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Thread: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

  1. #26

    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Nice job - looks good and sounds great! I've played a few of those babies over the years and none of them sounded as good as yours - it's got pop!

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  3. #27
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Thanks Jim, yea I was on stage at NMC the last Sunday of Sept and again last Sunday... they're a great talented group of people to play music with!

    Quote Originally Posted by JH Murray View Post
    So will you be putting one of your excellent arm rests on it as well?
    I most definitely will! I just want to let the varnish to cure for about a month. I also want to add a tonegard-like device that I've seen someone made here on the cafe to help hold it off my stomach.
    aka: Spencer
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  4. #28
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Drat!!! Failure!!!

    So I noticed every time I picked up the mando, that every string was flat and assumed that the strings were just taking a long while to settle... then, I started getting fret buzz where I didn't before... I worked on the frets last night and restrung it and let it sit overnight... just checked it and the top is seriously sagging.

    Bummer!!! I'll investigate later and share what I find.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
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    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  5. #29
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    That's a major bummer. Hope it's something easy.

  6. #30
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Oh no, so sad to hear. Did you put a induced arch in the top when you braced it?
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Oh no, so sad to hear. Did you put a induced arch in the top when you braced it?
    Yes!
    aka: Spencer
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  8. #32
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Quote Originally Posted by soliver View Post
    Drat!!! Failure!!!
    .
    Hey Spencer,

    I am really sorry to learn of your mandolin's issue. This is very sad, to be sure. But really, don't take it as a failure. I am sure that you learned a tremendous amount on this build, and now you will learn a bit more. See if you can fix the problem on this one, and also apply what you learn on the next one. You really have had quite a victory here. I, and certainly others here as well, look forward to following your next build. In the meantime, please let us know what you learn about this one's issue.

    Best wishes,

    Bob
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

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  10. #33
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Just wanted to update you guys on the status of the issue with #001.

    I've exchanged a few emails with a few different builders who have helped offer some guidance through the build. As I had suspected, the glue failed on the main brace under the bridge on the bass side. John Hamlett pointed out to me that if the bracing wasn't tucked well enough under the kerfed lining, that this can happen under the tension of the strings... So I realized that I made a rookie mistake of not being attentive enough to this part of the build by not being particularly carful to keep the lining fully in tact over the bracing. I was not aware of how this particular geometry played such a role in the integrity of the top of the mando... Lesson learned!

    Again, many thanks to Marty Jacobson, Steve Smith and John Hamlett for their advice.

    Approaching the repair through the sound hole seems more difficult than necessary and I'm not sure I'd be able to do the repair effectively that way either. My plan is to remove the back being more attentive to the condition of the sides and top, and simply rebuild and refinish the back. I have plenty of mahogany left over and this should prove relatively easy.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  12. #34
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    You could reuse the back it you are careful when you take it off.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  13. #35
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    What a great learning experience this is!

    Marty came by today to hang out and brought me a seam separating knife and gave me a great description of how to get it repaired. We hung out for a little bit to shoot the breeze and when he headed out, it started to rain which hampered my "wife-and-kids-are-out-of-town" honey do list, so why not take advantage of that time and head out to the shop and give 'er a go!

    I was a little intimidated by trying to get the back off, but it turned out to be easier than expected:

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    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    You could reuse the back it you are careful when you take it off.
    My original intent was to not be too concern about it, but it looks like it might be possible to reuse the back. I may add some binding to the back as well to help cover up any ugliness from the repair, but that remains to be seen.

    Found that the bracing had separated from the top from the side, to about 2" from the side. And while I did tuck the bracing under the kerfed lining, there was probably about a 1/32" gap between the bottom go the lining and the top of the bracing... its amazing how much such a small gap can effect an instrument!

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    Per Marty's advice, I planed and chiseled away the entire brace and will completely replace it and also add some small blocking to help support the bracing from the sides as the Lining should have done... after I buy a new bottle of wood glue; mine is kinda old, so why risk it. The pile of wood chips used to be the brace.

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    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

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  15. #36
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Yeah I have been in the same place as you have been not fixing a brace and instead removing a back and putting a new one on. It is not for the faint hearted. I remember replugging the holes in a headstock and redrilling new ones on one side of the headstock. Great stuff and a shout out to Marty Jacobson for helping you out.
    Nic Gellie

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  17. #37
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Well done!

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    So I have completely removed the old brace and scraped any remaining glue. One thing I noticed about this piece of spruce, and I'm not sure if it's just this particular piece of spruce or possibly the torrification process, but the grain has been very "stringy" where the fibers have pulled apart somewhat easily and concerns me to some small degree. In spite of this, I've remade and installed a new brace, and added in some small but substantial blocking to do the job that the kerfed lining was supposed to do.

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    All the interior work being done, I've glued the back back on. I bought some more binding with the intent of using it if the seam looked wonky after regluing the back, but it doesn't really look like it needs it; and last night I glued back on the heel cap.

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    It's going to take some sanding to prep, but I'll start the refinishing of the back soon, and I plan to do some polishing of the top and I think that ought to do it.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
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    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  19. #39
    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Somehow I missed that this top is torrefied. I have only limited experience with torrefied wood, but it does tend to split more readily and has the reputation of not gluing well sometimes. I suspect that might be the reason (at least partly) for the stringiness.
    Especially if the process is slightly overdone, the wood can be downright fragile.

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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Thanks John, that's good to know!... it hasn't seemed fragile, but I can see why people would say it doesn't glue well. Where the glue failed, it pulled off in small torn fibers. Hopefully the blocking that I added should keep that from happing again.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
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    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
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    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

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  22. #41
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Just wanted to update here again. I've finished up 3 coats of Epifanes oil varnish, sanded to 1500x and applied my first coat of Tru Oil... almost back to normal.

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    Been working on the tune Banish Misfortune to re-inaugurate #001!

    BTW, I'd like to introduce our newest addition to the family; meet Mr. Tumnus, our 11 week old English Cream Dachshund. He's been with us about 3 weeks now and is shaping up to be a great dog! ... Dachshunds always have such great personalities!

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    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

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  24. #42

    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Inspiring!
    2009 Eastman 505
    2011 Collings MTO GT
    2008 Toyota Sienna
    2018 Sawchyn mandola

    Mandoline or Mandolin: Similar to the lute, but much less artistically valuable....for people who wish to play simple music without much trouble —The Oxford Companion to Music

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  26. #43
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Its been fun watching your progress! I am incredibly impressed. #001 looks awesome

  27. #44
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Mr. Tumnus--that's from C.S. Lewis, yes?
    Cary Fagan

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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Quote Originally Posted by Cary Fagan View Post
    Mr. Tumnus--that's from C.S. Lewis, yes?
    Yes, our older dog is named Lucy after the Character in Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (a family favorite), so "Mr. Tumnus" only made sense.
    aka: Spencer
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Quote Originally Posted by Zach Wilson View Post
    Its been fun watching your progress! I am incredibly impressed. #001 looks awesome
    Thanks!
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
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  30. #47
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Spencer,

    In addition to your initiative to build an instrument, I'm also in admiration of your discipline to start off simply. That way, even if something went really awry, you haven't invested an inordinate amount of time and effort on the ancillary stuff (binding, inlay, etc, not to mention arching). I think both the trials and the successes you are having now will go a long way to inspire you make ever more refined instruments. I'm rehabbing tendinitis in my elbow, so I'm not playing, but you know where to reach me if you ever want to show off your latest creation.

    Oh, and beautiful dog!! Just texted a picture to the wife. She's starting to cave (Jethro the Wonderbeagle set me back a decade from her allowing another dog in the house). Where did you acquire him?
    Jim Sims

    " Amateurs practice until they get it right - professionals practice until they can't get it wrong."
    "Me?... I don't practice."

    iiimandolin#19
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  32. #48
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Very nice. Well done.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
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  34. #49
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Thanks Jeff and Thanks Jim for your kind words! Sorry to hear you've not been able to play that great mando you've got!

    You definitely hit the nail on the head; my intention was definitely to start simple, not only for the sake of not investing a ridiculous amount of effort If it turned into a major catastrophe, but also because I find a great deal of attraction in simplicity. Call me a minimalist, but I just prefer a clean and simple look.

    As far as Tumnus goes, he came from a breeder in Duluth that my wife found online. She had a dachshund when we met so long ago, and that sweet dog turned out to be the ring bearer in our wedding and live to be a ripe old 18 yrs! Ever since, she has played with the idea of getting another and we finally bit the bullet as a very early Christmas present to our kids. Totally worth it!

    Back to the mando... polished the Tru Oil this evening and will let it sit a few days for finally assembly and set up maybe Saturday evening. Honestly, I think the finish looks better now than it did when I first finished it.... since I Didn't add any varnish to the top only added a single coat of Tru Oil, I'm comfortable going ahead and adding all the bits and bobs with it only "curing" for a few days.

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    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

  35. #50
    Registered User usqebach's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finally Finished: Soliver #001

    Yes, I'm seeing a lot of beauty in the simplicity and attention to detail in that mandolin.

    Here's to a return to it's playing form!

    (I may call you sometime about the name of that breeder, but "The Queen" isn't there yet. I'm still working on her!) Do you think she takes trade ins??? (That's Oliver, aka "The curse of my very existence!!)

    Jim
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    Jim Sims

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    "Me?... I don't practice."

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