New 10-stringed mandolin

[Tyko Runesson]

Here is some pic on the 10-stringed mandolin that I just build for Oskar Reuter from Sweden. It might not show up so clearly on this pics but it does have fanned frets with Scale 352-365 mm. I believe it is about so close you can come to the feeling of a "normal" mandolin but with the added low C of an Mandola. Or however you like to tune it!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0342_zps593b740c.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0344_zps429b3f4c.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0346_zps413309e2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0347_zps75edc75b.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0359_zpsd06622b7.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/tyko/DSCF0362_zpsbc04da7a.jpg

[rico mando]

Looks very sweet . I bet it plays nice

[Larry S Sherman]

Beautiful 10-string!

I like the inlay at the 12th fret, but I don't like the position of the strap button.

How does it sound?

Larry

[billhay4]

Very nice instrument. I've been thinking of a 10 string. Wonder if we could hear this one?
Bill

[Marty Jacobson]

Awesome. Does the extra 1/2" actually make that big of a difference? I have been considering something along these same lines.

[garthh]

Beautiful. Can you post a close-up of the fanned frets? I've not heard Of that before. Thanks!

[Tyko Runesson]

Thanks for your nice comments!
Unfortunately I had no chance to do a recording of this mandolin before I had to deliver it to its new owner. But I hope that he soon will do some recordings with it, he is anyway playing mandolin in a total dirrerent league than I do....he is really good and fortune to be able to live on his playing.
But it sounded good...and he was very satisfied (: That is the most important when you build an instrument on order. He wanted a more of a bluegrassy sound than a softer oldtime sound cause he wanted it to be more of an solo instrument. It became load but also with some fatness in the bass and ompffff in the middle without losing it´s focus and brilliance on top.....hope you got the picture....
Yes, the difference in scale lenght does make sence, it is 13 mm and that is sure something. The good thing is that you really got the feeling of playing a normal mandolin and you won´t think about the fanned frets at all. There is some builders that build their 10 stringed with 365 mm scale but then there is a risk that you will have to stretch your finger some and it feels like a longer scale.
The strap button om the heel is there for a reason....it is also the neck screw that holds the neck in place. Could also take away the strap button and just have the screw there of course but it was no problem for Oskar.
I can´t make more photos while I don´t have the mandolin by me anymore....but there is a load of photos of different fanned fretted instruments on the internet. On my photos you can look on the photo of the head, there you will see that the nut is tilted and the fretboard cut in a different angle than it is on normal fretted instruments. Otherwise it can be hard to see on my photos, sorry....But I like it when you don´t think about it, fanned frets is nothing that I prefer estetically but I use it when it will add something to the playability or the tone.

[billhay4]

Thanks, Tyko,
I'd like to hear the tennis racket instrument, too! Nice stuff you build.
Bill

[Tyko Runesson]

Thanks, Tyko,
I'd like to hear the tennis racket instrument, too! Nice stuff you build.
Bill

Thanks!
Ah, the tennis racket.....that was also an instrument that had to suffer from a fast deliverance without any time to do any recording of it....I really have to shape up on that point I now clearly realize.....;)