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RE: violin build... IMO, Davide Sora has the most useful, methodical, and well produced videos for building a violin I have come across. AND he's an incredibly helpful guy over at Maestronet.
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Thank you Steve, Andrew, and Adrian for sharing your experience. Much appreciated! I'll post photos/clip when I'm done.

I finished my first scratch build F5 and put a hand rubbed sunburst finish on it using Stew Mac colorTone stains (#5030, #5032, #5034). Mixed them with distilled water. Applied them with satisfactory...

I finished my first scratch build F5 this week.I kept it in the white for a rather long time because I didn't want to be without a mandolin to play. I've been playing guitar for about 30 years and I...

I've been using them for a couple of years. I bought the large bean shaped one and then about a year ago I got the rectangular one and then the small one. I did buy the Stew Mac mini grinder. I love...

I was wondering about the relative numbers of mandolins a builder may make in a career. Has anyone compiled a list of their output? I noticed a builder such as the highly regarded McClanahan, who has...

I was wondering how frequent the fingerboard extension fails. "Fails" meaning coming loose, cracking, separating from the ivoroid binding between the riser block. Thanks.

Beautiful work on your website, John. Yep, getting compensated for one's effort is a lifelong battle. I'm a photographer by day. Since "everyone's a photographer" these days, my work is completely...

I've been working on my first F-style mandolin build. 5 weeks into it, about a month to go.There are many interesting things I have learned so far. I was curious about what the range of different...

Has anyone been unhappy with the shine on chrome Grover F tuners (#309fn)? Wondering if anyone experimented with ways to cut the shine with a soilution of some kind.

Hi All,

I'm working away on my first F build and was wondering if anyone has any process/sequence advice on adding dovetailed bone points? I've seen a few comments on the interweb about installing...

Thanks, Hogo. I meant this was my first mandolin build, not my first build. I have many years as a woodworker and 6 as a guitar builder. But I hear you.

Thanks everyone for your comments, and the explanations of the mechanics behind the engineering principles. I know it's an expensive truss rod ($75). I'm intrigued, but will think about it. I like...

Hi all,

I'm new here. I'm building an F5 and was thinking about using a CF truss rod. I came across this and think it looks promising. Was wondering if anyone here has used one and what your...

This may also be helpful - works for mandolins as well as guitars: https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Straightedges/String_Spacing_Rule.html

From StewMac: "The problem is: if you...