I just completed my latest Sopranino (Piccolo) mandolin. For those new to that term, it is a higher pitched, smaller member of the mandolin family. It a fourth above the mandolin, or an octave above the mandola. These are quite small with a scale length of around 10.5" and everything scaled down to match.
This one is Adirondack Spruce on Red Maple, with a slightly shallower body than my others. I am not using tropical hardwoods, so this one has a blackened Oak fretboard, and a Black Walnut bridge. I am still working on the setup, so we'll see what I think of the bridge in a few days. I have typically been making a couple of bridges for each instrument. Also, I increased the angle of the neck on this one just a bit for a little more height at the bridge.
I am still on my COVID budget, so again I went with economy tuners and tailpiece. I sure would like to go with something a little better, but here we are.
This one is finished very differently from the others. I was trying for an old and well-worn look, but not necessarily all the way to 'distressed'. I blackened the top, then steel-wooled through most of the black exposing the red-stained spruce in places. I also left some nicks from construction in the top. Back neck and sides are stained brownish red. Varnish was applied but the gloss was knocked back with steel wool. Most of the stain, then varnish, was removed from the neck (not quite a speed neck, but looking well played-in).
I hope you like it. This build was a pain in the neck for a variety of reasons (it was jinxed in every way) but I kept at it and that gave me license to take chances with the finish. I had fun with it and am overall happy with the outcome. Thanks for looking.
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