Coming Soon...10 String Mandocello!

[Mandobart]

My friend TJ of Cricket Fiddle is building a 10 string mandocello for me! Exciting. Here are some pics so far:







If you have facebook you can see lots more at Cricket Fiddle Facebook page

[Michael Weaver]

I like the pronounced line he uses on his scroll work. Looks cool. Congrats man hope to hear it after you get it. Keep us posted.

[Jim Garber]

What kind of soundholes will this have? And what scale length?

[Bernie Daniel]

Looks awesome! What are the dimensions of the body, length, width, depth etc.

and the scale length, nut width etc.? Is the back wood birch?

[Mandobart]

Going to be an oval sound hole. 25" - 26" scale. Redwood top, Maple back, neck and sides. Ribs will be 3.5" deep. About 15" across the lower bout. C, G, D, A, E. Octave pairs on C, G and D. Natural finish and speed neck.

[Bernie Daniel]

Going to be an oval sound hole. 25" - 26" scale. Redwood top, Maple back, neck and sides. Ribs will be 3.5" deep. About 15" across the lower bout. C, G, D, A, E. Octave pairs on C, G and D. Natural finish and speed neck.

You should have a monster when you are done and you can use all your mandolin fingerings too!! I think the plan for redwood top is great since you are in Washington!

Here is a little info of possible interest -- though I am sure your luthier has probably been down this road before and has things well mapped out. My apologies if you have already seen the pics.

But I used Graham MacDonald's ebook at Pete Braccio's advice to convert a new The Loar LU-300 arch top guitar to a 10-string mandocello.

I found that the guitar nut width (1.81"; 46 mm) and fret board seem to work out just great with none too much space between 10 strings and 5 courses on the nut or bridge -- see pics. In fact the courses are actually a tad closer spaced than a standard mandocello on a 1.5' nut. But still you can adapt quickly.

This instrument has a 24.75" scale and I used the following gauges for CGDAE tuning (0.066"; 0.045"; 0.030"; 0.020" & 0.013") all but the last being wound. Seems to work out OK the instrument sounds awesome. You might go heavier gauge?

One change I might make on the string set I picked is heavier gauge on the E-course -- that makes the instrument sound like the off-spring of a 12-string guitar and mandocello!

When is the new instrument projected to be done?

[Mandobart]

Thanks Bernie. I think you did a great job on the guitar conversion. I do like to finger pick Hawaiian songs; did the Loar dimensions work out so you can finger pick? Don't have an estimated completion date, but this will be my 3rd instrument from TJ so I'm not concerned. He was raised by Lutherans in Minnesota and is incapable of dishonesty or slacker-ness.

[Bernie Daniel]

Well I'm not sure what good finger picking dimensions are exactly but I can say that on this 5 course cittern (1.8" nut) the inter-course distances around the picking area ( few inches above the bridge) are about 0.30" whereas on a four course mandocello (1.6" nut) they are 0.035 - 0.040". Enough of notice but you can adapt quickly enough -- I expect it will be a good finger picking instrument.

[Mandobart]

Here are some more pics, Redwood top!

[Bernie Daniel]

Here are some more pics, Redwood top!
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So amazing to see that carving process! The redwood is going to look totally awesome -- are you going with natural color or a sunburst of come kind? Also very interesting bracing. The approach similar but also different from the one Bruce Weber took on a recent mandocello build. See pic. This will be an instrument to treasure for sure!

[Mandobart]

Natural color. You can see a lot more in-process pics at his facebook.

[David Rambo]

Both of my mando (#58) and my octave mando (#68) from TJ have redwood tops. I really like their sound, and get a lot of positive feedback from people when they both hear and play them. I had the pleasure of playing the one that he did just before this one, and it was a great experience. Ian Kimmel was there to play it the way it really should be played, and TJ has some of the sound clips made at the New Ulm Black Powder Trade Fair. Luckily it's all Ian and nothing from me on the clip.

[Mandobart]

I have TJ's # 64 10 string mandola; it also has a Redwood top. Love the tone. I took it with me on a camping trip to the Redwoods earlier this month and had some nice comments as well. I really like the tone of both Western Redcedar and Redwood instruments that he builds. Of course it's more than just the tone wood that make them sound so good. The carving, bracing, hand-built goodness etc.are all part of the story.

[Bernie Daniel]

[QUOTE=Mandobart;1295510]I have TJ's # 64 10 string mandola; it also has a Redwood top. Love the tone. I took it with me on a camping trip to the Redwoods earlier this month and had some nice comments as well. I really like the tone of both Western Redcedar and Redwood instruments that he builds. Of course it's more than just the tone wood that make them sound so good. The carving, bracing, hand-built goodness etc.are all part of the story.[QUOTE]

So with two instruments you'll be covered mandolin to mandocello!! Good move.

[Mandobart]

Some new pics, it's a-coming!

[Mandobart]

Almost done, here are some more pics:









As a reference point, the sides are 3-1/2" deep.

[NotMelloCello]

Awesome to the max!

[Bernie Daniel]

Almost done, here are some more pics:

As a reference point, the sides are 3-1/2" deep.

A brute is being born! The inlay on the fret board is spectacular! I think they are western native art symbols but they have an art-deco look too? Whatever it is just awesome --- using three frets to mark the 12th and still figure out a way to tastefully mark the 10th fret is just so cool!

Couple of other features I really like are the incorporation of the dark woods (ebony?) throughout the instrument and the wonderful pumpkin orange for the top -- it looks like a 100 year old Gibson on day one! It will be the bomb!

[bolannta]

fret markers reminiscent of New Mexico state flag

[Bernie Daniel]

fret markers reminiscent of New Mexico state flag

Great observation!

[Mandobart]

My family has been in NM for over 5 generations, Raton area. Life and work took me away, but I asked him to put the Zia Sun on the 12 fret for me.

The dark strips on the back are ebony. The dark strips in the neck are steel.

The top is Redwood. All natural finish; no stain. Same for the case (no stain), made of Western Redcedar:

[Lord of the Badgers]

so when do we get put out of our misery and hear this brute?

[Jim Garber]

Man... a fancy case too. "Almost done" pics were 11 days ago. It looks like the case it now done. Is it ready for shipping or on its way to you?

[Sweetpea44]

That looks so cool -- can't wait for a sound clip!

[Michael Weaver]

Since Jim, Bernie and I have been following the thread since the first day can we play it before you?