A style mandola from vertically flipped H model plan?

[Phil O'Dendron]

Is it possible to use Gibson mandola plans to produce an A model shape mandola with an oval sound hole? To achieve this outcome would it be preferable to scale up the A1 plans?

[Jim Garber]

Vertically flipped? Are you making a lefty? What mandola plans do you have?

[j. condino]

The most important thing would be to make sure you are using a great set of plans. There are a lot of different people selling mandolin shaped object "plans" and a few folks that offer excellent representations of great sounding and playing historic instruments. Stick with the latter.

Most people find one that they like and use it as a basic framework for their overall mandolin concept, making changes as needed or they find a great instrument and try their best to take very accurate measurements and clone it.

If you are using my Gibson A plans, feel free to call the shop and I'll candidly chat it up a bit about some of the best mandolas I've ever played and measured!

[Phil O'Dendron]

When I said 'vertically flipped' what I meant was if the instrument was standing vertically in the first place. The idea would be to use the H4 plan and dispense with the scroll side, thereby producing a symmetrical mandola. Would that work (obviously using the same thickness measurements on both left and right sides)?

[Jim Garber]

That would be horizontally flipped but you would have a two point, assuming you also dispensed with the lower bout point of the H4. See the recent thread of the Campanella Due mandola.

Are you using Siminoff’s H4 plans? https://straightupstrings.com/produc...ngs-full-sized

[Phil O'Dendron]

Correct Jim; Roger Siminoff's H4 plan. Yes, all points to go so the intended effect is a large A5 look.

[Jim Garber]

Correct designation of oval hole mandola like an A mandolin would be an H1 or H2.

[Phil O'Dendron]

Thanks for the illumination. I had only seen reference to the H4.

[John Bertotti]

So who has the good plans for mandolin and or octave mandolin? Is it as simple as taking a
Good mandolin plan and up sizing it.

[Jim Garber]

So who has the good plans for mandolin and or octave mandolin? Is it as simple as taking a
Good mandolin plan and up sizing it.

See James C.'s comments below:

Most people find one that they like and use it as a basic framework for their overall mandolin concept, making changes as needed or they find a great instrument and try their best to take very accurate measurements and clone it.

If you are using my Gibson A plans, feel free to call the shop and I'll candidly chat it up a bit about some of the best mandolas I've ever played and measured!

If you use a Gibson or mandola plan I would try to get accurate measurements of actual instruments. Consulting Mr. Condino would be an excellent suggestion. He knows his stuff.

[John Bertotti]

Sadly around me there are no instruments for me to measure or even see, middle of nowhere but peaceful. I was just going to oversized HOgo’s plans but it seems maybe that isn’t the way to go.

[Jim Garber]

GAL has plans for sale for two mandolas drawn by Lawrence Smart. https://luth.org/instrument-plans/mandolin-family/

[John Bertotti]

I saw those and will probably buy them come payday.