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Dave
The first "proper" instrument I made is a flat-top octave built from walnut and spruce offcuts from a closing joinery shop. I gave the neck a small backset, and made an ebony bridge about...

Brilliant
I knew you chaps would come up with ideas to get the old grey matter working again!
Tavy, I had completely forgotten the original English Guitar, I remember seeing several at the V&A...

I've just used some lovely tuners from Rubner in Germany
http://rubner-markneukirchen.de/onlineshop/index.php?cat=c152_mandolin.html&XTCsid=36339d28fd97108a28882b8afb0dd5e2
beautiful finish, and...

Scale length will be 625-630mm abouth 24 3/4"; to be decided.
It may well be tuned as an Oud (EADEAD)
BTW the customer is always right!

A guitarist has asked me to make an instrument, it is a hybrid jobbie, and I've been scratching my head what to call it.
The body will be pear shaped, (made from recycled Cuban Mahogany circa 1850),...

A few years ago a furniture making friend gave me the offcuts from a BRW project for a very upmarket Harley Street medic. Nice stuff, with a good density and colour. So naturally I had to give it a...

Both bodies have the same outline, one is flatback with a slightly wider rim, the other 3 piece carved back; overall volume about equal. The top of bridge to back dimension is also about equal. Flat...

With the band "Off the Square" mostly OM for years, until a new rosewood A style mandolin came along, different pitch and tone capabilities leading to new ideas in the band. New OM on its way now...

Just strung up these babies today. Really pleased with the sound, a few tweaks required, then lacquer to finish.
The grain is fun, English Sycamore all the way from Devon
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Thanks for the responses, ALL the comments much appreciated!
Nice detail John; Dave, your detailed dissertation is a peach! Nice detailing Oldwave, and Peter, good info on your website.
I'll take...

7027270273

Been working on getting this workshop up and running for a couple of years.
Sudden collapse of employer certainly spurs you on.....
I'll get a picture of the view the other way when...

I'm sure its been asked before, but have you guys any good suggestions for cutting the purfling channel(s) for an oval soundhole on a carved top mando? Currently working on a pair of Octaves, there...

Thanks for the info. As regards "quality", I mean something with a good weight and style. The Eastman tailpiece looks really good, but it seems to have dropped out of mandolin.org parts in the last...

Sadly the Rover 75 is no longer produced over here, but these guys can help with tuning!
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/
They may not be so good on mandolins though!

Best part is - keep...

Can anybody point me in the direction of maker/supplier of QUALITY tailpieces for archtop mando's, octaves and 'zouks based in UK or Europe?
I'm looking for nickel finish and bronze and brass...

I have been asked to look at building a 3 course flatback bouzouki with a small body to enable access to the higher frets. This gives a very long slender neck with a nut width around 1" or >25mm
...

I have been asked to look at building a 3 course flatback bouzouki with a small body to enable access to the higher frets. This gives a very long slender neck with a nut width around 1" or >25mm ...

Thanks to you all for the replies and links; it's just like a magic box!
F hole or oval? Big question, I'd like to do both, given the time, but will probably decide when the plates are carved to...

Did Gison ever make an Octave Mandola/in?
Info on dimensions etc.....welcome before I start a pair in Fiddleback Sycamore and Walnut

I'm sure this must have been asked before
Did Gibson ever make an Octave Mandolin (or Mandola, let's not get into that debate)
If so can you point me in the direction of dimensions? Siminoff has...

Good luck in your retirement, Live each day to the full:mandosmiley:
I've not yet got to the age to retire, but getting there; I'm close to completing my new workshop where I can continue to make...

One thing to watch for as it dries: sweet chestnut grows with quite a strong twist or spiral in the trunk. That will tend to make it wind or twist as it dries. If the timber has been split rater than...

I finished this Rio b&s rosewood "A" style a year or so back. Now its played in it has a really warm tone with well defind top and bottom notes and a load of punch when driven. Cuts through the...

Thanks for the replies
The top is bearclaw spruce from Italy
Headstock veneer is Yew, with rosewood counter veneer on fiddleback sycamore neck.
It is hand lacquered, with a little pigment shading...

This one took nine years to complete: house moves, new workshop, other instruments, but when it finally woke from its slumbers, it just rang!
Carved rosewood, offcuts from a friend's excursion into...