Skip! Maple is from Bruce @ Orcas Island. That guy has some killer stuff!

[Skip Kelley]

Dan, I think Bruce has some great stuff! The F5 I have pictured is from redwood and quilt that I bought from him.

[Steve Sorensen]

Big Dog octave back before and after color.

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Nice bit of wood, huh?

Steve

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, that's a fine looking piece of maple!

[Dan Douris]

Strung up in the white.

138427

[Clinton Johnson]

Nice Dan...how is she sounding?

[Dan Douris]

Not bad Clinton, even with a half ass set up! lol!

[Clinton Johnson]

Not bad Clinton, even with a half ass set up! lol!

Yeah man...tis better to have a "half" arse than no arse atol..great work :mandosmiley:

[Dan Douris]

Here is a short vid of my 4th mando build progress. Still a newbie at this building thing but still enjoying every minute and still lots to learn. Please excuse the sorry pickin'...:confused:!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_5lkQ5g8I&feature=youtu.be

[Steve Sorensen]

Dan,
That's progress you can be proud of!
Steve

[Dan Douris]

I appreciate that Steve! thanks!

[Dan Douris]

Oh and Steve I am hoping someone that owns one of your mandos shows up out here in PA so I can try it out! They just look so amazing!

[Dan Douris]

So I bumped into the very talented Bryce Milano at a festival over the weekend and he took my latest build for a test run. He gave me some really nice compliments and also some great ideas on set up which is what I wanted to hear. He made it sound really nice!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHelr7-mny4

[Dan Douris]

Part 2 of Bryce Milano pickin' mando #4. Funny how he makes it sound good even though it is only 6 days old with a really bad set up! The nut is just a tad too high and I threw on and old set of Schaller tuners just to string it up. They don't stay in too so good anymore as you can hear in the vid. I have a new set on order. Overall I am pretty happy with the sound. Now its time to clean it up for stain and polish!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeC2vZGgMJs

[Skip Kelley]

Dan, your mandolin sounds great! Nice work!

[Dan Douris]

Thanks Skip! Ready to finish this one up and move onto building another!

[labraid]

A new Roman mandolin getting started. Stained glass finial.

139206

[Magnus Geijer]

#13 underway. 18", 5-string octave. I have high hopes.

139227

[Dan Douris]

Finished staining last night. Still need a lot more experience under my belt on the staining process but still pleased I got to this point! Looking forward to getting a shine on this one!

139255 139254

[Clinton Johnson]

Looking good Dan

[Dan Douris]

Looking good Dan

Thanks Clinton! Just need to tighten up on my craftsmanship. I can sand and sand but still seem to find a small spot where stain just doesn't adhere the best :(. I guess this will come with more experience I hope...

[Clinton Johnson]

You and I are pretty much in the same boat Dan, the finishing process is definately one of my weakness. But it's fun

[John Kelly]

That's a fine-looking instrument, Dan. I really like the headstock and the inlay pattern too.

[Dan Douris]

That's a fine-looking instrument, Dan. I really like the headstock and the inlay pattern too.

Thanks John! Started the varnish last night. Hope to get a mirror finish on this one!

139282

[Clinton Johnson]

Man that burst is popping! Awesome bro

[Max Girouard]

Finally getting around to finishing off this 10 string fanned fret mandola. First and last time I'll use purple heart on an archtop instrument. Too hard on the tools and joints. The top is a piece of wide grain cedar, from Orcas Island Tonewoods.

[Max Girouard]

Also have this one getting strung up today in the white. Red spruce top, Peruvian walnut back / sides / neck. Neck has center stripe of ebony. Lauri had come up with the idea a few years ago of having an owl chasing some mice for the headstock overlay, as well as mice scurrying around the fretboard. We have an adventurous client who thought that it would work on his custom build.

[Dan Douris]

Man that burst is popping! Awesome bro

Thanks Clinton! Looking forward to the finished product.

[Dan Douris]

Wow Max that its real nice! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

[Clinton Johnson]

Wow Max, whoever Lauri is must be among the genius minds, the Owl chasing mice? How cool is that! Who would've thought?

[Max Girouard]

Wow Max, whoever Lauri is must be among the genius minds, the Owl chasing mice? How cool is that! Who would've thought?

Lauri is my wife, AKA finish sander, color department and finishing department!

[Steve Sorensen]

Awesome builds, Max. Cool all around!
Steve

[Tavy]

Also have this one getting strung up today in the white. Red spruce top, Peruvian walnut back / sides / neck. Neck has center stripe of ebony. Lauri had come up with the idea a few years ago of having an owl chasing some mice for the headstock overlay, as well as mice scurrying around the fretboard. We have an adventurous client who thought that it would work on his custom build.

Fantastic: love the cheese - nice touch!

[Jim Garber]

Also have this one getting strung up today in the white. Red spruce top, Peruvian walnut back / sides / neck. Neck has center stripe of ebony. Lauri had come up with the idea a few years ago of having an owl chasing some mice for the headstock overlay, as well as mice scurrying around the fretboard. We have an adventurous client who thought that it would work on his custom build.
Love the inlays! Also that Peruvian walnut looks like swirled ice cream. Does it sound similar to American walnut?

[Dan Douris]

Hangin' out to dry.

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[Max Girouard]

Love the inlays! Also that Peruvian walnut looks like swirled ice cream. Does it sound similar to American walnut?

I've only built one other mandolin with black walnut (Juglans nigra), and two others with Claro walnut (Juglans hindsii), but that was so long ago, and my arching and carving is different now from when I did those that there are too many variables to make a judgement on how the woods differ. I carved this piece similar to how I would have carved a piece of maple with similar stiffness. However the density of this walnut was significantly less than most of the maples I work with. The sound when strung up is very strong in the fundamental without a lot of overtones, or what I like to call dry. Would make a fantastic bluegrass mandolin or ensemble instrument. It has exceptional volume and cut, but without sounding brittle or harsh.

[bernabe]

Mandolin #35. Time to start the final sanding process. 1 piece Engelman top, sugar maple for the rest.

[Dan Douris]

James, I know I have already commented on FB but again that is freakin' amazing!

[Clinton Johnson]

Love the aperture design..awesome

[billhay4]

Nice design; I agree about the soundholes.
Bill

[Skip Kelley]

Magnus, that 5 string is looking great!

Dan, nice work on the stain! That maple figure looks great!

Max, I love that walnut mando! The owl and mice inlay are really cool!

James, I'm loving those sound holes! Can't call them f holes, can we? That is a really wide grain top; I love it!

[wwwilkie]

Here's a mandolin I'm building which is part of the "One Tree" project put on by the Robert Bateman Gallery in Victoria, BC. They've invited 40 artists from around Vancouver Island to create pieces using wood from the same Bigleaf Maple tree.
It was not easy finding usable pieces in such a small amount of wood but I'm happy with the end result. I cheated a bit and used sitka spruce for the top and an ebony fretboard (with bigleaf maple inlays).
I'm in the process of french polishing it right now.

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[billhay4]

Beautiful work, Wyatt, as usual, especially that fretboard. Are the soundholes adjustable?
Bill

[wwwilkie]

Thanks, Bill. Not adjustable, I like to keep things simple!

[Marty Jacobson]

So glad to see you making mischief, Wyatt. Beautiful instrument. The soundholes are masterful.

[bernabe]

Wyatt, I assume that's just recessed being the grain matches. Is that reinforced underneath? Flared thicker to keep that area less fragile? Interesting.

[Skip Kelley]

Wyatt, that mandolin is a fine work of art!

[Dan Douris]

Gettin' there.

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[Dan Douris]

That is some seriously fine craftsmanship Wyatt!

[wwwilkie]

Yes the soundholes are carved and it's purely stylistic. I didn't reinforce them underneath, didn't think it was necessary and (good eye!) they are flared out thicker. I just thought it would look cool. I'll post a photo when it's done, there are some other parts like the truss rod cover, pickguard and bridge which I made using the same bigleaf maple.

[tom.gibson]

I just thought it would look cool.

And it sure does.

[Dan Douris]

Pretty happy with how this one turned out. Still a newbie at building but looking forward to starting another! Will post a vid/sound clip once I fit it with a new CA bridge once it arrives.

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[Skip Kelley]

Dan, you should be proud! Your mandolin looks great! Nice burst!

[Dan Douris]

Dan, you should be proud! Your mandolin looks great! Nice burst!

Thank you for the encouraging words Skip!

[Dan Douris]

So here is my 4th mandolin build. Still tweaking the setup but pretty happy with how it turned out. Let me know what ya think.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtLPZtkSAP8&feature=youtu.be

[Steve Sorensen]

Dan,
Still sounding new-tight . . . but heading in the right direction! Play it hard and work that box!
Steve

[Dan Douris]

Dan,
Still sounding new-tight . . . but heading in the right direction! Play it hard and work that box!
Steve

I figure it will take me a lot more builds to fully understand how to get that worn-in sound right of the bat. Taking it out tonight to a jam to get others pickers to see what they think. Thanks Steve your input really mean a lot!

[PlaneSimple]

I do things the hard way it seems. Here is a shot of the neck of my just completed f5, in progress; the slow way.140025

[Max Girouard]

I was able to snap a few shots of Lauri doing a burst on one of our mandolins. She does such a wonderful job. I'll admit, I still get a little freaked out when she first puts on that darker stain and it is all streaky, but she always makes it look great in the end.

[Mandoborg]

Looking good Max/Lauri !!

[Skip Kelley]

Dan, your mandolin sounds great! Keep up the good work!

Max, Lauri does a great job with the sunburst!

[oldwave maker]

Like most luthiers here, I'm wondering if Lauri has a similarly talented twin sister looking for a job in santa's southwest mando workshop? Don't know how that parlor archtop guitar snuck in here.......

[Skip Kelley]

Wow, Bill you have been busy! There's a lot of hard work right there! Looking good!

[bernabe]

Sugar Maple, stained, sealed, scraped140265 and a coat of finish 140266

[TheMandoKit]

Like most luthiers here, I'm wondering if Lauri has a similarly talented twin sister looking for a job in santa's southwest mando workshop? Don't know how that parlor archtop guitar snuck in here.......

Dang it, Bill, now you're going to get me jonesing for a GBOM. Or an archtop parlor. Or both.

I can't stand it!:grin:

[oldwave maker]

Kit- planning the doubleneck archtop guitar/octave as soon as I finish my doubleneck electric mando/upright stick bass, should be around the first of April!

[bernabe]

1 piece Engelman 140309