Sloan F-5 mandolin......finally!!

[J.Sloan]

Here's a few pics of my first complete build from scratch. This is serial #002.....my #001 did not wanna co-operate so she's in the closet! Carpathian spruce top, red maple back, sides, and neck. Tone bars, 1 3/8" sides, bone points, ebony headstock veneer and neck, radiused fretboard, custom cut inlay(didn't wanna go there!!), stewmac golden age relic nickel tuners, hand rubbed stain, and shellac french polish sealer with a true oil varnish top coat. I found that drying the oil varnish under a UV light really helped speed up the curing process.
I will try and post a video/audio clip later this week. THANKS to all of the builders who post on the forum and for sharing your knowledge. This build took a long time to finish. I work a full time job(cabinet shop) and have spent countless hours reading books, watching videos, and reading forums for help in each step of the build. Also, setting up the shop, making jigs and fixtures, buying equipment as I could afford to, and redoing things over and over to the point of insanity!! This is not an easy task....hats off to all mandolin builders. I was told by a guitar builder that I picked one of the hardest instruments to build......oh well, too late now!

[Jim Garber]

Congratulations... you are a braver man than I! it would be nice if you could post larger images so we can all see.

[J.Sloan]

You're right Jim, I just noticed that too. I took these with my phone last week, but will have some more posted soon from my digital camera.

Jason

[Stephen Cagle]

J.Sloan that's a real pretty mando you got yourself there! Your work looks really neat and clean too. I love alot of bass in my mando, does that baby got alot of bass in it?? Oh yeah, pic's are really small. Blow em up and let's check out the details. Looks great from what we can see.

[rb3868]

nice looking instrument! If i had a cabinet maker's skill, i'd love to try my hand on one. I would probably end up fingerless

[mtm]

very nice ... must be rewarding to produce such musical art. My woodworking is such that birds are embarrassed to live in the birdhouses I make...

[JEStanek]

Congratulations on the build. You should be proud of the accomplishment!

Jamie

[Steve Sorensen]

Cool! Look forward to hearing it!

Steve

[J.Sloan]

J.Sloan that's a real pretty mando you got yourself there! Your work looks really neat and clean too. I love alot of bass in my mando, does that baby got alot of bass in it?? Oh yeah, pic's are really small. Blow em up and let's check out the details. Looks great from what we can see.

Thanks guys for the compliments! Steve, the sound is very open, clear, and balanced. There's some bass in the low end but not enough to make it muddy. Ive never owned a mandolin with a Carpathian spruce top and was very impressed with the immediate response of this one. There's a nice "hully" tone in there too!

[snoopymandolin1112]

I had an opportunity to play the Mando Jason Built last weekend. The mandolin sounds great with the first set of strings. If it sounds good now , I can only imagine what it will sound like in 6 months.

Jason, just take some of Bill Monroes advise- "You gotta whip it like a mule".

Keep up the good work

[Levi]

That is one of the most beautiful finishes I've ever seen.