Flat top plans

[Sitka]

Does anybody know where to get flat top plans? I know where to get plans for taterbugs, but nothing for Army-Navy style or something of the general shape of Arches mandolins.

Thanks,
Micah

[Paul Hostetter]

Find one and copy it.

[ejkauf99]

I picked up two plans one like a Martin A style bent top, another like a Washburn at Rolinmusic. They are nicely drawn
Jeff

[piknleft]

Elderly Music has a couple. Mike

[whistler]

Make it up. If you make it the shape and size of a mandolin, it will sound like a mandolin. It might sound different from any other, but not necessarily worse. If you are in doubt as to what soundboard bracing pattern to use, draw up a provisional one, post it here and our resident experts (not me, I hasten to add) will no doubt be happy to offer theri opinions and suggestions for improvement (There was a thread started recently on flat-top bracing).

I have made all of mine so far more-or-less to my own design (each one different). They're not all great instruments, but I think I have learned more than I would have done, had I built them all from existing plans.

[Paul Hostetter]

It needn't even be the shape and size of a mandolin, it only has to be organized around the scale you want and eight strings. Lord knows there are enough odd things out there all passing for mandolins and some of them sound fantastic.

http://pictures-clipart-graphics.com/files/ds/DSC00972.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~gcminer/oddshape.jpg http://www.harpguitars.net/history/org_images/Mandolins,etc/monzinomando-s-miner.jpg

[otterly2k]

Micah - Don Kawalek sells kits for flattops... I just checked his website (http://www.donkawalek.com/) and it says the sale of plans are temporarily discontinued. But you should contact him about it anyway-- I think he's re-working the plans (to a new design) and may be able to let you know when those will be available... or be willing to sell you a set of the old plans. At any rate, ask him.

[piknleft]

As information, I'm a very quick study if I can read something 40 or 50 times. What Mr. Hostetter just said. Think scale length and eight strings and go. (That centerline to be adhered to closer than a wedding vow). I started with plan # MNP-01 from Elderly, used the basic body shape and then proceeded to change most everything else,(i.e., scale length, body depth, bridge, headstock, etc). Many many thanks to all here that pass on the secret handshakes. My daughter needs to get on the ball and take more pics, Thanks, Mike.

[Sitka]

Are canted tops only cosmetic or are the structurally important?

[Paul Hostetter]

They're entirely about structure, part of a way to induce a tensed dome that counteracts downward pressure from string tension on the bridge.

[Antlurz]

Drawing up a set of plans for a mandolin is easy. First, carefully trace a partially eaten slice of watermelon or cheese on a sheet of paper....

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

After seeing your membership sign up date, that might not be fair, since you may not have seen a lot of what gets built here...

Ron

[Sitka]

The website of Arches mandolins says something about an induced arch formed by the braces. How is this achieved? Is this an alternative to a canted top?

Sorry for all the questions. I've never studied flat tops before so it is new to me.
Micah

[David Newton]

Asking these questions is exactly what you need to do before developing a plan! The braces are shaped (cut or sanded) with the desired arch, and the flat top and back wood is bent to them when glued.

[Paul Hostetter]

Historically, Italian mandolins have had both the induced arch and the crank (the crease). A number of modern instruments have skipped the crank and just have the induced arch and seem to be fine. Having a dead flat top with a floating bridge and a tailpiece is an invitation to a sunken top and a banjo-like sound.

[Bill Snyder]

After seeing your membership sign up date, that might not be fair, since you may not have seen a lot of what gets built here...

Ron
Ron Sitka has been around for a while. I believe he used to go by bluegrassplayer. Matter of fact I know he did. Take a look at his signature line.

[Paul Hostetter]

This is a Martin. It's not really flat, as you can see. Crank top, induced arch.

http://www.vintagemandolin.com/images/19martinstyleb501820/front2.jpg

[David Newton]

That's an oldie, that's nice!

[Bill Snyder]

Don's Plans (http://donsplans.com/html/mandolin.html) has a small tear drop mandolin plan. It is small though. If memory serves me correctly it is less than 8" wide. It uses an integrated neck block. The sides come up on the neck instead of using a seperate neck block like this.

[otterly2k]

Incidentally... these are not the same as Don Kawalek's plans (different Don)

[whistler]

Curious - I've toyed with the idea of intergrated neck blocks/slipper heels on mandolins. What worries me, however, is how to get the neck angle right. Do you set up the angle when you make the neck? Do you add a wedged shim before gluing on the fingerboard? Do you taper the fingeroard?

[David Newton]

I think you'd be going backwards by building an integrated neck/sides joint. It's too easy to make a separate neck joint and fit the angle of the neck to the top.

[Bill Snyder]

Integrated neck blocks have been around forever (well almost forever). They are not use much anymore. Jonathan Mann uses an integrated neck block on his carved mandolins but his is a neck through design. #http://www.manndolins.com/DSC00064.JPG
Sorry about the hijack of the thread.

[EdSherry]

Here's an eB*y auction for such plans:

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Easy-Luthier-Plans-Flat-Topped-Mandolin_W0QQitemZ220082459047QQihZ012QQcategoryZ1 0179QQrdZ
1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Easy-Lu....iewItem</a>

[Bill Snyder]

That is one of the plans from donsplans. (http://donsplans.com/)

[Luthier]

Micah, and anyone else that is interested. #I am redesigning my Octave and Standard #mandolin plans to represent some recent design modifications and improvements. #I hope to have them available in the Spring after my next workshop. I am going to a bolt on neck with my Standard as well. #
Don