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Yes I meant that they made approximately 300 (or less?) Loar-signed (or the first) F-5 mandolins.....

Thanks! That last sentence is extremely interesting IMHO! I've always fount it interesting (ironic? whatever) that the standard for F-5s comes from some guys in 1922 who were building the very first...

Good comments! The philosophy of violin makers seem to me to be so totally different -- they seem to use minimal amounts of hide glue so that the instrument can be taken apart when necessary for the...

Great comments! Thanks! Now I will think about this some more with a fresh viewpoint!

Thanks Richard,

I definitely like the idea less mass ( or minimal mass) for the top and the tone bars! I am totally convinced that tone bars make a big impact in the sound of the mandolin.
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Thanks John! I had heard that at least one other noted mandolin maker (do not recall who for sure so I don't want to guess) also ventured the opinion that the precise location of the tone bars made...

I think most builders include shaving the tone bars in tuning a mandolin top board?

But I wonder what is the limit in thickness and height that you won't go past in carving them?

Said another...

Yeah I read that article when it came out about a decade ago I guess? But I had heard that story about the mandolin player getting the short end of the stick before Graham's excellent article which...

Maggie May is definitely forgettable AFAIC anyway.

Ray Jackson the mandolinist got only couple hours of studio musician pay for adding that cool riff that made the song stand out and probably...

Thank Mike! :) Awesome just what I needed.

And thanks also to Mr, Hovington!

OK thanks. From your link it looks like we are talking about the set of plans by Ted Davis drawn from the Lloyd Loar signed number 73992? I see a Virzi on that set.

Looks like a good reference...

I hope they did not try the Gibson polish though...

Well in that case, I could probably just buy said Guild of American Luthier's blueprint. Do you know if it has a number?

Thanks a lot! :)

I did a search this morning for a thread with the plans for building a Virzi tone enhancer but came up dry after looking through a dozen or so threads.

Are there any published or on-line plans...

Matt I agree. So far no sign of any wear and they are as good or better than any pick I have ever had. For me the biggest thing is to have a large pick with rounded edges. It seems like all large...

I noticed an add in the MCC a few weeks ago (Ad #162803; mandolin accessories section) and was attracted to the fact that they were made only about 100 miles from home and also on the company's web...

For sure he is! In truth I found it hard to speak objectively (and intelligently) about why one sounded better or not. But I think, overall, I liked the tone of the Heiden best.

If those Guilds are generally such a problem for steaming the neck joint loose maybe removing the fret board would be a good first step? I know that introduces other problems but....

A lot of those inexpensive hygrometers are not too accurate -- but I think they are reasonably precise? Years ago I got crazy about humidity and had about 10 - 12 of them around the house. ...

Victor -- that is due to the minerals in your water supply -- mostly carbonates? Get an evaporative humidifier not one that creates a mist of small liquid water particles -- problem solved. But...

But how well does that approach work in the winter with no rain and cold cloudy days? That is the only time of the year I run the room humidifier. :)

If you live in the north country fair, where "snowflakes storm, when the rivers freeze and summer ends" then yes buy a good hygrometer and read it every morning and evening. The best solution is to...

I was just watching one of hers and Joel Wood's videos yesterday! :) I leaned recently that Joel also play the mandola with great aplomb.

Hello,

I'm going to do a "reset up" and a K-5 style mandocello that made some years ago. I think that I want to move the four courses more to the center of the nut thus reducing the inter-string...