Nice, Dave. Cedar and claro walnut sounds like my dream combination. Very nice looking and I liked the understated design. I would love to hear it sometime.
I am trying to remember: do you have your own particular bracing system?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
This mandolin was built on spec, a by-product of last year's GAL convention. I went to dinner w/ Guitar luthier Steve Kinnaird, his wife, and his shop co-worker. I snatched up the bill and got to pay. Steve was not entirely comfortable w/ that. He asked me what woods I built mandolins from. I replied w/ my most usual choices. He asked; "What about cherry?" I couldn't see anything wrong w/ cherry, since it has about the same density & Young's moduli as maple. So, he countered with "Well, if you are going to pick up the tab, how about I send you a cherry mandolin set that I have sitting in my shop?" I couldn't argue with that. I'd be surprised if some builders here haven't already used cherry, but this was a first for me. Based on this first anecdote, I can posit that cherry is a perfectly good mandolin wood. This instrument sounds fine, i.e., it sounds like a mandolin of its' type. I think I'll keep it. Top is Engelmann spruce, trim is macassar ebony. Finish is French polish, new for me.
Here is another one similar to the first one above, except for a standard (i.e., post-through) headstock. This one has an Engelmann spruce top, curly maple back/sides/neck, macassar ebony trim. Binding is bocote and maple, w/ bocote outermost. The bocote can be attractive; it bends well, and gradually darkens over time, similar to cocobolo. You get the most variegation in that stuff if you flat-saw it, aka horizontal growth ring orientation. This one is finished w/ nitro lacquer, w/ dark golden brown transtint dye on the back, sides, & neck.
Beautiful work.
I really like the shape and style.
Cool bridge design too.
Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)
Here is a mandocello in Engelmann spruce and curly maple. Curly maple and bocote binding, w/ curly maple outermost. Trim is W/African ebony. Finish is NC lacquer, w. a subtle all-honey amber transtint dye burst, per the customer's request. The lily headstock inlay is from DePaule, so I can't claim to have originated it. It was still a chore to keep that many small pieces in order. Scale length is 25". This one is awaiting shipment.
I really like the looks of your 2 point mandolins ~ especially the one with the slotted headstock ~ very classy!
I tried going to your website and it looks like it's down ...
Do you have any recordings of the 2 point mandolins? I'd love to hear them, as I'm sure others would.
Thanks for sharing
John
... not all those who wander are lost ...
John, I took my website down last summer. It was a lousy website, with mediocre photos and some text that just sounded too shamelessly self-promoting for my taste. I am working w/ a photographer friend to take some good photos, a tall order! Taking good photos of shiny curvy things without getting the dreaded glare spots is surprisingly difficult. I am planning on moving to Northern California sometime this spring or summer, and will probably wait 'til I am settled there to put up a new website. Never have invested in any recording equipment - sorry about that. I have one guitar to finish, and once I get that done, I will take a short hiatus from lutherie until I am resettled.
As usual, lovely work.
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com
The Mandolin Project on building mandolins
The Mandolin-a history
The Ukulele on building ukuleles
Stunning work, Dave. Tasteful and never overstated.
I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores
Wonderful work Dave, you’ve been busy...!
Love the photographs, I know that’s been a thorn in your side ... glad you found someone to capture and more accurately represent your amazing work. Would love to have a go on the cherry A-model with the Cohen C-holes. I did not know you as a guitar builder, hum.... I might need to talk to you about a tenor if you are game.
Moving to California...? If you are driving from East to West, please know that you have a place to stay in Iowa City- right off I-80.
You have my contact info, don’t hesitate to call. We have a safe place for you and whatever stringed creations you might have with you at the time ......
Still loving my March 2016 Cohen redwood A..!
Take care.
Larry
Nice work Butch.
Wow, Peter Jenner. I don’t recall you posting here in awhile. How are you doing?
As for Dr. Dave’s mention of cherry. Correct me if I am wrong but you don’t find as spectacularly flamed cherry as you do other woods. I know cherry is often used for dulcimers for some reason.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
I played a good handful of Dr. Dave's mandolins back in 2011 at CMSA and he is on my short list for both tone an playability. I love the tone and look of Lyon & Healy mandolins so it is right in my zone: a modernized L&H. Ah, some day.
Claro walnut and cedar sound like an amazing combination to me, too.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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
What great instruments, Dave!
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
I really like that binding! very nice look
Drew
2020 Northfield 4th Gen F5
2022 Northfield NFS-F5E
2019 Northfield Flat Top Octave
2021 Gold Tone Mando Cello
https://www.instagram.com/pilotdrew85
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