Peter Coombe flat top mandolin

Hi everyone, I thought some of you might like to see some photos of Peter Coombe's latest flat top mandolin.

It has a red spruce top, hard rock maple back, and big leaf maple sides and neck.
It sounds wonderfully clean, clear and loud.
"Sparkling" is the best single word I can describe it with.

This is one of Peter's 2nd generation flat top mandolins and I will be using it primarily to study and perform classical music. I don't know much about the building techniques or innovations Peter has used to make these mandos sound so good but they are unlike any flat top I have heard. Not exactly the same as his Lyon and Healy replicas, similar, but with their own character.

Best of all, it will be coming home with me very soon! Thanks Peter!!
Attachment 183381

wow, that looks gorgeous!
classy shape and style to it all.

post us a soundclip if possible, love to hear this.

d

Hi Daryl, I sure will, though it's not in my hands yet! You are right, it is very classy and elegant in an understated way.

Beautiful. I'm sure it will sound great!

Jamie

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Originally Posted by Dean Gray

Hi everyone, I thought some of you might like to see some photos of Peter Coombe's latest flat top mandolin.

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Why does it look in the photos like both the top and back have an arch to them? Is it an optical illusion?

In any case, it does look very nice.

That’s beautiful.

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Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Why does it look in the photos like both the top and back have an arch to them? Is it an optical illusion?

In any case, it does look very nice.

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Hi Jim, probably just an illusion. I'm no expert but I think Peter creates an "induced arch" on the top for stability but you can't really see it when you're holding it. Peter might chime in here with some technical details.

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Originally Posted by Dean Gray

Hi Jim, probably just an illusion. I'm no expert but I think Peter creates an "induced arch" on the top for stability but you can't really see it when you're holding it. Peter might chime in here with some technical details.

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That would make a lot of sense. I think even the Army-Navy and the Flatirons had some slight induced arch. Most bowlbacks have that and the cant (fold) in the top. Maybe these have a great induced arch. I bet they sound great.

It does have an induced arch, radius 15ft. The pictures do seem to make it look more than what it is. The Army Navy and Flatiron mandolins also have an induced arch at about the same radius, but this mandolin is nothing like an Army Navy mandolin. I like it, very clean and clear sounding, and as Dean said also loud. They are built using some of the principles outlined in the guitar design book by Australian Luthiers Trevor Gore and Gerard Gilet. Mandolins vibrate like guitars so it works surprisingly well. Surprised me just how well it does work, this mandolin does not give anything away to most archtop mandolins in the sound department.

Congratulations Dean! I love Peter’s work!

Thanks Peter for explaining the arch. You are right, this design gives very little away to most archtops. And it has a shimmer in the top end that many archtops don't have.

However, I just about fell in love with your new custom archtop with birds eye maple back and sides! I guess that one will have to wait. Perhaps you could post a few photos of that one here when it's finished?

What a beautiful mandolin.

Yes Peter, plus one for you to post photos of that new archtop!

What gauge of strings is it designed for? Looks great, would love to hear a sound clip. Thanks for posting.

I'm hope Peter will confirm, I believe it is designed for medium gauge. It seems so responsive, you dont need heavy strings to drive the top. I'm sure at some point I will try thomastik mediums on it.

Currently it has D'Addario EFT74, but Thomastic mediums should also work well on it. I will post pictures on the new birdseye archtop hopefully with some sound clips once it is finished. Not far to go now, just need to finish the pickguard, strings are on.

Wonderful design on the mandolin, Peter. Congrats, Dean!

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Originally Posted by peter.coombe

the guitar design book by Australian Luthiers Trevor Gore and Gerard Gilet

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Does anyone know if this book is currently available?

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Originally Posted by belbein

Does anyone know if this book is currently available?

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Looks like you can get it here on Gilet's site or on Gore's site. Price is ~$255AUD which is about $166USD these days.

Jim