The Birth of a MandoBeast

[Rob Zamites]

I know that I've been posting most of my stuff in the builders' section, but just wanted my fellow CBOMers to see a preview of what I'm building:



She's very wide, and very thick. Might call her "Rosie"

[rubydubyr]

Cool! I'll be looing forward to hearing it played when finished.

[Eddie Sheehy]

It could double as a snare for a Jackalope... Looking forward to seeing it finished, Rob.

[Mike Anderson]

Following this build with great interest my friend!

[bratsche]

Me four...

bratsche

[Rob Zamites]

Tonight's steps are fitting and gluing the top and bottom kerning strips, then sanding the surfaces flat for the soundboard and back. Will also likely cut some fancy shape in the headstock, play around with a few soundhole designs and make a decision on when to take the plunge, break out the dremel and cut the actual sound hole.

I'm actually kind of a fan of the sound hole in the center (MC-2) model:

Opinons?

[Marty Jacobson]

That's a Selmerish sound hole, and looks pretty good. The shape of the soundhole on Mark Kunkel's S.O. Smith "Rosie" - not kidding - is also a good shape that you might consider.
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...th-Octave-Zouk

[Mike Anderson]

That's a Selmerish sound hole, and looks pretty good. The shape of the soundhole on Mark Kunkel's S.O. Smith "Rosie" - not kidding - is also a good shape that you might consider.
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...th-Octave-Zouk

Yeah, very Selmer-ish indeed, and I think a good choice for the oval body shape. Or a plain oval like the Fylde Ocatvius design maybe?

[Rob Zamites]

And then I found this plectrum shaped soundhole...



The things I have to keep in consideration:

• location of X top bracing
• location of bridge support plate
• impingment on fretboard (how much will I have to cut away)

The directions for this kit specify making a perpendicular line X inches below the bottom edge of the soundhole, but I got frisky and got a solid top piece. I suppse I'll have to guesstimate the scale length with a straightedge then plan accordingly...what have I gotten myself into?!

[Rvl]

Tonight's steps are fitting and gluing the top and bottom kerning strips, then sanding the surfaces flat for the soundboard and back. Will also likely cut some fancy shape in the headstock, play around with a few soundhole designs and make a decision on when to take the plunge, break out the dremel and cut the actual sound hole.

I'm actually kind of a fan of the sound hole in the center (MC-2) model:

Opinons?

I have the MC-3

[Rob Zamites]

Got the lining glued in top and bottom, and sanded everything nice and flat with my homemade sanding block:













Not bad for a week's work during after work hours. I have the next 3 days off, so should make more progress. I wondered about leaving the top plate solid and cutting side sound ports, but dismissed that idea after some research in the builders section of the forums!

[NotMelloCello]

Put any more clamps on there, and it will look like you are building a porcupine, Rob!

[acousticphd]

I know that I've been posting most of my stuff in the builders' section, but just wanted my fellow CBOMers to see a preview of what I'm building:



She's very wide, and very thick. Might call her "Rosie"

I'm interested in how you decided on your neck/heel design. If I am seeing it right, there is no neck "joint", and instead the sides are fit into the neck, like a traditional classical guitar? I'm curious why the side slots are cut (seemingly) so deep, which seems to result in the neck being very narrow at that point.

Do you design any further reinforcement between the neck and tail block, like a rod or dowel?

I'm interested in seeing your project develop through to the instrument!

[bratsche]

Shouldn't that be kerfing, not kerning? (I doubt you'll have need of any kerning, except perhaps when it's time to make your label. )

In any case, it looks more like lining than kerfing (no segments, at least that I can see). Interesting.

I like the plectrum shaped soundhole, personally. Weird about the measurements thing. Perhaps you should have asked them to mark the place where the bottom edge of the soundhole would have been, had they cut one. I know, hindsight is 20/20.

bratsche

[Rob Zamites]

I'm interested in how you decided on your neck/heel design. If I am seeing it right, there is no neck "joint", and instead the sides are fit into the neck, like a traditional classical guitar? I'm curious why the side slots are cut (seemingly) so deep, which seems to result in the neck being very narrow at that point.

Do you design any further reinforcement between the neck and tail block, like a rod or dowel?

I'm interested in seeing your project develop through to the instrument!

That wasn't my idea, it's all the brainchild of Musicmakers - this is their 'Renaissance Guitar' kit, but with their 'Octave Mandolin' bridge and strings, and the headstock drilled for 8 tuners. I'll do another kit after this, and step up my game, then when I finally go 'from scratch' as it were, I'll go with the old tried and true methods. FWIW, the neck and tailblock are one piece.

Shouldn't that be kerfing, not kerning? (I doubt you'll have need of any kerning, except perhaps when it's time to make your label. )

In any case, it looks more like lining than kerfing (no segments, at least that I can see). Interesting.

I like the plectrum shaped soundhole, personally. Weird about the measurements thing. Perhaps you should have asked them to mark the place where the bottom edge of the soundhole would have been, had they cut one. I know, hindsight is 20/20.

bratsche

I edited my post - I'm new to the luthierie game and the nomenclature at this point. I promise I'll get better, bratsche!

I like the plectrum shape as well, though in a dream I saw myself cutting out an infinity symbol, and it was nice looking. Still doing some measurements and fidgeting around with soundhole ideas, I've nothing but time, and I'm not trying to rush through this.

If I was in a hurry, I'd have build a strumstick or something

[Eddie Sheehy]

How come only McPherson and Wiishevsky set their D sound holes off center?

[Rob Zamites]

How come only McPherson and Wiishevsky set their D sound holes off center?

Just a guess:

[garryireland]

Looking good. I think id go for a Sobell type soundhole, might suit that big body. Its a sort of similar to the pick style just bigger. Id love to make one of these. Good on ya Rob

[Rob Zamites]

And another night's work finished; top braces and bridge plate installed, soundhole designed and cut out. I am loving my Dremel.




Tomorrow:

• getting more clamps
• gluing up top and trimming excess
• gluing up back braces
• fill in gaps in side/heel slots with glue & walnut dust mix

That should fill the bulk of the day!

[garryireland]

And another night's work finished; top braces and bridge plate installed, soundhole designed and cut out. I am loving my Dremel.




Tomorrow:

• getting more clamps
• gluing up top and trimming excess
• gluing up back braces
• fill in gaps in side/heel slots with glue & walnut dust mix

That should fill the bulk of the day!

Ill have one of those!

[Bernie Daniel]

Looking very nice Rob. The sound hole was well conceived and executed! Where is you first string on this build?

[Londy]

sweet. I also did like the pic of the pick shaped hole...

[Rob Zamites]

Looking very nice Rob. The sound hole was well conceived and executed! Where is you first string on this build?

Well, the first string is still coiled up in the plastic pack it came in. Is that what you meant?

[JH Murray]

Are you using the dremel to cut the sound hole? If so what attachment has worked the best?

[Rob Zamites]

Are you using the dremel to cut the sound hole? If so what attachment has worked the best?

I used the circle and straight edge attachment that came with my model 4000 Kit. I used the general purpose spiral cutting bit, and it did a pretty damned good job:



Now that I'm at the top plate gluing stage, I bought a small trim router and a set of router bits (not like I'm going to not use them later!), plus a Dremel shaper/router table attachment, likely for trimming out my own braces and bindings later on.

Thanks for asking!