Doug Unger Pocket Mandolin

[oldwave]

By the Peninsula, OH based Artist/Luthier
A real beauty

[samlyman]

Very nice! I had one that was much more plain. It was the ultimate travel mando, no bass but your could sling it over your should and go for a hike or a bike ride with it without any hassles.

On another note: I would love to see pictures of your Nationals.

Last - why do people refer to Collings mandolins as Collins? Just a pet-peeve! The same goes for Calton cases... Calton not Carlton.

[oldwave]

As requested Nationals,

[oldwave]

Plus the old one

[Tom Mylet]

The pochette is great...but I'm a big fan of Doug's work. He's quite possibly the best inlay/engraving artist alive or dead. I also love the Nationals. We have similar taste. I have a full size Unger mandolin, an F-4 and one of the newer Nationals. (among others)

Tom Mylet

[samlyman]

Thanks! That is the finest looking RM1 I've seen. Is the National logo on it custom? What else is custom about the neck? I love the sound of these but the wide neck and the neck joint at the 12th fret make it harder to play way up the neck.

[oldwave]

It was a custom build that I spoke to National about, specifically the gloss finish, the curly maple, real ebony headstock face and the National logo inlayed and engraved in pearl. It ended up being the prototype for the Maple one the started selling a year or so later. Its a killer. One of a kind.

[Tavy]

Love that pocket mandolin.

Interesting how much back-fill there is around the inlay: makes me feel rather smug actually (that won't last!).

Also interesting how much "wobble" there is on the tuner plates - or maybe it's just the extreme close-up that makes it look that way?

[oldwave]

No wobble at all , quite stable. I have no knowledge of the back fill, however the engraving is world class.

[billhay4]

Would someone care to enlighten me on the grommet/guide thingies on the top of the headstock that the strings are threaded through? Are these an aftermarket item or do they come with the tuners he used. If the latter (even if not the latter), what are the tuners?
Cool instrument.
Bill Hay

[oldwave]

Those guides are custom fabricated by Doug (as well as the tail piece cover) and embedded in the head-stock. I think the tuners are Stewart McDonald relic tuners, but the next time I see him I'll ask (he's a few miles from me and we've been friends for over 30 years)

[Champlin]

Beautiful. I love the engraving.

[Champlin]

Also.. I love the Howard Armstrong painting!!

[oldwave]

Yes he was quite a character and a good friend. I have the privilege of playing with the Howard Armstrong Legacy featuring Ralphe Armstrong.

[rubydubyr]

would need an awfully large pocket......

[Andy B]

Here are some pictures of a Doug Unger F4 from 1984: