I started building Octave Mandolins in 2007, based on the beautiful plans of Rick Westerman. I have developed some modifications and now have my own design, but I still like to experiment and try new things occasionally!
This experimental Octave Mandolin will (hopefully) be ready in time for Marylhurst, so if you are in the Portland (Oregon) area you could come see it April 27/28!
It will feature a soundport/soundhole that involves both the top and the side. The scale length will be 20.8". Top is red cedar (rescued from a fire wood pile) and back and sides are Koa.
Here is a shot of where I am at now, gluing the sides on (solara style)
You can see the patch to reinforce the side port cut.
To give some background of the genesis of the idea, here is a sketch of a bouzouki idea, which involved a soundhole placement based on reinterpreting the line of the side:
Here the idea is simplified and compared with the single large side port (from the nautilauta project) in another rough sketch:
The lower drawing eventually became the experimental bouzouki (on display at the Portland International Airport through August 2013) and the upper drawing will be fleshed out into this instrument!
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