Moongazer "mojolin" kit

[Gary]

My wife gave me one of Tom Morici's (moongazer music) 4-string "mojolin" kits as a gift. I just finished putting it together and thought I'd show some photos. I used water-based aniline dyes (amber and yellow), with spray-on deft, sanded with micro-mesh.

By the way, I think the kit is an excellent value...the wood is high quality and the mandolin sounds and feels great. Tom was wonderful to work with (i had many newbie questions which he answered quickly and with patience).

gary

[Gary]

here is a picture of the back...

[Gary]

Here is the headstock (i chose to go with maple for the headstock, neck, and fretboard).

gary

[OzMando]

Looks nice man. No inlay on the headstock? Painted name even?

[Gary]

Thanks...i thought about doing inlay but i like the maple so much that i decided to leave it plain.

-gary

[alanz]

Very nice.
Can you estimate the amount of time you put into building and finishing the kit?
Also, what made you choose a 4 string over an 8 string version (or did the gift make the choice for you)?

I would consider taking one on as a project. #I'd like a solid body electric, good for 'silent' practice <s>

[Brewerpaul]

Interesting A string arrangement

Seriously, that's one nice mando.

[Gary]

Thanks for the positive responses.

I've been playing 4 string electric (a mandobird) in a big band in which i basically fill the roll of the rhythm guitar (i know it seems like odd instrumentation but it sounds pretty good). I needed to upgrade from the epiphone so chose the 4 string.

It's hard to say how long it took. The kit comes rough finished. You need to do the fine sanding, finishing, and installation of the electronics (which requires basic soldering skills and patience). All the cutting, carving, and drilling chores are done. The neck also comes with the frets installed and the holes drilled for installation. My neck didn't come with side dots. Tom sent me the side dot material and i installed that myself. So, i'd say that you could finish it in a weekend (not accounting for finish drying time).

About the A string...that's a special arrangement i've been developing in order to facilitate wicked string bends (actually the picture was taken right after i did some adjustments and i hadn't put the strings back in order).

-gary