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Thread: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

  1. #1
    Registered User PRD's Avatar
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    Default First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Hi All!

    I am on the tail end of my first build (from a stew mac kit) and I finally made an account so I could pop in to thank this community for all their help. Lurking and searching on this forum was MONUMENTAL in the success of this build. It is far from perfect, and required some creativity building it in a 1br apartment but it could have gone much much worse with out the wealth of info in this community.

    I have been keeping a build journal which I'll link here in case any future me is interested in the stew-mac kit and finds this in a google search.


    Here are a few pictures as well from the last step I completed (spraying lacquer, currently curing)

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    Here it is in the white with the hardware
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  3. #2
    Registered User Randy Mallory's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Wow, that's nice!
    Randy Mallory
    2020 Gibson Custom Shop F5 MSC Wide Nut (2020) David Harvey
    2022 Eastman MD515
    2022 Northfield NFO-AT1 Octave Mandolin
    and a few more....

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  5. #3
    Registered User PRD's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Thanks! I am really happy with it, actually super surprised it came out as well as it did. This forum and Rosa String Works youtube were read/watched and re-read/watched many times before taking any steps.

  6. #4
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Very nice work.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  8. #5

    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Very nice work.
    And very nice wood selection as well. Looks great, how does it sound?

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

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  10. #6
    Registered User PRD's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Really happy with the sound, played it for about a week and a half in the white before finishing to be sure. I could be biased but it is for sure my best sounding mandolin, though it is my only fully carved mandolin lol.

  11. #7
    Registered User GeoMandoAlex's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Looks great
    I can only play half as much as I want, because I only play half as much as I would like.

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  13. #8
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    You go, PDR. Very impressive.

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  15. #9
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    In a one bedroom apartment? Amazing!

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  17. #10
    Registered User PRD's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    In a one bedroom apartment? Amazing!
    Yeah haha, a very understanding fiancée, lots of vacuuming, and some creativity with not owning a bandsaw was needed.

  18. #11
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Congrats! And remember, Strad didn't have no bandsaw either.

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  20. #12
    Registered User oldhawkeye's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Very nice. I also read your journal. Enjoyed it immensely. Please keep us updated.

  21. #13

    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Great work! Makes me want to build one!

  22. #14
    Registered User urobouros's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    Congrats! And remember, Strad didn't have no bandsaw either.
    When my dad told me he built my childhood rocking horse with just a circular saw, a drill and sandpaper, my mom said, "See you don't need a shop full of tools for fine woodworking!" My dad quickly pointed out that while she may be correct, there's a lot less cursing!

    You're doing a killer job on the mandolin regardless your workspace limitations! Keith Richards always said taking the high e off forced a player to be more creative & I'd say you've been quite so

  23. #15
    Registered User PRD's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Thank you all for the kind words!

    As an update, I just got done wet sanding and buffing detailed in the build journal using lots of data gathered from searching this forum.

    Once again, not perfect, but far better than I was expecting

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  25. #16
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: First Time StewMac Kit Builder Thankyou!

    Nice work.

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