Looks beautiful! Are you going to stain it or leave it natural?
It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!
I had Gail Hester make me a 20's F4 (as far as having a truss rod and thinner neck) and teens as far as having premium woods (the Loar Era best woods went to the F5s, as those were then the premium mandolins. You see much less figure in the Loar era F4s). Gail's past F4s were a light burst, and at my request she made what I consider the traditional red F4 (with a barely visible yellow burst). To my ears, Gails sounds better than any F4 I have ever heard teens or Loar. Great job Gail. Maybe she will share with us some of her trials making my beautiful F4...please Gail.
Tony Huber
1930 Martin Style C #14783
2011 Mowry GOM
2013 Hester F4 #31
2014 Ellis F5 #322
2017 Nyberg Mandola #172
Great looking job Nick. How are you planning to stain it?
Tony Huber
1930 Martin Style C #14783
2011 Mowry GOM
2013 Hester F4 #31
2014 Ellis F5 #322
2017 Nyberg Mandola #172
Yes I am. I am going to apply the traditional red burst to it. I would like to see Gail Hester's version of it thanks Red7flag. I am open to ideas.
Nic Gellie
Jonathan Maclanahan helped me with ideas on how to graduate the top. I reckon I am not far off Gail Hester's tone. I will post a sound clip here soon. The combination is Sitka Spruce top with Curly Maple back provided by Smith Creek mandolins. I have two more in the works this time with Red Spruce tops and Curly Maple backs.
Nic Gellie
I believe Northfield makes one with a long neck, Have you considered doing that or did you just want to try and keep it as original as possible...Looks great...
Willie
To me the long neck, raised fret board is another beast entirely. Many people refer to it as a hybrid as it seems to combine the tone of both the F4 and F5, with the playability up the neck of an F5. Not only do the F4s sound significantly different, they play different. Personally, I favor the distinct feel and sound of the F4, maybe not for grass, but most anything else. Just because I love that sweet tone.
Tony Huber
1930 Martin Style C #14783
2011 Mowry GOM
2013 Hester F4 #31
2014 Ellis F5 #322
2017 Nyberg Mandola #172
Yes I am looking to do one with the neck attached at the 13th fret to keep it somewhat traditional. I would move the soundhole forward a cm to compensate for that. Personally I am with Tony Huber in keeping it traditional and have it joined at the 12th fret.
I was really surprised at how resonant the sound chamber before stringing it up in the white. I will be posting a sound clip on Soundcloud in the next day or two.
Nic Gellie
Beautiful work again Nick !. I look forward to hearing the sound clips,
Ivan
Weber F-5 'Fern'.
Lebeda F-5 "Special".
Stelling Bellflower BANJO
Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.
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