Lawrence Smart 2 point Mandola

[Chip Booth]

This mandola was requested by a touring musician so hopefully we will have the chance to see it and hear it in the near future. The design will look familiar to many of you that have seen Arthur Stern's pair of Smart instruments from some years ago. I never had the chance to play those, but I can tell you that this is a typically strong and full sounding Smart mandola, and for those of you that have played one you know how good that is. I think of all of his alternate designs I have played this sounds the most like one of Lawrence's more traditional F instruments.

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[Marty Jacobson]

How the heck does he keep getting better? :disbelief:
Lawrence has nailed the perfect balance of tradition and originality on this one.

[JEStanek]

Fabulous. Really great design.

Jamie

[Lawrence Smart]

the design is thanks to the fabulous Arthur Stern who brought me a pile of his evolving sketches of this instrument quite a few years ago. I feel fortunate to be able to revisit this design.

[Gary Hedrick]

Might nice and that back is just......well.....well......stunning.

[SternART]

WOW!!! I'd like to hear/play that one!

Great revisit Lawrence......beautiful wood selection as usual......boy I miss mine, but selling my instrument collection got me thru some years of no work. I was able to keep the studio going & now am finally busy again. The dola Lawrence & I collaborated on had a mando lil' brother......a matched set. I tried to make the shapes all relate to each other, have a flow to them, with a bit inspiration from Monteleone's Radio Flyers.

[Ron McMillan]

In a musical instrument category that isn't known for its originality or willingness to go new places or take risks, these are a breath of fresh air. Lovely work.

ron

[Don Grieser]

Spectacular! The back is out of this world beautiful, and the whole design concept is carried out to perfection. WOW!

[blauserk]

Spectacular! The back is out of this world beautiful . . . .

I agree. I need another mandolin slightly less than a hole in the head, but smart really makes some beautiful, unconventional mandolins. I still kinda regret not getting the black two-point mando with block inlays that he sold a year or so ago. It was the little brother of the oval 10-string fan-fret in the classifieds now.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/63122

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Ah! Here was the one I should have pounced on:
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[Jim Garber]

That is another beauty by Lawrence, for sure. I would wear protective eyewear around that peghead. You could easily poke your eye out. ;)

[Mark Seale]

In the smallish world realm, this beauty had its picture posted on FB today by an ecstatic owner. It is a work of art.

[j. condino]

Lawrence builds great instruments, but he's also one of the nicest folks you'll meet!

j.
www.condino.com

[Lord of the Badgers]

Fan frets??! (the 10s-string above)... er???! that's so cool!

[Chip Booth]

I just noticed this video from the owner of the 2 point mandola, Forrest O'Conner, son of Mark:


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