Build Number 2 - A5 style -First Sunburst

[CarlM]

Here is my mandolin #2 just completed. It is my first sunburst. The top is western red cedar and the back, sides and neck are from a maple log I salvaged about 15 years ago. The dark line on the back is a pitch pocket or inclusion that I left as a beauty mark. The fingerboard is Osage Orange harvested by an Amish farmer for fence posts. The headstock inlays are from local clam shells that I picked up along the river. The back and side sunburst turned out the way I wanted and tone is fairly decent.

[fscotte]

Congrats on the build. Always enjoyable.

It appears that you may have not diluted the stain enough, which makes for sudden and hard transitions. I have gotten into the habit of using diluted stain in water, which gives a lot of drying time. You can always add another layer or two of stain if not dark enough.

[CarlM]

Thank you. That is the kind of feedback I was looking for.

[Happy gnome]

I'm afraid I have to admit that I had to google pitch pocket, but for what it's worth I quite like those little bits of history in an instrument. Love the colour of the fretboard too!