Introducing the Sorensen "F8"

[Steve Sorensen]

Here's a quick IPhone recording of Randy Torno working over the F8 last night -
F8 4 19 2012.mp3

Steve

[wwwilkie]

Beautiful! I love the design and your finishes are incredible.

[Toycona]

Looks fantastic!

[Dan Margolis]

Beautiful instrument!

[Toycona]

Sounds good too. How's the 'woof'?

[Pete Summers]

I'm generally not a fan of the F style shape, but that one is beautiful in wood, shape and finish. I particularly like the cut of the head stock and the scroll. Very elegant. Nice work.

[billhay4]

Beautiful design.
Bill

[Grommet]

Elegant is indeed the word I would use!

Scott

[trevor]

Steve, that's beautiful work.

[tburcham]

Stunning!

[Denny Gies]

A really beautiful piece of work, especially the back.

[Max Girouard]

Really nice Steve!

Good job on the photos as well!

[Skip Kelley]

Steven, that is a sweet looking mandolin! It sounds great!!

[Steve Sorensen]

Thanks, everyone for the nice comments!

It had about 2 hours of total play-time when Randy got it. I grabbed the recording with my phone so it is fairly bare-bones . . . but you can hear hints of the future -- particularly in his last two chops.

The top is a one-piece Sitka from a tree that was so big and evenly grained it looks like a book match. You can hear some of the immediate gratification that Sitka can give . . .

On the other hand, the back and sides are some of the hardest/stiffest maple I have worked and called for some thin graduations on the recurve. Boy, it already pumps the air when hit the lows or chop it!

With some time, I think this one is going to be more than just a pretty face.

Steve

[billhay4]

You're right about the last two chops. Powerful.
Bill

[Bob Bronow]

Sweet! So glad I had the opportunity to play her.

[SGraham]

That mando's got the sound!

[Cheryl Watson]

Gorgeous, stand-out mandolin!

[Jake Wildwood]

Pretty slick, but one has to wear a nice vintage cap, vest, dress pants, and shirt to be able to play it. And a nice old car.

[Steve Sorensen]

Jake,

You're right on the mark, the F8 is a fitting accoutrement for the well-groomed player who must be prepared, on any given night, to either cut a wide swath on the bandstand of an elite club or drive the tempo of an all-night bluegrass jam loosely circling a crackling campfire behind a battered RV.



Steve

[Steve Sorensen]

Here's a mash-up of the newest F8 . . . almost ready to pull off the Frog Tape and put on the hardware.



Steve

[dcoventry]

You...are...hurting...me....why...are...you..hurti ng....me?

Beautiful job, I am pondering....

[GKWilson]

I'm with you DC. The 'Marquis de Steve' loves to torture us with visions of his beautiful mandolins.
At least he hasn't shown us pictures of his little two point 'the Siren' lately.
That one makes me want to run aground on the rocks.
Gary

[Ivan Kelsall]

That's a very beautiful mandolin indeed Steve.Your take on the scroll is as tasty as it gets - stunning !,
Ivan

[Marty Jacobson]

Gorgeous work, Steve. Out there enough to own it as an original design, rooted enough to be acceptable by all but the purest purists. Can't wait to see one in person.
Build on!