One of the nicest mandolins that I made had a really high carved scroll.. I have been trying to find that sound ever since.. The picker was a friend so I see the mando all the time.. About a year...
One of the nicest mandolins that I made had a really high carved scroll.. I have been trying to find that sound ever since.. The picker was a friend so I see the mando all the time.. About a year...
I have been offering A and F style rims and necks for almost 10 years...
Brian and I just live a few miles apart here in Ohio.. He came by the house and gave me a few pointers on building my BUCKHORN mandolins.. After telling him that I had never held a top quality...
Think hard about going that thick with the rim.. It can be done but might scorch if you try to go too fast.. And think about weight.. If you are chasing the scroll with the F style it might get...
I'm not a player, but am a builder for almost 20 years.. Worked the assembly lines in the auto industry for over 34 years (not all on the line).. With all of the repeated movement, I suffered hard...
I've been building A styles for only about 5 or 6 years and have been making F styles for almost 20.. My A style braces are pretty much the same as the F's .. I think that the braces are more to...
I attended a workshop sponsered by Mr. White, in the art of building mandolins several years ago.. Very nice guy, and made me want to be all that I can be.. It was at a folk fair in down town ...
196810 The latest additions to my family.. Some are older, but the mandolins are all fresh off the bench.. And yes, there is a lefty in there too.. Some are even looking to be rehomed......
I've never been one to spend the big bucks for the 4A and 5A figured maple.. Most of the maple I use comes from local suppliers and is in the 2A to 4A range.. The dedicated picker wants the sound...
Just because my name isn't in the top ten (or even twenty) of famous builders, don't overlook what I can do.. There are many of us "hobby builders" that make a fine sounding and looking mandolin.. ...
I have used gauze with Titebond from my very first, following Siminoffs' guide.. With my second build, I sanded most of the glue and gauze off after reading about how unnecessary the reinforcement...
my plates are always oversized and are then fitted to the rims.. then are final thicknessed .. it's a great luthier that can cut a plate exactly to a rim --- I'm not even close to being there.....
I've tried several ways to cut out the sound holes but this works best for me.. After tracing the holes out, I will use the smallest brad point drill I have and drill out the hole being careful to...
184636 with all the down time thanks to this virus stuff, I've been keeping busy building parts ahead...
I've been trying to "break into" this market for almost 20 years.. I've donated, loaned, given away, and even sold a few. There has been only rave reviews about looks and sound and price.. Been...
Building a good looking, great sounding, easy playing mandolin and not having any interest in your dream.. Spending 120 to 150 hours doing something you love and chasing that dream and hoping...
182171 I haven't finished my favorite A style yet...
I would be happy with "minimum wage"...
Next time you eat at Olive Garden , ask for a few extra straws.. they're almost the same size as the truss rod, and work great... they are black in color and seem not to be affected by glue....
organization??? mine looks like a bomb went off in the middle of Harber Freight....
I built 4 mandolins before I felt confident enough to start numbering them.. By the time I got to numbered 0003, my construction was solid enough that I wanted to try to improve on them.. I'm...
I've built my own using 3/16 weld rod for almost 20 years.. I heat the ends and thread myself.. In the beginning, I put the slight bend in them as per Siminoff.. But after seeing others thoughts,...
What John said.... I keep mine around .080 , but if having trouble bending , I'll go thinner.. With the hard stuff, I'll mist and clamp in the forms and let dry.. That little thing works...
175727 Spanners are suggested in both of Siminoffs' books when glueing up rims. I've never been comfortable with this method because I could never get the proper pressure in the right places to make...
175694.. working on a few in the white. Their waiting for binding..