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Yes, that vise is an engraving block or engraving ball. That one is on a turntable so I can always keep the area I'm working on in view of the microscope I'm working through. The 'cloudy swirly...

I was commissioned to make and engrave what I understand to be a period correct tailpiece cover for a Lloyd Loar mandolin. It took me four tries to get one to fit right but I was not happy with the...

It almost sounds like the finish got a fingerprint before it completely dried. You may try sanding with 600 wet sandpaper followed by a rubbing compound or rottenstone polish.

Mandolism. The action of causing damage or destruction via a mandolin or a mandolin solo... from the root word - Vandalism. I actually registered this word on coin-a-word.com or something like...

Three musicians and a drummer walk into a bar..
Ba-doomp-Chiiiiing.

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. I feel pretty lucky to have gotten it. A couple non-players who buy and sell stuff backed out on this knowing full well it was worth a lot more. Another...

Yeah, mine isn't totally original. It has an adjustable bridge which I don't believe is original, and I noticed it has one replaced button carved out of hardwood. Also, when I pulled off the...

Before paying $800 for the Flatiron, I highly suggest looking at the Kentucky Km-505 A model for $450-ish. I recently played a Michael Kelly F right next to one, and considered the Kentucky to be far...

Cool! I did a little research and you're right about the age. I was not familiar with the Jr. models until yesterday and was thinking it might be in the $1200 - $1500 range.

I'm happy as a clam....

Here's Junior...

Yeah, it's an A Junior w/oval hole. Serial #81614. VERY plain with snake-head headstock. (no stenciled "Gibson") I just put a new set of strings on it and it needed absolutely NO adjustments at all. ...

My first mando is Sophia... after my first love. The others are just the Summit.. the Kentucky... and as of two hours ago.. the Gibson... or I may just call it Junior.

I've always heard of great deals people find at flea markets and auctions, but have never found one myself... until today. A friend of mine who follows the local auctions told me about a Gibson...

A lot depends on the strings and pick. If you play with really light strings and thin picks, you'll never get the top to vibrate to it's potential, so you'll end up with low volume and a thin tone....

Yeah, it is you. But it George W. Bush you made the buckle for. Very nice work. That makes three mandolin playing engravers I know of on both these sites. Great minds... ;-)

Here is a link to...

Hey Weldon, Don't I know you from Engraver's Cafe? I go by "Scratchmo" there. Was that you that made that cool buckle for George H.W. Bush recently? Thanks for the post!

I agree Allen. A string tech is the way to go... I remember a group called Monroe Doctrine that played around the Denver/Boulder area back in the 70s. They played hard and broke strings often enough...

I think I got it. It's a bantar, or guitjo. It's like an octave mandolin with a five-string banjo neck. It's played with a flat pick strumming all five strings at once. Notice the droning G? I...

I tend to agree. After shelling out about $75 for a nice cast piece, I really didn't notice any difference in volume, tone, or sustain. It does look nice though and it may hold up better over the...

It's 3:00 a.m. and I'm watching it now. The opening song is always different but with the same melody. I wish I could get all of them and make a whole song out it. They're about as red-neck as a song...

I think it's a strumstick... like a dulcimer but with only three strings and held like a guitar.

A little off-topic, but here's my Bilmon story... Somewhere around 1974, my band at the time made our annual trip to the Bean Blossom festival. We were kind of hobo-ing around for the summer, going...

I just went through this whole thing, tried out several others in the price range. I got my 505 from Janet Davis for around $450 and love it. Just find a deal you can live with. You won't be...

Nice shop - it looks like a fun place to work with all the fishing and napping. If you hire me, I can guarantee you'd have twice as much work... fixing my mistakes!

I've never tried this myself, but I would imagine it might be difficult to get a precise cut for the nut. If you just took a fret saw and cut down to the neck, the first fret may end up being a tad...