Bigleaf Mandonlins - Part II: The Cittern

[Rob Zamites]

Yeah,

The bug bit me - got some unexpected funds, so I'm having Stan Pope at Bigleaf Mandolins make me a matching cittern:

• 23.5" scale
• Black Walnut back and sides
• Western Red Cedar top
• Curly Maple bindings and neck
• 10 strings of FUN!

I'm having him sign the label for the inside this time; pics when I get some from him!

[garryireland]

Slow down man!

[Mike Anderson]

Unexpected funds...or as those suffering from CBOMAS call it, "manna from heaven."

[Denman John]

Congratulations

It looks like you were so impressed with the first one that you just had to get a second

I won't be in the market for a new instrument for a few years, but I'm thinking a cittern. I saw a Fylde 15 5/8" scale cittern tuned CGDAE covering both mandola and mandolin tunes ... that would be interesting to try. In the meantime I have lots of tunes to play and learn.

Keep us posted with updates and pics!

John

[Rob Zamites]

Slow down man!

Never! Nothing I can't tackle with sufficient coffee and a CBOM in hand!

Unexpected funds...or as those suffering from CBOMAS call it, "manna from heaven."

Well, it was, "Do I pay off more on xyz bill.....or buy a cittern?" - You know who won that one!

Congratulations

It looks like you were so impressed with the first one that you just had to get a second

I won't be in the market for a new instrument for a few years, but I'm thinking a cittern. I saw a Fylde 15 5/8" scale cittern tuned CGDAE covering both mandola and mandolin tunes ... that would be interesting to try. In the meantime I have lots of tunes to play and learn.

Keep us posted with updates and pics!

John

I sure will John. Stan sent me the string gauges for both DGDAD and GDADG...with the DGDAD tuning, the high 3 strings will match my 'zouk, so that's pretty exciting!

Went to Elderly yesterday (yeah, I live pretty close, lucky, huh?), bought a new BOP capo, a discounted leather strap and ordered Doc Rossi's Celtic Cittern book.....and promptly forgot new plectrums!

[Rob Zamites]

Latest update from Stan:

Rob – Waiting for a cedar order to arrive, Sides are bent with lining installed, worked on the neck today.

[garryireland]

Latest update from Stan:

Lucky man! If only i had the funds but living here ads 30% impost tax n vat onto anything outside europe. Sucks

[Rob Zamites]

And a new update:

I will have your Cittern assembled at the end of next week, and then it is into my brand new spray booth, and finishing area, that I built this year, and finally got it set up.
I spray four coats per day, for three days, then let it cure for seven days, then one day for set up.
I am thinking, the first week of December.

[garryireland]

And a new update:

And a waldzither to boot! Lucky guy!

[Rob Zamites]

And a waldzither to boot! Lucky guy!

Indeed - however, I'm reduced to ramen noodles for awhile!

[Mike Anderson]

Indeed - however, I'm reduced to ramen noodles for awhile!

<Yorkshire accent> Ramen! You're lucky to have ramen ya pantywaist! When I was saving for my cittern I ate the straw from the byre! USED straw!

[Rob Zamites]

So....

Yesterday, I got this email from Stan:

Rob – Your Cittern is in the spray booth, I gave it four coats today, tomorrow will be the last day of spraying. I will send you some photos tomorrow night.

Very exciting! Psyched to get a cittern and go to town!

Except for the mail I just got 10 minutes ago:

Rob – Due to unforeseen Problems, I will not have your Cittern ready till after the new year, (late January)
I am refunding your payment, you can pay when it is ready for shipping, if you still want it.

x 100
So, now to either wait or find another instrument. Damn, damn, damn.
x 100

[Mike Anderson]

So....

Yesterday, I got this email from Stan:



Very exciting! Psyched to get a cittern and go to town!

Except for the mail I just got 10 minutes ago:


x 100
So, now to either wait or find another instrument. Damn, damn, damn.
x 100

What the hell?...you were promised photos, then got a terse non-explanatory note that seems to hint the instrument was somehow destroyed and a new one needs to be built?

All I can say is: there are two Fylde citterns in the Classifieds right now, as well as Abnett, Sobell, Foley, and Fylde bouzoukis.

[Denman John]

I like that Stan was up front and told you in a timely fashion and offered to refund your money, but the details are sparse. I would be on the phone and finding out what happened (and of course let us all know) My guess is that it fell in the spray booth and did some serious damage.

Like Mike said, the classifieds are good pickings right now for CBOM's

PS ~ Mike, your new avatar is throwing me for a loop!

[Rob Zamites]

Honestly, I was more concerned with Stan, his wife, or the shop being damaged, hurt or whatever:

Stan,

You're under no obligation to tell me, however, I hope you and the wife are okay.

I got this reply just about an hour ago:

Rob – No, were both fine. I will tell you what happened. I switched to a new waterborne lacquer, which did not work out, so I stripped it down and in the process the Maple binding on the back became a little uneven ( a little thinner in a couple of places) I noticed it to day when I was rubbing it down for more lacquer. I decided to put new binding on the back. the extra work will take a week or two, which brings us close to Christmas, so I thought January would be a better time to ship. Sorry for the inconvenience, I know you were eager to receive it, but I only want my best work going out and you deserve a good quality instrument with no defects. I have just taken some photos for you to see. (just need a little time to get them ready)
I will go ahead with the work, if you find another instrument that will be OK with me, as this Cittern will be an easy sell.

and pix (click for embiggination):





I know I could just take the money, and also sell the 3 course and by one of the Fylde citterns, but Stan wanting to only have his best work go out means something to me, enough that despite the terse initial email, I'm going to wait it out.

I guess I'm just weird like that.

[Denman John]

Whew! A much better response than I was expecting. From your and his description, I was expecting the worst.

I would do the same and wait it out. Integrity and craftsmanship are worth more than waiting a few weeks.

And that is a nice hunk of wood on the back

[Mike Anderson]

Whew! A much better response than I was expecting. From your and his description, I was expecting the worst.

I would do the same and wait it out. Integrity and craftsmanship are worth more than waiting a few weeks.

And that is a nice hunk of wood on the back

PS ~ Mike, your new avatar is throwing me for a loop!

Yes, a big +1 on what John is saying here. I'm relieved, so I know you must be times 10 Rob. Beautiful walnut and cedar, as was the case with your 3-course.

John, that intersection is about 2 blocks from my house - that pic was taken with my iPhone last week while walking the dog.

[garryireland]

I personally would keeo the bucks and get the cittern in the classifieds but if you want to wait, thats your perogative even though you aren't playing the 3 course?

[Rob Zamites]

I personally would keeo the bucks and get the cittern in the classifieds but if you want to wait, thats your perogative even though you aren't playing the 3 course?

Actually, I shared with Mike a brief video of me playing the 3 instruments I have now, and listening to the tone and timbre of the three course, I'm keeping her. The reason I'm sticking with Stan is not only because of his honesty and desire to make sure I have the best instrument he can make, but that the cittern will be a match for the 3 course.

[garryireland]

Actually, I shared with Mike a brief video of me playing the 3 instruments I have now, and listening to the tone and timbre of the three course, I'm keeping her. The reason I'm sticking with Stan is not only because of his honesty and desire to make sure I have the best instrument he can make, but that the cittern will be a match for the 3 course.

Could i see the vid?

[garryireland]

Any update on the cittern?

[Rob Zamites]

No, but then again, I haven't asked. Stan said the end of January, so I'll just wait for his email telling me it's ready.

[Rob Zamites]

Update from Stan:

Rob – Your Cittern is all done, I finished spraying five days ago. I checked on it today and it looks good, I took the masking tape off the finger board and cleaned it up.
I will rub it down and string it up on Sunday or Monday, I will send you photos then.
If all is well I will ship on Monday, December 29.

Sooooooon!

[Mike Anderson]

Update from Stan:


Sooooooon!

Go Stan go! Can't wait to see pics of the finished cittern...

[Denman John]

There is magic at Christmas!!!