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Thread: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

  1. #1
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    Hi everyone,

    I have built two mandolins and one ukelele whilst in Spain. The last one here shown was born during the corona virus pandemic in Spain. I am living on a cortijo in the Alpuharras in southern Spain. We are well isolated from large conurbations like the capital Granada in the province of Granada.

    I have a little casita next to our casa which is where I work. It is no mean fest to build a mandolin in Spain although we do have two really great wood suppliers in Spain: Madinter and Maderas Barber.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by Nick Gellie; Mar-30-2020 at 9:10am. Reason: Spelling
    Nic Gellie

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  3. #2
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    I can see it is going to be a nice one.
    New to mando? Click this link -->Newbies to join us at the Newbies Social Group.

    Just send an email to rob.meldrum@gmail.com with "mandolin setup" in the subject line and he will email you a copy of his ebook for free (free to all mandolincafe members).

    My website and blog: honketyhank.com

  4. #3

    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    The wood is beautiful. How are you going to finish it?

  5. #4

    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    Nick, in this age of pandemic, my mind was easily confused by your title.......it saw "mandolin-borne" in relation to coronavirus.....I was thinking we would soon be wiping our mandolins down with hand sanitizer -- not a very appealing thought!

    Anyway, I blame too much television.....

    Good work, by the way!

  6. #5
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    Thanks for all your comments. I am hoping to sunburst it and finish it in shellac. What ever tap tuning means to anyone, it has come out as C# spot on. I am following roughly an Ellis A-5 design where one chops half and inch of the top of the Loar A-5 and bring the bridge back half an inch. The neck has a dovetail joint - the first one I have done and it came out pretty well - neck is aligned perfectly with the body. My next step is binding. I am using ABS plastic rather than celluloid qhite-black-white binding.

    Before this one I made an F-5 for my 11-year-old son. Here it is:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Nic Gellie

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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    that A style looks tasty.. but then, all of your work does..
    kterry

  8. #7
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    Thanks for the nice comments Buckhorn. I don't have the reputation of Steve Gilchrist because he has a head start of 40 years or more. But I am quick on the update having made a few mistakes in my time. I work with the primitive tools I have and try to get better each time. It has been quite a challenge making musical instruments in Spain. However, I have made lots of good luthier friends both here and in Portugal ( shout out to Andy Manson who is a star luthier and mentor).

    My next project will be an Irish Bouzouki which I will start once these mandolins are finished and then onto tenor ukeleles before getting back into mandolins. I like to vary the build and challenges rather than get stuck making one instrument.
    Nic Gellie

  9. #8
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    It now has a nice fitting custom made case made by Antonio Manzano as good as a Collings MT case. Perfecto!Click image for larger version. 

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    Nic Gellie

  10. #9
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin born during coronavirus pandemic in Spain

    My son's mandolin in a second hand TKL case.Click image for larger version. 

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    Nic Gellie

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