First Mando build A style Cant top

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 1:37am

Hi , i haven't been on here for a number of years , but since the last time i have taken up building acoustic guitars and attending Anniesland College in Glasgow here in sunny Scotland ,
I picked up the mandolin project book and have decided to make a cant top A style mando for my first mando build , i'll probably build two seeing as im getting two sets from my guitar sized sets , im in the process of getting everything thickessed and ready for the build , i also need to make up a 15 foot radius dish , or would a 20 foot one do for this style of mando ?

The build will be Englemann spruce top , Walnut back and sides , Mahogany neck and problably rosewood bindings ,
I may need to pick your collective brains on occasion as im only a simple guitar maker ,

Here is a pic of some of my work

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**G7MOF** · Apr-24-2018, 2:50am

Sorry I can't help with build info but I had to mention how nice your work looks.
Good luck with your mandolin builds, if your guitar builds are anything to go off they'll be stunning.

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 3:26am

Thanks G7MOF , i like building old style Martins but really looking forward to a few mando builds , hopefully build an F5 soon as well

**fscotte** · Apr-24-2018, 4:01am

A 20 foot is nearly a flat top. I say if youre gonna put a dome on it, then really put a dome one it.

**sebastiaan56** · Apr-24-2018, 4:52am

I’ve built a few using Graham Macdonalds book. You will find that once you have scored and bent the can’t that getting a lot of radius onto the top is nigh impossible. You can trim the soundboard halves at the bottom of the bout and join them after bending but I don’t think it is necessary. A small 20’ is plenty. The cant in the board introduces a lot of stiffness which is why they sound as they do. Enjoy, they are terrific instruments.

**Banjo** · Apr-24-2018, 5:40am

what shape will your mandolin get?
do you have a building plan?

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 8:56am

Originally Posted by fscotte

A 20 foot is nearly a flat top. I say if youre gonna put a dome on it, then really put a dome one it.

Noted and thanks fscotte

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 8:59am

Originally Posted by sebastiaan56

I’ve built a few using Graham Macdonalds book. You will find that once you have scored and bent the can’t that getting a lot of radius onto the top is nigh impossible. You can trim the soundboard halves at the bottom of the bout and join them after bending but I don’t think it is necessary. A small 20’ is plenty. The cant in the board introduces a lot of stiffness which is why they sound as they do. Enjoy, they are terrific instruments.

Thanks Sebastiaan56 , thatll save me making a 15 foot solera up , and i look forward to getting one strung up

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 9:02am

Hi Banjo , the drawing /plan comes with the book , the mandolin project and it will look something like this

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**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 9:11am

Wood for 2 builds all thicknessed , just the blocks to do ,

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**John Kelly** · Apr-24-2018, 1:21pm

Alan, great to see someone else from Anniesland College (or whatever its amalgamated name is now) on the MC site. Your work is very fine from your pictures and what I'd expect from an Anniesland student.

I attended Anniesland back in 2004/5 as a part-timer and Paul, Bill and Michael were really excellent tutors. Since leaving there I have built around 40 instruments, mainly mandolin family but a couple of guitars and a couple of tenors. Please pass on my warmest regards to Paul, Bill and Michael - not sure if Michael is still teaching there and I know Bill had gone over to making Cellos in his other life outside teaching. Tell them I remember my time with them very fondly and will try to get across to visit sometime soon to catch up.

Where are you based?

**alanssaab** · Apr-24-2018, 2:19pm

Hi John , i will certainly pass on your regards to Bill and Paul , they are fine teachers in the art of Luthiery , i'm in my third year just now doing the HNC and so far ive built 11 acoustics , a few les pauls and an sg ( i was a joiner for 30 odd years so used to hard work and working with wood , and thanks for the kind comment about my work , oh and im based just outside Motherwell

**Graham McDonald** · Apr-24-2018, 5:44pm

Looking forward to seeing what you build. I worked on around a 3mm rise for the brace under the bridge which I think works out to be around a 15' radius. The 15' sanding dishes are pretty simple to make and I suggest it will be useful for the back as well. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any specific questions.

Cheers

**alanssaab** · Apr-25-2018, 12:38am

Hi Graham , i have a jig made up for making radius dishes with a router , i just need to make up two 15 foot rail for it , it was just i had a 20 foot board sitting here , i'll get a 15 foot one made up for the build , and thanks for the offer , cheers

**Banjo** · Apr-25-2018, 2:47am

I made a Martin style mandolin with no radius, as my plan pretends. And it works verry well. My flatirons have 10 or 8 ft, and that is still quite flat. A radius on a cant top is difficult to make. The neopolitan bowlback makers , make first the cant, on the seperately halves of the top, and than they put them together.