An Oddball Mandocello from Pomeroy

[thecelloronin]

Hello all,

Don Paine at Pomeroy Instruments is building me a lovely, if non-traditional mandocello. I've got a full post over at CBOM, but I thought this instrument might be unique enough to warrant a general discussion in this board as well.

I'm relatively new to the forums, so if cross posting is breaking any rules (I did check first, but couldn't find anything specific), I'll happily take this post down upon request from a moderator/admin.

In short: I've dubbed this instrument the "liuto americano" as a nod to the various traditions and design cues used to build it.

We've got the 5 courses and ornate headstock of the Italian liuto cantabile, combined with all the modern quality of life adjustments common to post-Loar, American-made instruments (including the two-point arch-carved sound chamber, tonebar bracing, trussed neck, 25" scale, adjustable bridge). This hybridization is outfitted with violin-like cues, including edge overhangs, inlaid purfling, hide glue, a fully carved headstock scroll, and varnish (currently in progress). Finally, space has been made for a JJB piezo and a neck-mounted "floating" humbucking pickup, routed to a stereo endpin jack.

Not something you see every day, especially from a straight-shooter like Pomeroy! Just thought I'd share something unusual with y'all.

[Dave Sheets]

Love the scroll!

[thecelloronin]

Love the scroll!

Thanks! We put a lot of thought into that one. Didn't want it to ape Lyon and Healy too closely for aesthetic reasons, but we were also faced with the reality that a mando headstock is shaped fundamentally different from a violin headstock.

I commissioned a more artistically inclined buddy of mine to draft up a concept image to convey my preferences to Don. Sharing it here!

[Todd Bowman]

Very beautiful. Look forward to seeing pics when its completed and hopefully, a sound sample!

[mrmando]

Cross posting is generally frowned upon, but we're a polite bunch and probably won't show up at your door with pitchforks or anything. The build looks very promising; thanks for sharing with us.

[thecelloronin]

Cross posting is generally frowned upon, but we're a polite bunch and probably won't show up at your door with pitchforks or anything. The build looks very promising; thanks for sharing with us.

I appreciate you letting me know. I'll make sure this is the first, last, and only time I let my enthusiasm beat out forum etiquette :-)