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An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
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Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:34 pm ]
Post subject:  An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Well I attempted a mandolin. I should have taken Arnt's suggestion to start with an A style not an F style.
Man this was tough. The scroll and binding is WAY harder than a guitar!!!! My attempt was a mess. Since it was full of mistakes I could not even think of putting a flawless polyester or urethane finish on it. So I decided to take advantage of my mistakes and "antique" the mandolin. I actually scuffed up the surface a bit before staining, so the stain would penetrate the wood differently. I decided to use amber and yellow tints and then finish with true oil for a warmer and "older" looking finish. The picts look better than the instrument in person. I truly respect all of you mandolin makers out there!!!
Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Fantastic!!!!!!!

[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Was this from a kit, or StewMac parts, or from scratch?
Author:  joe white [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
I'm impressed!! [:Y:] How's it sound??
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
It sounds OK, but I have no clue how to play it.
Joe there was no way I could send this one to you for a finish. That would be like putting a brand new paint job on a Gremlin or a Pinto
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
It looks great from here. I really like way the stain turned out.

Going to make another one?
Author:  psl53 [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Andy, sure looks nice in the photos and who's first anything turn out a masterpiece. I've got the hots to build a mandolin. I think I'm going to do a A style 2 point. Was this a kit of did you build it from scratch? Good job either way. I'm loving all these mandolin photos. Keep them coming.
Peter
Author:  joe white [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Understood Andy! I just noticed, NO SOUNDPORT! eek
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Thanks
It wasn't a kit, but I bought some parts from Stew Mac.
Joe, no dog print soundport.....but I did consider making dog print holes in the top instead of F holes
Author:  Tom Morici [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Andy,

Looks good to me, those F5's are tricky. I like how it is not a perfect
copy. A tip of the hat and a pat on the back. Great Job!
Author:  LuthierSupplier [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Andy,
That is a lot better than my first attempt, I'm still not done and it has been 2 years. I just gave up once I got to the binding. I'm sure I'll get around to finishing one day. You have inspired me to finish now that I've seen what a great job you have done. A big congrats, and job well done!
Author:  KenH [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Looks mighty fine to me Andy!

Some people actually prefer the "aged" look, so this may not be as bad as you might think. From the pictures, it looks mighty playable. I've got to try my luck at one of these mandolins soon...I feel it coming!
Author:  martinedwards [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Oh the temptation to say "yeah you're right, it looks awful!! :mrgreen:

totally untrue of course, it looks just great!!

bear in mind that from a spectator distance when it's being played it's tiny in comparison to a dread, so any flaws that you can see as tjhe maker will be invisible.

At the guitar building class I attended for a year one of the guys brought in his $35,000 Lowden (#00001)

from 6 feet away, a beautiful instrument.

playing it, stunning,

but there were 20 guitar builders in the room!!

the old hands gave it a hard critique, noting how the 12th fret was about 2mm from the body join rather than exactly on it, and a bunch of MICROSCOPIC "flaws"

and y'know what?

It's only just occurred to me that the guy who taught the class (Sam Irwin) was one of the original 4 employees at Lowden so HE had a hand in the building of that guitar 30 odd years ago!!

That's a great looking Mando, well done!!
Author:  old man [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
[:Y:] Great job, Doc!! I really like the finish, it looks 100 years old.

Ron
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
It sure looks good to me, Andy. I don't think I'll be trying one of those anytime soon. It seems like it might be a very humbling experience. Too many hard curves and too much carving. Nice work. [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  Steve Saville [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Congratulations Andy! That looks great. I hope to see it some time.
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
It looks great to me Andy bro - very well done my friend even if you did defect to the mando side for a while.... :D [:Y:] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]
Author:  Melvin Tucker [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
It looks good especially for a first mandolin. You are right binding an F style mandolin is a bear. In my opinion the binding is the worst part and Ive built several. Cutting the binding channel in the scroll is especially hard if you don't have a cnc maching. I do mine free hand using a dremel tool with a 1/8 dia bit. I lock the mandolin ina holding and pencil in the lines of the binding channel. Then I hold the dremel with both hand in a vise grip with the elbows locked down to the table and kind of use the tool like a paint brush (the best way I can explain it) to remove the wood just a little at a time until I get down to my pencil lines.
That binding is made me almost quit building them.

Tucker guitars and mandolins
Author:  rajones19 [ Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
I think it looks great, Andy. I've read plenty about F-style mandos, and as much as I enjoyed the little guitar-shaped mandos, I'm not sure I'll ever attempt an F. Keep up the good work!
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
I told you so... idunno

Just pulling your leg Andy, that's not bad at all. You are a brave man, showing us pictures of your first one, and making it a blonde! A dark sunburst can hide or at least tone down many irregularities, I’m pretty sure that is one reason so many of these instruments are coloured this way.

What did you finish it with?

Binding the scroll is an awfully demanding task; I’ve only made two F style mandolins and I’m in no big hurry to make another one... I don’t know of any shortcuts if you do this by hand, just a lot of patience and sharp tools (and practice!). One of the most difficult binding rabbet cuts for me is the concave curve where the scroll goes towards the neck. I know some builders use an incannel gouge with the appropriate sweep # just to clean up this part. Like Melvin I pencil the rabbet outline, use a Dremel free hand to take out most of the waste, but that does not leave a very clean line. This is where the incannel gouge comes in.

So, when are you going to start the next one? Making just one is not an option! ;)
Author:  Anthony Z [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Andy for probably one of the most difficult stringed instruments to build you did one hell of a job for your first one. So how did you enjoy carving and graduating the plates?

Will you build another?
Author:  Erik Hauri [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
LuthierSupplier wrote:
That is a lot better than my first attempt, I'm still not done and it has been 2 years...


I got you beat....mine's been sitting for 2-1/2. gaah

One of these days...(is none of these days) Eat Drink

Nice job! I really like the antique look you pulled off with the stain & TO.
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: An attempt at a Mandolin - PICS
Looks are highly overrated anyway... I bet it is constructed like all your instruments, just right. Anyhow, I love it, a little rustic is a great look imo.
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