Question: If an F5 body is roughly 3/32" smaller all around its edge than a traditional F5 (based on replicated Loar plans), is it still an acceptable F5 mandolin?
Let me explain:
I made an outer mold for my rib/block assembly. I bent my sides, placed them in the mold, cut my blocks, glued them in and then glued my kerfed linings in to the soundboard side of the rib assembly. Then I went to work rough out my spruce top plate...
With the top plate cut to shape (right on the outside of my template pencil line) and the arch and scroll carved, I placed the top on the rib assembly (still held in the mold)...only to find what I believe to be an unacceptable amount of overhang for the top.
I took out my original top plate template and held it over the outer mold shape, and sure enough the mold was smaller than the template. (I really have no idea how this happened because I used that template to make the mold in the first place...but anywho!) At any point around the edge of the mold it is between 1/16" and 1/8" smaller than my top plate template depending on where you measure. This means that if I were to use the rib assembly as held together by this mold the resulting body of the finished mandolin would be an average of 3/32" smaller all around than what is a "standard" F5 based on my template, which is based on a set of replicated plans for Loar F5s...
The mold is going to be corrected. I have already traced the line of the template around the mold's line and will be using my bandsaw and spindle sander to bring it to a more acceptable size.
What I want to know is whether I should toss out the rib assembly. Is it a lost cause because of the discrepancy in size? Is an F5-style mandolin body that is smaller by about 3/32" at any point on its edge still considered an F5 mandolin? Or is it...something else?
Thanks for your input.
-Mark
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