Sneak Preview

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-03-2004, 5:45pm

Too bad I'm so slow I couldn't get it done for Wintergrass.Oh,well,give me a couple of more days.

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-03-2004, 5:46pm

Here's one in the setting sun.

**pickinpox** · Mar-03-2004, 5:55pm

Originally Posted by

Here's one in the setting sun.

Jim, correction....that mandolin IS the setting sun!

Absolutely beauiful.

**mandofiddle** · Mar-03-2004, 5:56pm

Drool...

**mandopete** · Mar-03-2004, 6:11pm

You're scaring me man!

**RI Jim** · Mar-03-2004, 6:30pm

Jim , that is one beautiful instrument......... Great colors on great wood.... I have to ask, is this the one you had posted pictures of a few weeks back

With the ' RR' in the fretboard and blue masking tape ?? If so , how on earth did you get the finish done so fast ? My laquer jobs take at least a month + from start to finish. That is truly a beautiful instrument, and being a luthier i know what to look for ! < G >

Jim

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-03-2004, 6:42pm

Hey, Jim, I'm trying to do this for a living. That seems painfully slow to me.
I'm sure I got the color on the day I posted and had it scraped and first coated the next day. Then I would have level sanded it the next day ,and did the final coats the day after that. Then you have 2 weeks to final sand,make a pickguard ,fit the bridge, make a nut, and in my case,take a trip to Tucson.

**Flowerpot** · Mar-03-2004, 7:02pm

Tucson? What fer? I would have gladly said howdy had I known such a cafe notable was coming around to my neck of the woods.

That's one absolutely gorgeous looking piece there. It would be hard to decide whether to frame it or play it... well, maybe not, I'd play it. Great job!

Mar-03-2004, 8:21pm

Great looking mando Jim

**Skip Kelley** · Mar-03-2004, 8:35pm

Awesome!!!! As always!!

Mar-03-2004, 8:40pm

Jim...you are definitely "closing the gap". That is just exceptional work. I'm thinking people are lining up right about now. Congrats Jim. Well done. I saved it in my great looking mandolins folder.

**Kevin K** · Mar-03-2004, 10:01pm

Wow.

**tope** · Mar-03-2004, 10:25pm

Very nice finish; ahhhhhh. And nice photo work.

**tope** · Mar-03-2004, 10:31pm

Very nice finish; ahhhhhh. And nice photo work.

**Jim Roberts** · Mar-03-2004, 10:32pm

Bee-you-tee-ful, Jim! #Hope to see you at Mandofest in a couple months.

**jasona** · Mar-03-2004, 10:55pm

Wowsers. That is amazing finish!

**mandoJeremy** · Mar-03-2004, 11:57pm

It is beautiful Jim, keep up the great work so you hang with the big boys (you already do from what I SEE but I must play one first).

**Brier** · Mar-04-2004, 12:28am

OOOOOOOOOOOO

**mandoJeremy** · Mar-04-2004, 12:32am

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

**ash** · Mar-04-2004, 12:49am

As long as we're practicing our vowels..."OooooAaaaahhhhEeeee"
Very nice.

**mandoJeremy** · Mar-04-2004, 1:00am

For the record, nice wet sanding Jim. That is they key because there is only one spray gun manufacturer that can produce those results with minimal sanding...Sata!

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-05-2004, 3:59pm

I got strings on it today, so here's what the rest looks like.

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-05-2004, 4:02pm

For those who didn't see it in the "progress" thread, The RR is the initials of the buyer.(Hope he doesn't change his mind.)

**Jim Hilburn** · Mar-05-2004, 4:03pm

Here's the peghead.

Mar-05-2004, 4:22pm

Thats damn fine work Jim. At least i can say...."that guy kicked me out of his house before he became a celebrity". How much are you charging now...how much deposit? thanks!