Post your Old Waves!

**Kid Charlemagne** · Apr-15-2004, 7:59pm

It's been done before, but it's been a while, and they're so pretty...

So, post a pic of your Old Wave mandolin/octave mandolin/mandola/fish/watermelon.

Here's mine: #311, C# style, getting sweeter sounding every day. #I've had it for almost a year, and just got a set of Thomastiks from Just Strings to put on, and an external transducer from Carl McIntyre to electrify it.

Thanks, Bill!

**Lee** · Apr-16-2004, 11:59am

Man, she's gorgeous! Wood, or tortouise binding?? Got any more photos?
Years ago Elderly mailed me a photo of OW#15, a blacktop C#, and it still hangs on the wall in my office.
And where is everyone else?

**Hoyt** · Apr-16-2004, 12:57pm

Very nice Old Wave, Kid C.

I've tried to post a picture of my Old Wave Octave since I first saw this topic, but I have failed everytime. I'm an idiot with computer -- maybe that's why I like these instruments.

Another stupid move -- I sold an Old Wave mandolin and mandola. Thankfully, I still have the Octave.

Hoyt

**Kid Charlemagne** · Apr-16-2004, 1:11pm

Originally Posted by (Lee957 @ April 16 2004, 12:59)

Man, she's gorgeous! #Wood, or tortouise binding?? Got any more photos? #
Years ago Elderly mailed me a photo of OW#15, a blacktop C#, and it still hangs on the wall in my office. #
And where is everyone else?

Actually, neither - just plain old black plastic binding. #I was going to go with ebony, but Bill told me the difficulties in bending it, and had suggested dark-stained walnut. #I was going to go with that, but realized that the point of the binding is to provide some protection to the instrument's edges, so just went with plastic (which looks fine to me, and is, I suspect, a little more resistant to denting).

I have three other pictures that I can think of right now. #They're not of the whole instrument, but I think they show the back and headstock, as well as a close-up of the front. #The lighting's not great, but here're links if you're interested...

Pic #1
Pic #2
Pic #3

By the way, Hoyt, that octave is gorgeous. #I'm not quite as much a fan of the A-style bodies, but that one is really well done. I've been hoping that PhilGe would post his A, but haven't seen anything yet. Come on, folks, I know there're at least 309 other Old Waves out there!

I've considered commissioning a guitar-shaped octave from Bill in the future, when I actually have money again.

**Lee** · Apr-16-2004, 1:19pm

Not to hijack your thread Mr. Kid, but I thought maybe you'd be interested to see a Paul Newson "mini-guitar" mandola. He might consider building an octave mando. I've had a Newson A mandolin for many years and it remains one of, if not THE, absolute favorite.

**Lee** · Apr-16-2004, 1:22pm

My, that looks nice. Let's see the backside.

**Kid Charlemagne** · Apr-16-2004, 2:07pm

Lee, wow! Does he have a site? I did some looking, but can't seem to locate him online - just a lot of references.

That's awful purty, though.

**PhilGE** · Apr-17-2004, 12:41am

Once again, here's my Old Wave.. and loving it!

-Phil

**Kid Charlemagne** · Apr-19-2004, 8:37am

Phil, still loving the finish on that one of yours. And I never noticed before the rosette around the soundhole... is that abalone?

How's she opening up for you these days? You're playing a lot, I would imagine...

**Lee** · Apr-19-2004, 8:54am

Mr. Kid,
I'm not aware that Paul Newson has a distributorship arrangement. Gryphon Strings gets one in now and then.
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPa....on.html
You can find Paul listed in the Cafe's Builders list.
There's a used one in the Classifieds right now.

**250sc** · Apr-19-2004, 10:13am

Can one of you give me advice. I can't post pictures because they are too large (file size). Can you suggest a free or shareware util that can reduce the file size?

Thanks

**Kid Charlemagne** · Apr-22-2004, 12:16pm

The easiest thing I can think of, 250, is if you send your picture to me. I'll re-size it in Photoshop and send it back.

You could always use something like Paintshop pro, which I think is available in a shareware version, but most shareware programs don't realy handle resizing very well. I'd rather we were able to see the detail in your Old Wave.

**PCypert** · Apr-22-2004, 12:42pm

Come on Old Wave folks. Let's post some pics! That BRW thread is killing you guys. So far only a couple pics of Old Waves and a couple of a totally unrelated mando (pretty though). Come on guys. Come out of lurker mode and get with it.
Paul

**dj9124** · Apr-22-2004, 4:38pm

Boy thats a real beauty John, how does it sound?
Dave

**John S** · Apr-22-2004, 6:36pm

Oh, it has a wonderful tone. Here's a clip of me playing Bluegrass Stomp. The engineer put too much compression on the mix but aside from that it should give you a good idea of the sound.

http://halfdaybluegrass.com/realaudio/bgs_clip.mp3

**dj9124** · Apr-22-2004, 9:34pm

John, your sound clip sounded great, your picking is awesome also, very very nice!

**Don Grieser** · Apr-29-2004, 10:20pm

This is one of Bill's octave mandolins--a fantastic instrument in every way. Here's some serious maple on the back. It's got that 3D thing happening which doesn't show in the photo.

**Don Grieser** · Apr-29-2004, 10:25pm

Here's a full view of the front of the octave. With the carved top and the 20-21" scale length, this octave plays great and has a great growl to it.

**Don Grieser** · Apr-29-2004, 10:29pm

Bill fixed me up with walnut bindings and an abalone rosette. The top is compression grain Engleman. I told him I wanted a blonde.

**Don Grieser** · Apr-29-2004, 10:32pm

And last of all, Bill made this beautiful ebony tailpiece and did a wonderful job on the big bridge as well. This is one big chest vibrator. I can't imagine ever finding an octave I'd like more than this one.