Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 34

Thread: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

  1. #1

    Default Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Made you look!

    I got this 3/4 fiddle from c.1900 at a flea market up in more northerly Vermont, complete with a top and back in several pieces, no hardware, and some drill holes in the head.

    Never fear! I ripped off the old (dyed maple) fingerboard, made a new cherry fretboard, fixed "all de problems" and set it up as a 4 string mandolin.

    The result? It's very loud, sounds great with chords, and has super oomph and projection. I never woulda guessed. Here's a YT video:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLyfoRovwOk

    At any rate, this has been my little project while tending the store this week, done in the 2-5 minute gaps when customers weren't around.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin01.jpg 
Views:	187 
Size:	170.9 KB 
ID:	44116   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin03.jpg 
Views:	157 
Size:	43.3 KB 
ID:	44118   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin04.jpg 
Views:	167 
Size:	130.8 KB 
ID:	44119  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin05.jpg 
Views:	157 
Size:	42.7 KB 
ID:	44120   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin06.jpg 
Views:	161 
Size:	126.1 KB 
ID:	44121   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin07.jpg 
Views:	196 
Size:	135.9 KB 
ID:	44122  


  2. #2

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    It's not entirely finished yet... I need to touchup the bridge and seat it a little bit better, the 6th fret needs to sit down just a hair, etc.

    But I'm having fun, that's for sure!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin09.jpg 
Views:	151 
Size:	166.9 KB 
ID:	44123   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin10.jpg 
Views:	139 
Size:	112.4 KB 
ID:	44124   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin11.jpg 
Views:	181 
Size:	25.7 KB 
ID:	44125  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin12.jpg 
Views:	133 
Size:	41.8 KB 
ID:	44126   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	fidolin13.jpg 
Views:	149 
Size:	45.3 KB 
ID:	44127  

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Humboldt County, CA
    Posts
    626

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Sounds great and looks really cool! Good job.

    -DJW

  4. #4
    Captain Awesome.
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    24

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Super cool! Nice tone!

  5. #5

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Thanks guys!

    It's fun, that's for sure. I think the next changes will be a better bridge fit and some balalaika-style end-pins to hold the strings rather than the stray screws that're there at the moment.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Thats one of the most interesting thing ive seen in a while. Is the sound post sitting under the T side of the bridge foot?

  7. #7
    Henry Lawton hank's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    The Present Moment
    Posts
    1,950

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    I love this place. Mr. Jake you are definitely thinking outside the box. Keep us posted as this mutant evolves. Great Idea!

  8. #8
    Henry Lawton hank's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    The Present Moment
    Posts
    1,950

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    And I like the I've been needing & made you look lure.

  9. #9

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Hank: Thanks!

    Dan: It's sitting about 1/4" in front of the treble foot (don't ask why, I just put it there out of curiosity for the moment). I can really, really feel the back take off with vibrations when I bang out some chords, but I had been thinking about rebracing the top and eliminating the soundpost. I'm glad I didn't...

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Portsmouth,Ohio
    Posts
    1,021

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Well,Jake,..you've set some of my thinking on mandolin making on its ear. I really like the tone of that thing. I'm assuming that you used mandolin strings on it. I imagine quite a few of us are scratching our heads and wondering about the roles of tone bars and sound posts right about now.
    Jim

  11. #11
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Co. Mayo, Ireland
    Posts
    3,570

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    That thing sounds great - well done!

    Cheers,
    Jill
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

  12. #12

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Jim: Yup, and the strings are random spares (034w, 024w, 014, 010) on bronze, probably cheapy Martins. Even with the light gauge the thing roars, especially chords, and it's only a 13 1/8" scale. I'm going to be doing some more experimenting with the idea... a fellow in town wants to swap me a bunch of old dilapidated/broken fiddles for one setup like this -- so more may be in the works. I really want to see what happens if I do this with something of higher quality and make myself a proper non-adjustable rosewood/ebony bridge with a bone cap, and a 14" scale.

    Jill: Thanks!

  13. #13
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Once again, pretty darn cool job and results, Jake.

    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

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  14. #14
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,634

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Now that's pretty darn cool. I wonder how a full sized fiddle or a viola would sound?
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  15. #15

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Ok. I'll add my congrats to you as well. Sounds wonderful and just goes to show what a little ingenuity will get you...fun stuff!

  16. #16
    Registered User David M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    East Iowa, these days
    Posts
    936

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    That's WILD. Very cool. I love the sawed-off bridge.

    What's the scale length of a 3/4 fiddle? Probably pretty comfortable to play.
    David Mehaffey
    -------------------------------
    ...I wonder how the old folks are at home...

  17. #17
    Mandogal Barb Friedland's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    434
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Very inventive and wildly cool! I LOVE the tone you're getting from this creation!!!!
    BRW SP-H3 2 point
    BRW LP-H3 2 point
    Weber Bighorn oval hole
    Weber Bighorn Mandola
    Weber Octar D-hole
    -------------------
    "The creative is the place no one else has ever been... What you will discover will be wonderful; it will be yourself." Alan Alda

  18. #18
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    7,316

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    He said that he fretted the board to be 13 1/8" scale length (which is more that it would have been when it was a 3/4 violin).
    Bill Snyder

  19. #19

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Danke again, btw.

    Bill: Exactly, though I was tempted to keep it at the 3/4 length and try that with heavier strings.

  20. #20
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,634

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Went looking around the shop today and a 15 inch viola would be perfect for a normal mandolin string length. It would put the bridge right between the notches of the F-holes. Now all all I have to do is find a 15" beater viola. Darn it Jake, now you have me distracted from my instruments on the bench!
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  21. #21
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    4,787

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Dude, that thing sounds great...I mean, really, I've heard of folks trying this without too much success in the past and was pretty skeptical when I clicked the YT link, but, again, that thing sounds great!! (You can play, too, which helps, of course...)

    Keep us updated as you do further work...I'm thinkin' it may be time to find a viandolin of my own...

    Chuck

  22. #22
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    7,316

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Well, I have a small violin on hand that has the neck off and I have a fretted mandolin neck I messed up that I am considering attaching to the violin body.
    The other option for the neck is to get a banjo pot and make a banjolin.
    Bill Snyder

  23. #23
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles CA
    Posts
    1,500

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    not too shabby at all .. check this one out ... the possibilities seem limitless at this point.

  24. #24

    Default Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    Charley: Bwahaha! Addicting, isn't it?

  25. #25
    Henry Lawton hank's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    The Present Moment
    Posts
    1,950

    Thumbs down Re: Well, been needing a bluegrass mandolin...

    My wife Donna's comment about the awful bat, My God! I have to agree We would prefer bamboo under the fingernails.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •