H-5 copy just completed

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 6:42pm

Just got my WH-5 mandola finished and strung up last week and thought I'd post a few pics. It's from Siminoff's Loar H-5 blueprints mostly. I'll keep it for a while but my wife says it's gonna have to go.

**Gibsonman** · Dec-12-2007, 6:46pm

Looks great. Might think about letting her go.

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:12pm

John, yes, at some point in the not to distant future we'll find a good home for her. Here is closer view of the top.

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:14pm

Her is a back view.

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:16pm

Peghead.

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:22pm

Here is a shot of the side wood figure. It actually came as a slab of quilted Big-Leaf but when I went to resaw it it appeared to be violin height (1 3/16") instead of 1 3/8" I thought about donating the slab to some lucky violin maker, but decided instead to cut it on the quarter and this is how it turned out.

**Hans** · Dec-12-2007, 7:32pm

Nice job Craig! I like the color...

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:34pm

For a few details, all the wood is from Bruce Harvey at Orcas Island Tonewoods. The top is Sitka and back sides and neck Big Leaf. The back looks more like red maple to me and some of my builder cronies, however. Bruce, you sure you didn't have some red laying in your wood bin? It has a fossil walrus nut, a Steve Smith Loar style dola bridge, a Bill James tail piece and Elite tuners. Inlays are all hand cut and I had to make the pick guard as well. I just strung it up last Wednesday and used it in my church' Christmas musical over the weekend. It played real sweet and has lots of sustain.

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 7:37pm

Thanks Hans. Since I owned that 24 Loar for so many years I wanted to go for that type color in this one.

**mikeo2** · Dec-12-2007, 8:44pm

Originally Posted by (craigw @ Dec. 12 2007, 16:37)

Thanks Hans. Since I owned that 24 Loar for so many years I wanted to go for that type color in this one.

so how does it compare to the Loar?

**craigw** · Dec-12-2007, 9:24pm

Michael, the Loar I had for 34 years was an F-5 and I had never put my hands on a Loar H-5 until LoarFest. But for whoever knows why I got the bug to build one, especially after Loar blueprints came available. My expertise is not in what the Loar H-5s should sound like but I've played lots of Loar F-5s. What I can say is that this one is pretty throaty and I'm liking what I hear. Whether that translates into what a real mandola player wants to hear remains to be seen.

**testore** · Dec-12-2007, 9:50pm

Craig.......WOW!! LOVE IT. That thing looks perfect.

**mandomick** · Dec-12-2007, 9:53pm

Originally Posted by (Gibsonman @ Dec. 12 2007, 18:46)

Looks great. Might think about letting her go.

**cbogle** · Dec-12-2007, 11:34pm

Craig brought this sweet baby by my office on Tuesday afternoon, and I had a brief opportunity to play it and give it a good lookover. I'm telling you, he's done a magnificent job on this instrument.....REAL nice voice and volume, and he's got it set up with butter-smooth action.....easy on my out-of-practice fingers! And Hans, he's really nailed the color on this...it IS quite Loar-like. I've been telling Craig for the last couple of years that he's nuts (what are friends for?): instrument #1 is an F-5, and #2 is an H-5! No "starter" or "practice" A models for him....he went for the scroll right out of the chute, and has done a marvelous job on each!

Now if he could only find a nice case for it.

I also think he should try to keep this one around for a while, because I know he'll get some good use out of it. Besides, it'll be a grat demo! Perhaps I should speak to WW on his behalf?

**Gail Hester** · Dec-13-2007, 12:25am

Looks great Craig, bravo. I hope you can make it to Wintergrass and we'll have a Dolla-West.

**Michael Lewis** · Dec-13-2007, 2:44am

Craig, Cliff would be proud of you! Great looking instrument.

**Big Joe** · Dec-13-2007, 8:23am

Cedar Creek (custom division of TKL) will make a case for him. It is not terribly expensive and usually can be done in about six weeks. I don't have a contact readily available but they were at IBMA and if someone has a NAMM book it should be in there. Hope this helps.

Great looking Dola. Makes my heart all woozzzyyyy

.

**Skip Kelley** · Dec-13-2007, 8:59am

Craig, nice job! I love the color. It is perfect!

**Gibsonman** · Dec-13-2007, 1:11pm

Craig you say this is from Siminoff blueprints. Do you mean a kit or from scratch? You DID really get the color right. Very nice job. I am guessing this was done by scratch. This only being your 2nd. is really fine looking work. John.

**craigw** · Dec-13-2007, 1:29pm

John, First, thanks for your kind words. I don't know if anyone even offers a kit for an H-5. This one is totally a from scratch instrument.

**mandobuff** · Dec-13-2007, 2:41pm

Craig, this looks great.I have an H5 built by Gary Vessel and love it. Did you make the pickguard or have it made? I would like to put one on my Dola someday

**craigw** · Dec-13-2007, 3:04pm

Bill, I made the pick guard. If you are interested in a pick guard I can probably make others. Contact me off board.

**RCole** · Dec-13-2007, 4:12pm

Craig,
looks like you finally got a winner there, it even did look good in the white at Grass Valley last Summer but now its got the real fine look, hope it made your experience worth while. Are you going to do more? Nice job on your first dola
Ron

**craigw** · Dec-13-2007, 6:34pm

Thanks Ron, My best answer is it is real encouraging now that it's done but I probably will tinker with set-up just a little. And yes I currently have two F-5 bodies glued up. Got 2-3 usable necks blanked out and wood for a third. These next ones should go a lot faster as the learning curve gets a little shorter.

**dirty harry** · Dec-13-2007, 6:45pm

Looks mighy fine indeed!

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