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Thread: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

  1. #1
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    Default Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    If anyone is looking for a set of plans to build with or add to their collection feel free to download these.

    F-5 Plans were drawn from studying/measuring 9 Loar mandolins over the years. Mainly drawn after measuring the first four. Recommended graduations are basically an average of what was measured, not one specific instrument.

    H-5 drawings were done after studying/measuring one instrument. The plans were drawn mainly for personal use building a 17" scale instrument, so body outline, headstock, etc. are accurate but neck is obviously longer and I used the larger f-holes from the F-5. Also not a lot of detail on the drawings.

    A-5, never had a chance to study the instrument so this is really just a body drawing taken from an old oval hole. I was given a set of graduations taken from the original instrument and it appeared to me that the intention was to carve the top to f-5 specs. Sorry, not much on this drawing, but between this and the f-5 most people have had no problem building a nice A-5.

    I can add measurements to the plans or just add them to this thread if anyone has some they would like.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails f-5 mandolin plan.pdf   final H-5 mandola plans.pdf   loar a-5.pdf  


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  3. #2
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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Thanks for sharing this, David.

    Not likely I'll ever attempt to build an F5, but it's very cool to see the carefully drawn plans for your instrument since I'm the proud original owner of a 2003 Smith Creek F-5 (#091) purchased through Famous Old Time Music. It's really aged well over the past 15 years, and has become my go-to Adirondack top mandolin. A much better instrument than I am a player, but it certainly inspires me to get better each time I take it out of the case.

    David Grant
    Savannah, GA

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    Registered User Pete Braccio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Wow! Thanks for posting these.
    Pete Braccio

    "The Rules: Play nice and don't run with scissors"
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  5. #4
    rock in rôle Paul Statman's Avatar
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    Question Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Thanks for sharing these. I am wondering though, what, if any improvement/gain was achieved as a result of using the larger, and more 'upright' mandolin f-holes on the mandola?

  6. #5
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Very Cool, These will go on my wall with the Hogo plans and some I got from Elderly!
    Last edited by John Bertotti; Apr-29-2019 at 7:20am.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    I hope some people can get some use from the plans. I've been building my own design of amplified acoustic bass guitars lately in the video below, under the Christopher name. I call it the Double-Bass Guitar since it's designed to capture as much double-bass tone as possible in an electric bass sized instrument. Hopefully you can see some of my mandolin building heritage in the design!

    Paul, I never built a mandola with original sized f-holes, so I can't say for sure what improvement actually occured. The goal or intention was more volume. The original Loar with it's shorter scale and smaller f-holes was a very nice sounding instrument but fairly quiet.


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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Wow Dave!

    That bass is amazing! I love the look, and it sounds like a well mic'd upright, only more even.

  10. #8
    rock in rôle Paul Statman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    That's a good sound coming from that bass. Not at all electric!

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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Thanks for the kind words!

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  13. #10
    rock in rôle Paul Statman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smith Creek F-5, H-5 and A-5 Plans/Drawings

    Just the truth.

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