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Thread: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

  1. #1
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    I am starting a thread for those of us who build F2 or F4 mandolins.

    Please feel free to add your stories, your trials and tribulations, your photos and sound clips of your finished mandolins.

    Mine started as this:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    And ended up as this:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    More to follow.
    Nic Gellie

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  3. #2
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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!

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  5. #3
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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

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    hank 

  7. #4
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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

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  9. #5
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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

  10. #6
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    Quote Originally Posted by red7flag View Post
    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.

    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

  11. #7
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Gellie View Post
    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.
    Here is a picture of Gail's F4. You can see the slight lightening in the center. Very subtle work.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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

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  15. #9
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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

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  17. #10
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    Quote Originally Posted by Willie Poole View Post
    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
    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

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  19. #11
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    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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  21. #12
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: F2 or F4 mandolin builds

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve VandeWater View Post
    Looks beautiful! Are you going to stain it or leave it natural?

    I like your motto - very pertinent to what I am doing.
    Nic Gellie

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