Pair of new mandolins on me bench

[nkforster]

I've been a busy chap since moving to Germany in October, and the results are now starting to return from the sprayers. Here is the first pair that'll have the "made in Leipzig, Saxony" label in them.







I've written a bit more about them on me blog:

http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog...-on-the-bench/

Nigel

[John Kelly]

Looking good, Nigel. What has prompted your move to pastures new?

[nkforster]

Looking good, Nigel. What has prompted your move to pastures new?

Current UK immigration policy! Me wife is from outside the EU, and despite English being her first language and her being a highly qualified and experienced teacher under current rules, she ain't welcome. She couldn't get a work visa. So I suggested she start applying for jobs all over the world and the Leipzig job came up for her within a few days! So, I packed up the workshop.....she's been here since last August, I made the move in October. It's nice!

[ukrobbiej]

I like the violin like construction of it. I've always wondered why more makers didn't construct them with the back and sides overhanging ( don't know what the technical name is ).

Rob

[Lord of the Badgers]

I like the violin like construction of it. I've always wondered why more makers didn't construct them with the back and sides overhanging ( don't know what the technical name is ).

Rob

violin-y

- - - Updated - - -

I've been a busy chap since moving to Germany in October, and the results are now starting to return from the sprayers. Here is the first pair that'll have the "made in Leipzig, Saxony" label in them.


Nigel

that's such an original take on it. Nice one mate

[John Kelly]

Current UK immigration policy! Me wife is from outside the EU, and despite English being her first language and her being a highly qualified and experienced teacher under current rules, she ain't welcome. She couldn't get a work visa. So I suggested she start applying for jobs all over the world and the Leipzig job came up for her within a few days! So, I packed up the workshop.....she's been here since last August, I made the move in October. It's nice!

So, at the stroke of a pen, two very different talents are removed from the UK and will be adding to the economy of one of our European partners! Aren't politicians just so cool!
I am a retired teacher here in Scotland and we are at the moment looking at accepting qualifications from outside Scotland to alleviate our present teaching shortage. Scotland has an all-graduate policy for its teachers which at present excludes many perfectly competent people from entering the classroom here.

[nkforster]

First one's done....

nigel

www.nkforsterguitars.com

[Jill McAuley]

Pure class that - a stunner!

[Colin Lindsay]

Scotland has an all-graduate policy for its teachers which at present excludes many perfectly competent people from entering the classroom here.

Not wanting to get into politics or the like which has ruined many a good forum and alienated more than one good poster, I always did find it strange that you can teach a topic without having a major qualification in it yourself. I've played guitar for forty years but never considered myself competent enough to teach others.
However: back to topic which is a pair of very fine mandolins and but for an unexpected house move I'd be counting my pennies...

[Dave Hanson]

Beautiful work as usual Nigel.

Dave H

[Michael Wolf]

So the UK immigration policy gave me the opportunity to visit Nigel in his new workshop, where the two new mandolins were just finished. I was on my way to a mandolin workshop with Mike Marshall and Radim Zenkl near Dresden, so this was a great mandolin weekend, nearly a overkill. I could play Nigel´s and one day later there were Mike´s Loar, Mike´s Northfield, a Wiens, a Kimble, a Pomeroy, my Duff, a Wood and the Wolls of the classical players to try and compare.
Nigel´s mandolins are very different from others, the beautiful workmanship and the unique construction really stand out. They feature Nigel´s heavy built sides which make the mandolin appear bigger because the sides are so massive. I was very surprised to see one with f-holes and I liked it very much. It sounds very different from the american f-hole archtops. It has good definition and fullness on the low strings. But it also has more sustain than expected, so it seems to be a combination of the Sobell-y sound and f-hole attributes. This is a very interesting concept. It already sounded full and resonant, though it was just put together. Would be nice to hear it after some playing time. I was possibly the first person who tried it.
It was a great pleasure to meet you Nigel and thanks for the tea (I think I forgot to drink it). I met this kurdish tambur-player that lives around the corner from you on that evening in the refugee-cafe. These are very friendly people who sing a lot.

[nkforster]

And another....







Nigel
www.nkforsterguitars.com

[LongBlackVeil]

Germany is a really happening place for mandolin now huh? You got Catarina Lichtenberg, Mike Marshall, Avi Avital and now NKForester. Not sure that country can handle so much mandolin awesomeness

[billhay4]

Nice looking work, Nigel. Your f-holes are particularly nicely designed. Can I get any more adverbs in?
Let's hear them.
Bill

[nkforster]

Nice looking work, Nigel. Your f-holes are particularly nicely designed. Can I get any more adverbs in?
Let's hear them.
Bill

The first lot had to go straight out, they were all well overdue time wise, what with me not liking the first new versions I made, and then with the move to Germany so I didn't get time to record them. I'll be making some more later in the year time permitting. Maybe next.

I'll ask the chaps who got them if they'll make some sound samples for us.

N

www.nkforsterguitars.com

[Jr Brown]

I would love to hear the f hole mandolin when you do a recording.

[CHASAX]

I want
I need
I have to have.

[nkforster]

The latest version...

nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog...ltic-mandolin/