The new Sorensen Stealth . . .

[Steve Sorensen]

. . . will be at IBMA 2017, Booth 100.



Bluegrassers beware.

Steve

(Many thanks to Hans Brentrup for letting me continue the "Stealth" lineage.)

[Don Grieser]

Reveal it now or be cursed forever.

[CES]

Killing me, Steve!!

[Steve Sorensen]

The first time I caught a glimpse of the B-2 bomber, hugging the valley contours as it slipped back towards Edwards AFB, I almost crashed my car.

Better to take this slowly and safely . . .



Steve

[MontanaMatt]

Pictures, sure, but sounds please!

[Steve Sorensen]

A view from the backside.



Internal recurves allow for flowing lines from soundboards to 3D sides.

Steve

[Don Grieser]

Thanks, Steve. You're right. I need time to admire each picture. I don't think you should take it to IBMA (bluegrass police and all). Drop it off in NM on your way there to stay safe.

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, I'm pretty sure there is a rule in the guidelines somewhere about not being a tease!
Seriously that looks awesome!

[Steve Sorensen]

In that case, Skip, I shouldn't mention that there is a second Stealth getting hardware tomorrow.



Steve

[sgarrity]

Look forward to seeing this one!

[Ron McMillan]

Definite black marks for the teasing. Very cruel. I look forward to a full set of photographs and some quality video footage

[Bertram Henze]

I guess that one goes to Gotham City...

[dang]

I can't see anything...

[Timbofood]

Talk about mandolin porn! HOOOOoooEEEeee!
That's mighty interesting, stock or commissioned? Very very nice indeed!

[Steve Sorensen]

Timothy,

The two prototypes were done to test several ideas about modernizing the mandolin form that I've been thinking about based upon the consistent player response to the tone and feel of the previous "X-Series" mandolins.

As I've mentioned previously, my goal with these builds is to meet or exceed my "tone target" mandolins which include -- a couple of mandolins from the Gibson Loar era, a Danny Roberts/Derrington instrument, a specific Heiden, and a combination of a couple Gilchrist mandolins. To my ear, these instruments provide the range, power, balance, complexity, and response which really allows players maximum expression.

At the same time, I have no interest in building antique reproductions. I deeply admire the builders who have refined and re-invigorated the Loar tradition, but am too tempted by the "what if . . ." questions which pop into my mind as I better understand what makes players tick.

I also wanted to test some new carving and material ideas . . . more on that later.

I'm looking forward to taking these prototypes to IBMA and hearing/watching pickers really beat on them. Based on the response from players, I'll make some tweaks and offer custom builds and perhaps a spec production instrument from time to time.

Here are some of shots of the front of the first Stealth prototype --



Finish is nitrocellulose lacquer. Hardware is basic. Both prototypes have K&K Twin Internal pickups installed.

Again, I would like to thank Hans Brentrup for the inspiration and the OK to continue the "Stealth" lineage.

Steve

[Paul Statman]

I guess that one goes to Gotham City...

Yes - that would not look out of place hanging in the bat-cave. Very nicely done, Steve! I very much look forward to hearing one.

[Dave Greenspoon]

Love the innovations and experimentation! The sweep of the curves seem to be in a dynamic conversation with each other; awesome aesthetic! I also especially appreciate that Hans allows his innovations to have new life under new hands. I'm curious about a couple things. How does the air volume inside the box compare with other instruments? Also, I've read some interesting takes on sound-holes and love the stylized "S" holes there; very violin like. I'm wondering about your thoughts on porting the bass bout.

[Don Grieser]

Yep, it's great to see something other than an F5. Great design.

[Ron McMillan]

The three new photographs are a joy. That's my computer wallpaper taken care of for another few months

[Steve Sorensen]

Dave,

Internal air volume is very close to traditional F body.

If you look closely, you'll see that the sound holes curve inward on the outside border of each hole. This "venting" design actually increases the aperture although by the front view holes are quite narrow. The result is a pleasant surprise -- excellent balance in response across the neck, great treble, and great tone for the player. I considered a sound port, but don't really think it is necessary based upon what I'm hearing from the prototypes.

Steve

PS - Been picking on this one tonight -



Got to ship them out to Raleigh for IBMA tomorrow afternoon.

[John Soper]

Amazing!!

[Bertram Henze]

It reminds me of a quote (proving that this will see the end of time itself):

Zaphod's attention however was elsewhere. His attention was riveted on the ship standing next to Hotblack Desiato's limo. His mouths hung open.
"That," he said, "that ... is really bad for the eyes ..."
Ford looked. He too stood astonished.
It was a ship of classic, simple design, like a flattened salmon, twenty yards long, very clean, very sleek. There was just one remarkable thing about it.
"It's so ... black!" said Ford Prefect, "you can hardly make out its shape ... light just seems to fall into it!"
Zaphod said nothing. He had simply fallen in love.
The blackness of it was so extreme that it was almost impossible to tell how close you were standing to it.
"Your eyes just slide off it ..." said Ford in wonder. It was an emotional moment. He bit his lip.
Zaphod moved forward to it, slowly, like a man possessed - or more accurately like a man who wanted to possess. His hand reached out to stroke it. His hand stopped. His hand reached out to stroke it again. His hand stopped again.
"Come and feel the surface," he said in a hushed voice.
Ford put his hand out to feel it. His hand stopped.
"You ... you can't ..." he said.
"See?" said Zaphod, "it's just totally frictionless. This must be one mother of a mover ..."
He turned to look at Ford seriously. At least, one of his heads did - the other stayed gazing in awe at the ship.
"What do you reckon, Ford?" he said.
"You mean ... er ..." Ford looked over his shoulder. "You mean stroll off with it? You think we should?"
"No."
"Nor do I."
"But we're going to, aren't we?"
"How can we not?"

[Skip Kelley]

Steve, that is just too cool!

[UsuallyPickin]

I am a purist at heart.. an if you can't take it straight from the bottle is it really all that good kind of guy.... I admit to being stuck in my ways and little given to flights of fancy over the new and different. It is quite possible that if it were 1915 I might still be playing a bowl back and shaking my head at those new fangled designs over at Gibson. Yet I have to say Master Luthier Sorensen makes lovely instruments. Without a doubt he is part of the golden age of luthiery. Well done sir ... well done R/

[rfd]

TOTALLY love it. awesome. prog mando at its finest.