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Just updated! The builds are nearing completion, I'm starting to see light at the end of this 3 year long tunnel!
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Hi pheffernan, sorry for the late response. Busy time of year for us getting ready for the March Mandolin Festival. I did manage to get the blog updated, tone bars installed and f holes...

I repaired one of these last year. It's a simple mortise and tenon joint. On the instrument I repaired, the neck had shrunk slightly and the glue in the joint was sticky. I cleaned out all the old...

Hi Pheffernan,

I've been waiting on detailed info on the actual instrument, which I got recently, so I'm continuing with the builds. I've updated the blog with pictures and descriptions of our...

We get a lot of our shell from DePaule Supply...........

https://www.luthiersupply.com/

Check out post #8 in the thread linked below, Adrian does a great job of explaining it.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/129876-Truss-Rod-Profile

The reason the truss rod is bent, is because both ends are secured with a washer and nut. If the rod was straight, there would be nothing preventing the entire rod from spinning in the slot which...

Yes, the wood is put into a special kiln that draws out all the oxygen. The wood can then be heated past the combustion point of wood without igniting. There are several people I know of that are...

From my experience, the more dense and oily woods will take on moisture more slowly, like they have their own natural finish. A good expample is Lignum vitae which has such a high oil concentration...

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From left to right, western red cedar (Thuja plicata) Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Alaskan yellow cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis) and redwood (Sequoioideae). On the redwood...

Sure thing! I'll probably start a new thread here on the cafe detailing the history and our build progress. I should have an update in a couple weeks.

Thanks Len, if you ever make it back up this way, come on over for a visit! I plan on keeping one to have in the shop.

The Griffith logo was designed by Bruce and we decided to place it in a...

Hi Pheffernan, good timing on your inquiry because I was actually working more on this project this last weekend. I should have another blog entry in a couple weeks, but if you haven't seen the...

Thanks for the kind words Scott, here are the pictures of the build............

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I'm with Andrew, Peter and Marty on this one. We've installed carbon fiber rods (beams) in over 100 instruments and found them to be very reliable. We also use a 1/2" deep and 1/4 " wide beam set...

It's called the "Teeter Method", after Don Teeter who wrote "The Acoustic Guitar" repair books. I learned the technique during a visit with my friend Rolfe (former owner of Phoenix Mandolins). The...

We do all our Studio models like this.


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Thanks for posting those links Don, and thank you everyone else for the compliments! Yes, we are very excited to be working with the Music Emporium. It had been years since I had been up there, and...

Small world! When we moved back to RI from NH, we rented an apartment on Fruit Hill in North Providence. Our shop was located in an old mill in Pawtucket, so we drove down Mineral Spring everyday...

I'll second Bob's recommendation on the Skuttle 60-BC1. I used it at our shop when it was located at the old mill. Prior to that we were filling up 4 dehumidifiers twice a day, dumping about 20...

This picture from his home page shows him working a plate with a completed rim in the background.

He is making them for a variety of instruments so if you called I'm sure he would put together a set with the gauges you need. I'm getting a standard medium set to try out myself.

The intent of the zero fret is to have continuity in tone from the open to the fretted notes. I also used it to experiment with string spacing and string gauges, because swapping out the nut behind...

You'd be surprised. We've taken it to a couple festivals as well as put them in the hands of many of our shop visitors. It usually takes a couple minutes getting used to, but after that it just...

Thanks guys! Glad you are enjoying the instruments. Music to our ears!