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Thread: I'm REALLY excited!

  1. #1

    Default I'm REALLY excited!

    I decided it was time. For years now I've wanted a 10-string--5 courses of 2 strings--mandocello. I've wanted one since I saw a guitar-shaped one on Froggy Bottom Guitars' website. I've always wanted one that's tuned in 5ths, low C to E.

    Well, I'm pulling the trigger. I met a man through a mutual friend who is a luthier; he makes LOTS of electric basses guitars. He's also made acoustic and electric guitars and electric mandos. I asked him if he could make an acoustic 10-string mandocello, and he said he can. In fact he had posted pictures on Facebook of a mandocello he had built--very nice!

    All of his instruments show the natural wood grain. He's really creative with using the nicest looking tonewoods. Mine will have a cedar top and cherry sides and back.

    He's going to start building it after this coming Friday, and it will take a month to finish. It will be in an asymmetrical teardrop shape. He's putting in a pickup too.

    I can't wait! I'll post pics when I get it.

    (Someday, after I save back up enough dough, I'll ask him to make a solid-body 8-string electric mando.)

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    You are going to have to make sure you take your medication while you are waiting...............way toooooo excited. Good luck.

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  5. #3

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Good reminder--thanks!

  6. #4

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    You SHOULD be excited, man!!! Congrats!! Can't wait to see pics!

  7. #5

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Well, I made my first payment to my mandocello builder. 1/2 of the money to start, and the other half + shipping cost when he's done, which should be in about a month.

    Cedar top, cherry sides and back.

    I'll keep y'all posted.

  8. #6

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Well, my builder says, as of about 5 days ago, that he'll be done in 2-3 weeks. Taking a little longer than I expected, but heck--I'll have the rest of my life to enjoy (and to learn how to play) it!

    Last he told me, he was putting on the fingerboard--bocote. Should be really pretty.

  9. #7
    Registered User Matt Harris's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Honestly, at just over two months this will still be a smoking fast build.

    Got any progress pics? Would love to see how it's shaping up.
    1918 Gibson F4
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  10. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Just curious: What scale length did you decide on? Is it a flattop or a archtop guitar body (I assume).

    Hey, if you want to really impress people you can call it like the Italians do — liuto cantabile (pronounced lee-oo-toe cant-ah-bee-lay).

    Also, why are you keeping the luthier's name to yourself? Is there a reason for the secret?
    Jim

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  11. #9
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Yeh there is always excitement and fear when waiting for a new build or even an old, new to you instrument, even when waiting for a repair! Our mail system is sometimes I feel like the pony express! As I just fornd out while shipping a Gilchrist to the Dawg!

  12. #10

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    The scale length, if memory serves, is 25". Long-ish.

    It will be a flattop. It's the luthier's own design; I saw pics of similar builds, and I wanted mine like them. It will be an asymmetrical teardrop. The body on the top/bass side will go further down the neck than the bottom/treble side, so it will be a sorta-kinda cutaway. He says that design gives the bass more depth/resonance.

    No secret, really. I just haven't thought to give you his name: Steve Wishnevsky. He's in North Carolina. He's on Facebook. He calls his shop/business Wishbass. His website: http://wishbass.com. He specializes in solid body fretless bass guitars (hence the business's name), but also builds "regular" acoustic, electric and resophonic (he calls them "resno") guitars and mandolins, and a few other unique critters. He doesn't paint anything--natural wood grain with an oiled finish. He has some really beautiful wood grains in his instruments. He'll work with anyone to build about any kind of custom design, and he'll do his best to find a tonewood that you want. He's also a novelist and poet. Interesting guy.

  13. #11

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Harris View Post
    Honestly, at just over two months this will still be a smoking fast build.

    Got any progress pics? Would love to see how it's shaping up.
    Unfortunately, no progress pics. I've seen examples of the design on his website and in his catalogue, though.

    Good to know that his work is really quicker than average.

  14. #12
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Steve (goes by Wish as his nickname) is a real character and builds some fun instruments. His web site: Wishnevsky Stringed Instruments.
    Jim

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  15. #13

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Steve (goes by Wish as his nickname) is a real character and builds some fun instruments. His web site: Wishnevsky Stringed Instruments.
    Oh--so you know Wish and his work! Cool! Yes, he is a real character. And, IMO, very talented. From time to time he offers one of his e-books for free Kindle download. I'm reading the first of his Tchevy Chronicles novels. Fun! A 60-ish hippie folkie luthier poet who ends up an "accidental murder-solver".

    Anyway, cool that you know him and his work. My favorite of his solid body electric basses is made of "crotch maple". Very beautiful wood! I'm considering asking him to make me a solid body electric mando one of these days.

  16. #14
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    I don't know him personally tho we ware FB friends. I do have at least one friend who lives near him in NC and does know him.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
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    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  17. #15

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Click image for larger version. 

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    You asked for progress pics. Wish sent these in a FB PM. He says it's in the finishing stage. CAN'T WAIT!! The soundhole was cut out around a knot in the top wood. VERY cool!

  18. #16
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    That is certainly unusual! I am sure we will all be interested to hear how it sounds...

  19. #17

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Yes.... Mr. Wishnevsky is well known for his rather "unusual" instruments which do not hew to the standard of most builders.

  20. #18

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Click image for larger version. 

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    It's DONE!! One thing: Instead of 10-string, it's 8-string. I'm fine with that. Final payment on Friday, then shipped from NC to IL, should be at my house a few days after 7/4. Next: buy a good gig bag, and learn how to play the mofo! Can't wait! It will have a pickup in it too, which means I will be able to plug 'n' play in church and at open mikes!

    I'm thinking of someday learning Bach's Cell Suite in C, but I think I'll start with scales, chords and a few fiddle tunes first.

  21. #19
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Crazy! I love the look, I just hope it plays well.....
    What instrument do you play at the moment?
    Bachs Cello Suite is a good one to aspire too... I have been leaning it for around 3 years now

  22. #20
    Registered User mandobassman's Avatar
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    I think it's pretty cool looking to. Looking forward to sound clips. My only concern would be how are you going to get your thumb past the 7th fret? The entire neck becomes VERY large at that point.
    Larry Hunsberger

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  23. #21

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Quote Originally Posted by mandobassman View Post
    I think it's pretty cool looking to. Looking forward to sound clips. My only concern would be how are you going to get your thumb past the 7th fret? The entire neck becomes VERY large at that point.
    Yea, I thought of that. I'll adjust.

    What instrument do you play at the moment?
    Depends on my mood. In the mando family, a Kentucky A-style mando, a bouzouki made in eastern Europe, and a tenor banjo--nice neck on a cookie tin, made by a luthier friend. Otherwise, guitar, ukulele, diddley bow and banjo. I like variety.

  24. #22

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Well, I sent the second payment in by PayPal, and Wish will ship my m'cello to me after 7/4. YES!!

  25. #23
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    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    I once sought the details of the instruments that Wish makes. I think he has a place in the marketplace. I do think he builds a rather crude instrument. That being said, you can make music on them. You can take them to a jam and let others have a go without worrying about scrapes and dings. Once you get going on one, you might want a finer instrument. But then, some "finer" instruments are based on materials and finish. Some of those don't sound any better than a plain one. There is a place for both.

  26. #24

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Quote Originally Posted by BluesPreacher View Post
    I asked him if he could make an acoustic 10-string mandocello, and he said he can.
    Quote Originally Posted by BluesPreacher View Post
    It's DONE!! One thing: Instead of 10-string, it's 8-string. I'm fine with that.
    Since you only recently mentioned the change from your original 10-string target design to an 8-string instrument, it sounds like he didn't build what you originally agreed to.

    I get that you're fine with what you're getting, but is it the case that the builder just changed the specificatiins without asking you?

    If not, did you get a discount in lieu of him building the actual contracted instrument from scratch starting now?

    This is all good to know for those who are considering such an instrument, for them to set their expectations.
    ----

    Playing a funky oval-hole scroll-body mandolin, several mandolins retuned to CGDA, three CGDA-tuned Flatiron mandolas, two Flatiron mandolas tuned as octave mandolins,and a six-course 25.5" scale CGDAEB-tuned Ovation Mandophone.

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  27. #25

    Default Re: I'm REALLY excited!

    Quote Originally Posted by vernob View Post
    I once sought the details of the instruments that Wish makes. I think he has a place in the marketplace. I do think he builds a rather crude instrument. That being said, you can make music on them. You can take them to a jam and let others have a go without worrying about scrapes and dings. Once you get going on one, you might want a finer instrument. But then, some "finer" instruments are based on materials and finish. Some of those don't sound any better than a plain one. There is a place for both.
    Thanks for your thoughts. I'll bear them in mind.

    Wish offered to build another with 10 strings; I decided to go with the 8-string. I appreciate your concerns also, Explorer.

    The instrument is in the area, and should be at my house sometime today. I'm out of town tonight, so I won't get to enjoy it until tomorrow night after work (darn it!). But I'll let you all know about it on Friday. And post a pic or two.

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