Found a local mandolin luthier

[Barry Wilson]

This past year I have jammed/performed with so many different musicians. Recently I met a lady with an amazing voice and we talked about doing some work together. We friended each other on facebook and she posted a link

http://www.hovingtoninstruments.com/

Turns out it is her fiance'. and his work is gorgeous. I am going to have a play on one of those mandolins he just finished and might be commisioning a mandocello. I like to support local when I can and if anyone in the western canada area is on the look, it might be worth contacting Tomy

just wanted to share

[Barry Wilson]

Well I just commissioned my first custom instrument from this fella. We are discussing woods and such right now. Guitar bodied octave mandolin. I was wanting a 20 or 21 inch scale. I'd really like to be able to reach a 3 finger F chord without the need of a double jointed left hand haha

[lenf12]

It only took you 2 1/2 years to pull the trigger?

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Barry Wilson]

LOL. ya well. I still can't afford it but I have been upgrading my instruments since this post. Gone is the Fender acoustic, Taylor in etc. He has never made an OM. and I had to decide what I wanted most.

[pheffernan]

Guitar bodied octave mandolin. I was wanting a 20 or 21 inch scale.

A GBOM with a 21.5" scale is not without a certain charm.

[Barry Wilson]

We have discussed woods, hardware etc and finally getting to where he will be able to start. Archtop with F holes, like yours Pheffernan. Spruce top maple back and sides, allen tp, 1/18 tuners. I could have just gotten a Northfield or Webber yes, but I like to support local when I can. I just bought another bass today too LOL. Now I have to start saving up for this beauty

I just might have to sell some instruments :D

[s1m0n]

Congratulations!

[Barry Wilson]

Going to go with a bear claw spruce top, figured maple and similar color scheme to this mandolin

[pheffernan]

Going to go with a bear claw spruce top, figured maple and similar color scheme to this mandolin

Wise choices!

Bear claw spruce

Figured maple

Color scheme

[Roger Moss]

Nice colors. Is that a sound hole in the side?

[pheffernan]

Nice colors. Is that a sound hole in the side?

It does have a sound side port and, outside of a Virzi tone producer, just about every other option that Mike offers (blond top, pickguard, floating ebony bridge, inlay, etc.)!

http://www.blackmandolins.com/octave-mandolins.html

[Barry Wilson]

I am excited. my OM is 22.5" scale. a 20 or 21 will be easier to play that F chord. I just can't reach it without finger gymnastics. my mandocello is only 23 1/4 but thinner neck (electric). the tenor banjo is 20 and that is nice.

I just asked to not go too dark on the edges. I was going to go blond with cocobolo binding. fretboard too. just depends if it's available right now. I should hear back. I booked 3 more gigs last night and have a lead for a "do" as she put it, in West Vancouver. The woman that booked me suggested me for it.

I really like the OM's and if I get a nice instrument made it had to be that first. I have 4 mandolins so that's covered for now. I want to go play the one in the picture above though. $2700 is a good price LOL

I'll be honest, $1600 for my Taylor guitar is the most I have ever spent on an instrument before. I am going to have to bust my butt to pay this off. I was going to trade in my motorcycle for a new Triumph but I guess next year...

[pheffernan]

a 20 or 21 will be easier to play that F chord. I just can't reach it without finger gymnastics. my mandocello is only 23 1/4 but thinner neck (electric). the tenor banjo is 20 and that is nice.

Have you considered a tenor guitar? They often come in a 21" scale and many, like the Fletcher, are built for octave tuning.

[Barry Wilson]

I considered tenors... I love the om sound... I'm committed now anyway haha

[pheffernan]

I considered tenors... I love the om sound... I'm committed now anyway haha

They're not mutually exclusive. Despite already owning more GBOM than I'll ever need, I picked up my first tenor about a month ago.

[Barry Wilson]

I am just feeling up to the point of not needing more different types of instruments. I have trouble finding the time to play them all as it is LOL. Heck I just picked up my electric guitar for the first time in many many months and that was just to record something for someone else (I bought the electric bass for recording)

I am likely going to have to sell a couple instruments to afford this as it is. (ya ya I say that out loud anyway)

having nice acoustic instruments will push me to start using the condensor mic because I won't chop this one to add holes hehe

[Barry Wilson]

I might still go with a blond. I was just talking to Tomy and it depends whether he can get the cocobolo for the binding. I think that would look amazing...

so many choices. I was just looking at tail pieces. I want an Allen.. I find it hard to visualize on a guitar body. I have narrowed it down to these 2.

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/i...iece-94587.htm

or

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/i...iece-94988.htm

then I have to pick the exact tuners I want. that's next. and looks like 21 inch is going to be the scale

[Barry Wilson]

OK, so it's going to be a blond with cocobolo binding. we finalized that last night. I am just waiting for a response on whether there is a cocobolo blank for the fretboard. nickel frets, pearl inlays and side markers, grover tuners. I just have to decide on the tailpiece now...

Monday I lay the deposit down. This is so exciting!!

[Barry Wilson]

Deposit paid. This is really stepping out of the financial comfort zone. Now I wait.

went with the TR1 tailpiece. master spruce top, figured maple back, sides and neck, cocobolo binding. still waiting for availability of cocobolo fretboard. grover 18 to 1 tuners. ebony headstock with the Hovington inlay. F style archtop.

I was thinking maybe just side dot fret markers and nothing on the fretboard. if I put any just single dot pearl.

[Barry Wilson]

Wood order went in and no cocobolo for the fretboard so we decided to go all ebony including the binding. I know this is like a blog but I won't have any updates now until construction is underway. All I can do to stave off the excitement/anxiety hehe

[Barry Wilson]

I got this video to see the wood...

[Barry Wilson]

Tough crowd...

[Barry Wilson]

Here's a few vids I have gotten over the build

[Barry Wilson]

It's pretty cool getting updates like this so I can see what is happening to my new toy

[Phil Goodson]

The woods are beautiful. Exciting build. Can't wait to hear your comments on its sound when finished.
Best to you.