A New Mulerskinner Instruments A5 build starts...

So, I've been bit by the bug again, been too long without an A-style mandolin and Andy at Muleskinner Instruments will be building me a new A5. We met over the weekend at his shop and selected materials for the build.

He went through stacks of woods, pulled out various planks he has been wanting to use but hasn't yet had the chance and flashed them before my eyes. Taz Blackwood, some beautiful Curly Maple sets, a wonderful Maple plank that could have made a gorgeous one piece back and some Walnut as well.

We both agreed on this plank of Birdseye Maple for the back, sides and neck. I have always been drawn to Birdseye but never considered it for an instrument for myself. But this one seemed just right.

This particular piece was found by Andy's co-worker, Mark. Mark was doing some work for a fella who's father was a logger and had since passed. When he could come across nicer wood he would mill them up and keep them for himself. They were clearing out his shop and this piece was tucked away in the walls of the shop with a stack of other birdseye and beautiful maple. Mark snatched it right up and here we are with Andy now making a mandolin from it.

More to come as the build proceeds. Andy also plans to build another 4 or 5 in this batch, so keep an eye out on his pages as things progress if you are in the market for a US made instrument from one of the finest builders in the Northeast! (NFI)

Attachment 197556Attachment 197557

And, now the anticipation begins. Nice looking wood. Met Andy a few years ago at the (I think) GreenMountain Festival in Manchester Center. I was impressed by his mandolins but most impressed by his selection of beautiful woods resulting in stunningly pretty mandolin builds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pittsburgh Bill

And, now the anticipation begins. Nice looking wood. Met Andy a few years ago at the (I think) GreenMountain Festival in Manchester Center. I was impressed by his mandolins but most impressed by his selection of beautiful woods resulting in stunningly pretty mandolin builds.

---

Yes, Andy really makes wonderful choices for tonewood (both from a visual and auditory standpoint).

Some of my favorites are the back for my octave mandolin and this sycamore mando (I think he had the sycamore at Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots 2019). Just jaw dropping beauty!

Attachment 197560
Attachment 197561

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redlineroots

Yes, Andy really makes wonderful choices for tonewood (both from a visual and auditory standpoint).

Some of my favorites are the back for my octave mandolin and this sycamore mando (I think he had the sycamore at Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots 2019). Just jaw dropping beauty!

Attachment 197560
Attachment 197561

---

He did and it was my favorite of the half dozen or so mandolins I played from his display!

Well, Mr. Muleskinner moves quick and just sent me an update. He milled down that board and was able to get a back, sides and neck for my instrument and another back and sides set for another instrument.

Also pictured, the top he plans to use for my mandolin. An old German Spruce bookmatched top.

Attachment 197578

Andy is a great builder and a nice guys to work with. I met Andy at The 2019 Artisan Guitar Show in Harrisburg, PA. Andy had some of his mandolins at the show and they were very nice looking mandolins.

However, I ended up having Andy make me a beautiful H-12 model guitar with sinker mahogany back and sides. When he was finished with the guitar it was beautiful and the sound from the sinker mahogany wood that he used on the guitar was out of this world. Believe you will be very please with his workmanship! Enjoy the process working with Andy. When he is finished with your mandolin you will be one happy camper keep us posted.

Here is a pic of the back of my sinker mahogany guitar.

Attachment 197606

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Darwin Gaston

Andy is a great builder and a nice guys to work with. I met Andy at The 2019 Artisan Guitar Show in Harrisburg, PA. Andy had some of his mandolins at the show and they were very nice looking mandolins.

However, I ended up having Andy make me a beautiful H-12 model guitar with sinker mahogany back and sides. When he was finished with the guitar it was beautiful and the sound from the sinker mahogany wood that he used on the guitar was out of this world. Believe you will be very please with his workmanship! Enjoy the process working with Andy. When he is finished with your mandolin you will be one happy camper keep us posted.

Here is a pic of the back of my sinker mahogany guitar.

Attachment 197606

---

Ahhh, I remember seeing your H-12 in his shop. He has built me a beautiful "slightly smaller" dread style as well (photos below) and the walnut back in the thread above is the guitar bodied octave that he built me.

Andy is a special guy and a special builder for sure.

Attachment 197609
Attachment 197610
Attachment 197611

A small update from Andy at the Muleskinner shop.

Attachment 198125

One of the sets on the left side of Birdseye will be the side of my A-style mandolin. Andy is also building an A-style in this batch for a customer that will be kind of a smaller sibling to my GBOM with the English Walnut back in the thread above. Photo of that joined back piece below...its stunning!

Attachment 198126

You can see he is also building a tonewood twin to my mandolin in this batch. Along with two European Sycamore (maple) and a Tazmanian Blackwood. I believe the other 4 mandolins are currently unclaimed, but would be for sale down the line once completed.

Who wants to be mandolin siblings?!? Ha-ha!

Looks to be on your way to fine instrument. Congrats! Birdseye is my favorite wood. Reminds me of one I made many moons ago.

Andy sent me over a good morning Mule earlier. Neck is taking shape!

Attachment 199247

I've thought about buying one from that batch, but I can't really afford it yet...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunnar

I've thought about buying one from that batch, but I can't really afford it yet...

---

Keep saving, its well worth it! As someone who has played most of the mandolins to come off of Andy's bench, they are well worth the price for a beautiful, US made, handcrafted instrument from a builder who is genuinely so intrigued and joyful to see the music that players create with his instruments.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redlineroots

Keep saving, its well worth it! As someone who has played most of the mandolins to come off of Andy's bench, they are well worth the price for a beautiful, US made, handcrafted instrument from a builder who is genuinely so intrigued and joyful to see the music that players create with his instruments.

---

What are the necks like? I'm a bit particular about them.
Also, how are they tonally? Traditional/Bluegrassy, or more modern?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunnar

What are the necks like? I'm a bit particular about them.
Also, how are they tonally? Traditional/Bluegrassy, or more modern?

---

Kind of all over the map...really depends what your preference is. He is really willing to work with you to get you the instrument you want. Andy is a fairly tall fella and has larger hands. So the neck on his personal mandolin I think is a little wider at the nut (maybe 1 3/16"?). Slightly wider. Mine will have a more standard size nut at 1 1/8". But, wide or not, I find them all incredibly playable all the way up the neck.

I think tonally, its really dependent on what wood you are choosing. He built a beautiful oval hole birch back and sides one a few years ago that I wanted to play celtic tunes on all day long. The one he is building me has a super tight grain, old german spruce top that I am incredibly lucky he is allowing me to have as part of my instrument. Its from the same sets he has for his personal mandolin and I would say really attributes to the chop and bark you want in a bluegrass setting. My guitar bodied octave, is just a beautiful, deep but subtle and sweet sounding instrument. Kind of perfect for me.

Others, the spalted sycamore one he build had the perfect balance that I covet. Somewhere in the middle thats good for everything. But I was regretfully not in a financial place to purchase that one and it got sold before I was able to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunnar

What are the necks like? I'm a bit particular about them.
Also, how are they tonally? Traditional/Bluegrassy, or more modern?

---

And, while its obviously hard to tell in a video. In person is of course much better...he has loads of video content on his Youtube channel of previous instruments:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB...orFLA09zIk4P5Q

Number 20, right there, will be mine.

Attachment 200061

Andy has a beautiful batch of A-styles being built alongside my A-5. One with a back and sides from the same batch of walnut as my octave mandolin. Another Birdseye, Taz blackwood and two fairly traditional curly maples. I got to spend a little time in his shop a couple weeks ago. Here are a couple more images:

Attachment 200062
Attachment 200063

Attachment 200941

Got a message with the two attached photos last night...its finally a box!

Rounding the final corners of this instrument build and I couldn't be happier and more pleased with Andy's work (again). Can't wait to see when it begins the finishing process and to see how she barks.

Attachment 201970
Attachment 201971

Got a first spray...and POP!

Attachment 202152

More progress. Andy absolutely nailed the finish color I had in my head. Can't wait to see her buffed out.

Attachment 202562
Attachment 202563
Attachment 202564

Almost rounding the final corner. Should be picking her up this week...

Attachment 206558