View Full Version : Which back would you choose?
blauserk
Aug-01-2012, 9:05am
I've flipped the image digitally so you can see how it would look to the player. I have a hard time "reading" the flame in the piece on the left. The one on the right would, I think, look just about identical to the photo at the bottom.
This is a nice dilemma to have.
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sunburst
Aug-01-2012, 9:22am
Between the two, I'd choose the one on the right (it looks more likely to be consistent and stable). Given a larger selection of wood, each piece would be pretty far down the list.
pjlama
Aug-01-2012, 9:24am
Too, hard a choice. I like the one on the right for its understated nature but that marbling effect on the left is insane. Which ever one will have a warm vintage vibe once he finishes it.
fatt-dad
Aug-01-2012, 9:59am
I prefer the 2-piece back.
f-d
blauserk
Aug-01-2012, 10:08am
I prefer the 2-piece back.
You mean what's behind curtain number 3? Both of those are one-piece backs.
billhay4
Aug-01-2012, 10:39am
Left.
Bill
blauserk
Aug-04-2012, 12:10pm
. . . And here are the two-piece options. #1 is D-log. #2 is W-log. Now: what the heck is W-log? :))
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billhay4
Aug-04-2012, 12:21pm
2
Bill
Chip Booth
Aug-04-2012, 12:46pm
Is this the Gilchrist D log? Hard to go wrong there and I speak from experience. That one piece on the right at the top looks like it could be D log as well, in which case I would certainly go for that.
blauserk
Aug-04-2012, 1:27pm
Is this the Gilchrist D log? Hard to go wrong there and I speak from experience. That one piece on the right at the top looks like it could be D log as well, in which case I would certainly go for that.
Good eye. Of the two-piece backs, #1 is the Gilchrist D-log. Of the one-piecers, the one on the right (the milder-flamed one) is reportedly D-log. Looks like it's barely big enough, but I imagine he can do it.
sunburst
Aug-04-2012, 2:05pm
Out of the 4, I'd pick 2-piece #2 (W-log?)
Steve Sorensen
Aug-04-2012, 2:38pm
From what can be seen --- 1-1 would be fun to work and see finished. 2-2 is the one that overtly has the traits to become part of a legendary mandolin.
Steve
SHORTY
Aug-04-2012, 4:11pm
I think the left one in unusable and should immediately be sent to me for resurfaceing or something like that. I like both.
Kadenza910
Aug-05-2012, 11:02pm
I like the one piece back on the left. Seems more unique to me.
SternART
Aug-05-2012, 11:56pm
I'd say to the builder......."if it was going to be your personal mandolin, which would you pick?"
pjlama
Aug-06-2012, 12:43am
I'm partial to one piece backs, 1.1 would be my #1 choice for sure. Since I prefer one piece backs my second choice would be 1.2 after that 2.1 which looks similar to 670 on a quick glance and we both know how that one sounds. 2.2 is just too pradictable for me but who cares what I think, I'm not sure I even do anymore. The good news is you can send Mr. G to the local lumber yard and he'll give you a killer.
mtucker
Aug-07-2012, 12:45pm
. . . And here are the two-piece options. #1 is D-log. #2 is W-log. Now: what the heck is W-log? :))
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W log would be more like junior's back (pic) but with burst...nothing wrong with it ;) here's a pic of a copy of kenny snow's Loar that Steve did... great burst and finish color on the 2pc flame.
blauserk
Aug-07-2012, 9:30pm
I'd say to the builder......."if it was going to be your personal mandolin, which would you pick?"
I went with this. And he replied, "They will all be good, but I choose #4, in a deep sunburst."
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So everyone who wanted to see a mandolin liberated from the wilder of the one-piece backs, stay tuned!
It'll have one of these thingamajigs tacked on to it. I don't think it's gonna be that one on top, because I'm going for a wide nut.
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sgarrity
Aug-07-2012, 9:48pm
That's gonna look NICE!
Chip Booth
Aug-08-2012, 1:41pm
Very cool! I have the wide nut/large neck option and I love the feel. It's chunky compared to a more standard neck but I think it plays great. It was one of the things that sold me on the instrument.
mtucker
Aug-08-2012, 5:04pm
i prefer these .. well if you must! GO TEAM USA!!
blauserk
Aug-10-2012, 10:01pm
OK, I did not intend for this thread to take this particular turn, but as a relentless seeker after truth, I must go where the facts take me. I did not realize that Ms. May's tattoo had expanded over the years.
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And now the most recent close-up of the tat (I can't link the photo directly because it's copyright protected, but if you have a Lettermanesque sense of humor, you'll enjoy this).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhailtheblackmarket/7744255398/
As soon as I get more pictures of the *mandolin* back in progress, I'll get this thread back on track. (Hyar hyar.)
blauserk
Aug-10-2012, 10:04pm
I have the wide nut/large neck option and I love the feel. It's chunky compared to a more standard neck but I think it plays great.
Radius fingerboard? I was thinking of going flat because I discovered I like skinny flat boards, but I've never played a flat board that is quite that wide. There's a wide-nut Gil Model 5 with a flat board for sale at the moment (or was the last time I checked).
blauserk
Nov-15-2012, 1:26pm
So everyone who wanted to see a mandolin liberated from the wilder of the one-piece backs, stay tuned!
Still has another month or so to go, but I wanted to give people a glimpse of how that back is shaping up.
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I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's #701.
Chip Booth
Nov-15-2012, 1:35pm
Crazy! Like a sunset over the ocean on a cloudy day.
sgarrity
Nov-15-2012, 2:28pm
That looks amazing!
Steve Sorensen
Nov-15-2012, 2:37pm
Awesome!
billhay4
Nov-15-2012, 2:56pm
Quite lovely!
Bill
George R. Lane
Nov-15-2012, 2:57pm
Droooooool.
rb3868
Nov-15-2012, 6:43pm
It looks like...magic
sgrexa
Nov-15-2012, 7:01pm
New to this thread John, but that was my first choice. Looks real nice! Did you go for a 5 or 4?
Sean
fatt-dad
Nov-15-2012, 8:00pm
Love the mandolin!
f-d
eadg145
Nov-17-2012, 2:48am
Holy Cow! I really like that. To me it says "mysterious". Reminds me of photos from the Hubble Telescope.
Don Grieser
Nov-17-2012, 3:51pm
I bet you're glad you chose the wild one. Yowza!
blauserk
Jan-29-2013, 3:16pm
Crazy! Like a sunset over the ocean on a cloudy day.
I agree. It really reminds me of nothing so much as this. Once I decide it's a keeper, I'll paint a tiny B-24 on the left-hand side. (I kid, I kid.)
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Mark Seale
Jan-30-2013, 3:55pm
Did this instrument just get delivered in the recent batch?
blauserk
Jan-31-2013, 1:52pm
Did this instrument just get delivered in the recent batch?
Indeed it did--#701 arrived yesterday. It sounds even better than it looks, and it's not too hard on the eyes.
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sgrexa
Jan-31-2013, 2:32pm
Congrats John, just a spectacularly beautiful instrument. Mr. Gilchrist's talents and drive never cease to amaze.
sgrexa
Jan-31-2013, 2:43pm
I wonder how how that back was cut? Rift sawn? Not sure what the name of that figure is, but is sure is pretty.
Hi Sean, maybe 'random figured Maple' ?
That final color's Beautiflous ! However, I think I, might have stopped at the Brown stage. I'd sure like to see how he goes from the brown & ends up there.
Blauserk, you didn't have a change of heart on the color at some stage, did you ?
Congrats & enjoy, we all know you will :)
Don Grieser
Feb-01-2013, 12:33am
That back is spectacular! I'm sure everything else about that Gil is too.
calgary.fiddler
Feb-01-2013, 1:23am
That definitely looks like one of the most beautiful mandolins i've ever seen. I wanna know how it sounds!!!
Mark Seale
Feb-01-2013, 11:30am
Hi Sean, maybe 'random figured Maple' ?
That final color's Beautiflous ! However, I think I, might have stopped at the Brown stage. I'd sure like to see how he goes from the brown & ends up there.
Blauserk, you didn't have a change of heart on the color at some stage, did you ?
Congrats & enjoy, we all know you will :)
IMO, Gilchrist is an artist with his sunbursts and french polish. That looks like a two color burst, he gets amazing depth in his color.
Barry Platnick
Feb-01-2013, 11:43am
That definitely looks like one of the most beautiful mandolins i've ever seen. I wanna know how it sounds!!!
Seconded
rb3868
Feb-06-2013, 11:08pm
that is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. It had to be an amazing feeling doing the finish, watching that emerge
mgrier1
Feb-10-2013, 9:16pm
Fantastic! I love the "chaos" in that back...
(No objection to the lovely ladies of Beach Volleyball either!;))
Best,
Mike
JeffD
Feb-11-2013, 12:32am
Still has another month or so to go, but I wanted to give people a glimpse of how that back is shaping up.
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O - M - G
That is an absolute stunner.
blauserk
Jan-30-2022, 2:09pm
Today is the 9th anniversary of its arrival. I've sold off all my other mandolins since it came, including some really great ones, including a 1988 Monteleone "Style B." It has cured me of MAS, I think. I literally have trouble putting it in the case because I want to pick it one more time just to hear how lovely the notes sound.
As an aside, I'm a big fan of side-bound mandolins; I like the details that mainly the player notices. The sides and neck are just gorgeous. (Apologies; the website rotated the second photo.)
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ivancook
Jan-30-2022, 5:48pm
Nice to see the before/after. Lovely!!
Mark Seale
Jan-31-2022, 10:51am
Today is the 9th anniversary of its arrival. I've sold off all my other mandolins since it came, including some really great ones, including a 1988 Monteleone "Style B." It has cured me of MAS, I think. I literally have trouble putting it in the case because I want to pick it one more time just to hear how lovely the notes sound.
As an aside, I'm a big fan of side-bound mandolins; I like the details that mainly the player notices. The sides and neck are just gorgeous. (Apologies; the website rotated the second photo.)
199151
199150
Happy gotcha day from me and #670. I've bought and sold a Monteleone Style B, a Heiden, and a Gil mod 3 and 670 isn't going anywhere!