Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: A new classical mandolin

  1. #1
    Mandolin tragic Graham McDonald's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Canberra, Australia
    Posts
    1,645

    Default A new classical mandolin

    Just strung up this morning, a classical mandolin, for want of a better term. 13" scale, with a body inspired by a carved top Italian mandolin I found a photo of years ago. The soundboard is Sitka, carved to an arching height of 1/2", graduated a little thinner than normal and X braced. The body is Tulip Satinwood, an Australian sub-tropical rainforest tree which is a marvellous tonewood and almost unobtainable. The neck is Queensland maple with a rosewood fingerboard and tortoise celluloid binding. Rubner tuners with the posts cut down to fit. Strung lightly with J62 10-34. I will find someone who can play a tune or two on it.

    Cheers

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Classic1s.jpg 
Views:	227 
Size:	210.3 KB 
ID:	185831 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Classic2s.jpg 
Views:	185 
Size:	201.7 KB 
ID:	185832
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Classic3s.jpg 
Views:	193 
Size:	211.6 KB 
ID:	185833 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Classic4s.jpg 
Views:	180 
Size:	198.6 KB 
ID:	185834
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Classic5s.jpg 
Views:	181 
Size:	245.7 KB 
ID:	185835

  2. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to Graham McDonald For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked


  3. #2
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Beautiful Salem County, NJ
    Posts
    2,004

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    That is an exceptionally beautiful instrument. The 13 inch scale appeals to me, too. My aging hands are finding shorter scale lengths much more comfortable. Great job, Graham. Thanks for sharing it with us.
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  4. The following members say thank you to Bob Clark for this post:


  5. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    200

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    Very nice Graham, and I like the Embergherish head. I've been thinking of building a low-arched, thin topped classical one myself, so I'd be very interested to hear how yours sounds.

  6. #4
    Registered User DougC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,870
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    Beautiful mandolin.Yes another person interested in an audio clip.
    The instrument seems to be like a German style mandolin. i.e. flat back, deeper body etc. And the the nut width seems a bit wider than usual for a small mandolin. I noticed that the tuners are at an angle to the string. Does this work better than perpendicular. (right angles)?
    Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile

  7. #5
    Registered User Steve Sorensen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Santa Clarita, CA
    Posts
    2,461

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    Really lovely. Clean and elegant.

    Steve
    Steve Sorensen
    Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co.
    www.sorensenstrings.com

  8. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    Very nice and understated. Looking fwd to the sounds. What more common wood would be closest to Tulip Satinwood in tone?
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  9. #7
    Mandolin tragic Graham McDonald's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Canberra, Australia
    Posts
    1,645

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    Attached is a link to an mp3 of a 3 part Australian mazurka, called The Lanky Long Legs Mazurka, collected in my home town of Gilgandra, NSW from an old accordion player who went to school with my mother.

    Jim, Tulip satinwood is quite heavy, closer in sound to a rosewood than a mahogany. It just does all the right things as an instrument making timber. I have a couple of mandolins worth of it left and hopefully a source of a bit more.

    https://soundcloud.com/graham-mcdonald-4/legs3

    Cheers

  10. #8
    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Ardnadam, Argyll, Scotland
    Posts
    2,277

    Default Re: A new classical mandolin

    A very elegant and understated creation, Graham. Lovely work and great sound.
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •