Brentrup Stealth V8...MINE!!!

[Flowerpot]

Knowing a little about Han's signature tones with the different wood species, I'd say that the Italian/Red Maple combo will be absolutely right for that mandolin. You're putting together a real gem there.

[Ken Olmstead]

Thanks Flowerpot & Mike. The encouragement is very well recieved!!!

Shawn - I am looking forward to playing that baby on youtube as well! I am actually trying to figure out what to play. I want to put my best foot forward and really show off its strengths. Lucky I have some time to figure it out and practice!!

[JEStanek]

I'll suggest Rhapsody in Blue.

Jamie

[Ken Olmstead]

I'll suggest Rhapsody in Blue.

Jamie

Your killing me Jamie!!

[Ken Olmstead]

I'll suggest Rhapsody in Blue.

Jamie

Dang it Jamie, you slugged me in the gut with that one! It is now on my "bucket list!" I downloaded the piano roll recordings and purchased the sheet music today. The piece is about 14 minutes long in its entirety and looks to be in 6 different keys! It won't be making the Stealth video debut! However, I will be spending my lunch hours for the forseeable future on Band in a Box editing down to 5- 7 minutes and finding a mandolin friendly key or keyS I should say. Thanks a load!

My suggestion that Don do a recording of this seems somewhat smug when I see what is here. Maybe I'll have it in a year or three! Maple Leaf Rag is almost there! Just need to play it 100 more times and I'll tube it!!!

[Michael Cameron]

Maple Leaf Rag...me aroused.

[Skip Kelley]

Ken, that mandolin looks awesone! Congratulations! Can't wait for the finished pics!!

[JEStanek]

Wow, didn't mean to kill ya, Ken. It just seemed appropriate at the moment. Hey, if the great Don can do an abriged arrangment of it, so can you. I know I'm looking forward to hearing whatever you play on the new Brentrup.

Jamie
EDIT: If its any consolation I kinda want to do a similar thing with Dave Brubek's Take 5. I think that would sound great on a mandolin.

[Michael Cameron]

Jamie
EDIT: If its any consolation I kinda want to do a similar thing with Dave Brubek's Take 5. I think that would sound great on a mandolin.

That DOES sound interesting! Well,I have fresh strings on Vincent...dialed in the aluminium saddle for intonation...

I don't have a recording of "Take 5"

(poor poor pitiful me)

dadadada da DA dada dadada da DA da da... maybe I can remember some of it. I'll try it with the egg-shaker first.

At the risk of being labeled a hijacker;there are some REALLY nice instruments on the Classifieds these dayz! I TRY to avoid reading them.

These young girls...

[Ken Olmstead]

We are on the way!!! The tuners are special request, they are an ergonomic design for pain in my left hand....

Seriously, I love the look of the pearl buttons on that headstock. I don't think I have discussed buttons with Hans, I would have a hard time deciding between pearl and ebony. I am getting gold hardware...if I remember correctly.

[Ken Olmstead]

One more! Ribs will be started soon! Anticipation!

[Shawn Gambrel]

When will this beast be in.

[Kevin Briggs]

Sweet, Ken! You are obligated to post sound clips, and, for me, a PM about how it compares to your Fern. MAS is not a factor for me right now, but your review will decide a lot....

[Michael Cameron]

One more! Ribs will be started soon! Anticipation!

Ken,I'm just nit-picking here. The long shafts(string numbers 4 and 5) look too long/stick out too much. Is that for the pain in your L hand? Easy to shorten them.

REALLY nit-picky:the truss-rod cover in the picture looks a little incongruous in relation to the cool headstock shape. Shouldn't be too hard to shape the TR cover to match the headstock(?) Possibly in wood to match headstock?

Ken,no need to restrict yourself to pearl or ebony for the knobs. Don't know if they are available separately from Stew-Mac;but,their "black pearl" knobs look nice to me(as available on the Waverlys). I like the snakewood knobs too;maybe not on your Stealth(?) That black pearl would look sweet on your Stealth IMHO.

Seems like I just heard/read someone mention "red snail" knobs available...somewhere. I haven't seen them.

Thanks for the pics! I am living vicariously thru your Brentrup journey.

[JEStanek]

If I'm not mistaken, those may not be the final tuners for that instrument. Hans does put on some harware as he goes. The neck isn't finished so those tuners will be coming out for that at the very least. Hans has an eye for detail.

See this one for an example


Jamie

[Ken Olmstead]

Michael - I can't believe you fell for that!! I put 2 smilies after that statement to prevent any misunderstanding. No - those are a set of shop tuners that Hans uses to test fit. The actual tuners will be an A set. I agree completely with you about the truss rod cover. I think a sleeker shape in ebony or another complementary material would be the way to go. I have a hunch the black plastic is again, something that Hans uses as a test fit. Maybe not. I will call him this week and chat about options here. Blohm tuner buttons would look real nice on it!

Kevin - You got it pal! I have figured out a way to pay for half of this mandolin without selling my Fern. So I may be able to have my cake and eat it too! It will slow up any chance of getting an oval or an upgraded electric any time soon, but the Fern is a real pal and I know I would eventually miss it. Youtubes are kind of on hold until after tax season for me. I am working up some fun new stuff and the Stealth will get loads of air time!

Shawn - It has an estimated completion of May/June. But not to be too flippant, whenever Hans finishes. I am learning patience grasshopper!!

[Michael Cameron]

Yep. I'm gullible. D'oh!

OK,you put a smilie after the Blohm tuners. You're kidding,right?
Old-fashion-looking tuners on a modern design...

[Hans]

Actually, those are the tuners I will use. I cut the shafts to fit the P/H shape and refit with ivoroid buttons. Ken, you can have any kind of buttons you want, but anything other than ivoroid will $$$ you.
Custom T/R cover is also more work and guess what? It's gonna $$$ ya!
My own V6 has a tortoise cover shaped in the traditional bell, and matching cover on the T/P.

[Ken Olmstead]

The ivoroid buttons look great on the V6 and would look super on this as well. Probable stick with that. I will contemplate the truss rod cover. The V6 tortoise T/R cover ties so well with the tail piece cover and the finger rest.

I had no idea that you could cut the tuners. Makes sense.

Anyway, I am loving what I am seeing!!! That is the sexiest headstock design ever!! It is really fun to watch it being built. Thanks for providing us with some entertainment Hans!

[shadco]

Shouldn't that say The JBrentrup?

Seriously this sounds like it's going to be an extraordinary instrument

[Mandolin]

What is the color? I would go for the custom TRC and maybe new buttons. The buttons look cool but I think ebony would look sweet on that. I'm going to put up a picture of some sweet abalone buttons from siminoff.

[Michael Cameron]

Ah,Mr. Simnoff's buttons. The abalone (aba-lam?) looks even better than the black pearl,IMHO.

Differnt strokes,eh?

The headstock on the Stealth is my favorite headstock design of ALL time.

Ken,I am plenty excited FOR you. What a cool mandolion.

[Mandolin]

Those buttons are going on my next mandolin. I wish they made them for waverlys. I will just have to make my own.

[Ken Olmstead]

Mandolin - the color will be a red burst. Those buttons are cool but they aren't quite my taste for this project.

I think that ebony "accessories" would look very clean, which is what I am after. I will have to think on it a bit. I have to be cafeful with the "while we're at its!" However, I will am willing to pay for something when the right combo hits me. I am trying to build a lifer here.

[Ken Olmstead]

Here is one of his headstocks with the same (similar?) binding, gold hardware and ebony(?) buttons. It really is striking but simple. TR cover looks fine in this context.