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If you can't shift the nut, another option is to deepen the slots in the nut. This can be done with whatever tools you have available - needle file, fret files, saw, sandpaper - the slots just need...

An elegant instrument - very nice!

Two mandolins in the finishing stage. One is Tassie Blackwood and Engelmann spruce with a Macassar ebony fingerboard, the other is Camphor Laurel, Engelmann spruce with a ziricote fingerboard. River...

Two 14.75 inch mandolins, one in Tasmanian Blackwood, the other in Camphor Laurel. Englemann spruce tops.

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Octave mandolin in sitka spruce and claro walnut. 21" scale length, lacey sheoak fingerboard and Queensland maple neck.

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Yes, built to a 14.75 inch scale length. My reading suggests this is toward the longer end of current practice, but still fine for standard tuning and strings. Fylde for example build their...

It certainly is a good looking timber, and gives a nice sound. I bought it from Australian Guitar Timbers, who said it was Casuarina cunninghamiana, also known as river oak or river she-oak.

Just completed the second of two 14.75 inch mandolins in Englemann Spruce and River Oak. This one has a ziricote finger board and ebony binding and is finished with hardened shellac.

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Another flat top mandolin (number 4), again in Englemann Spruce and River Oak, with a Ziricote fingerboard. Trying a new neck attachment method, with a half depth mortise and tenon, reinforced with...

I have built two flat top mandolins based on the design in Graham McDonald's excellent "The Mandolin Project". I have used a three meter (10 foot) radius dish to induce a curve in the soundboard and...

I feel for you - I find cutting binding channels very stressful - an opportunity to ruin everything! Glad you have found a solution.

I have made a few mandolins but have limited myself to flat...

An Australian company makes an additive for shellac that is added after you have made up your shellac solution and which makes the finish much more resistant to heat, water and alcohol. See...

Another flat top mandolin, based on Graham McDonald's book but with a 14.75 inch scale length.

Blackwood and spruce, with ebony binding, a tiger myrtle rosette and a bound ebony fingerboard....

Blackwood and spruce, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and binding, Blackheart Sugar Maple headstock veneer. Waiting for finish to set up a bit more (and for a drilling jig to arrive) then will install...

Nice work. Graham McDonald's book is a great resource for those of us making a start on mandolin making!

I found Graham's book to be really useful - well written and very practically useful. His ukulele and bouzouki books are similarly inspiring.

We are lucky to have some great tone wood suppliers who will provide some interesting products - both indigenous trees and some introduced varieties - the camphor laurel is native to east Asia and is...

My first mandolin build - an A-style flat top mandolin based on Graham McDonald's book.

It includes:

a 14.75 inch scale length with bolt on neck.
Sitka spruce and Camphor Laurel body,...

Thanks John - yes, I am a big fan of the zero fret - for me, it simplifies set up and results in a very playable instrument

My first mandolin build and first post. Based on the Graham McDonald flat top, although 30 mm at the nut and with a slightly longer scale length (14.75 inch, as per Fylde Touchstone mandolin).
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Graham McDonald's book covers laying out and cutting a dovetail joint for mandolin neck - could be worth a look! https://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/mandolinproject.html

Thanks Peter - I’ll be keen to hear how you go with #300 - a solid milestone! And best wishes for the festive season!

Hi Peter - thanks for sharing. Is the approach you have outlined here the approach you have taken with the Classical Flattop Specials listed for sale on your website? Can you tell me if you put much...

There plenty of fine Australian builders who ship internationally - exchange rates being what they are, you could end up with a bargain, and some have a focus on our domestic tonewoods, which would...

Another thank you to Rob Meldrum - hoping to put his valuable advice to good use soon!