I recently finished up the octave mandolin I've been working on (with huge thanks to the various members of the cafe who helped me work through some questions about top thickness and arch heights) and handed it over to its new owner. So I thought I'd put some details up here. I based the body outline on the Lyon and Healy's of thee 1920s, with a classy asymmetrical two-point body and fully hand carved back and top. A deep body provides the solid bass thump, and the trebles are clear and punchy. The top is black, with rich brown tones glowing through, and the bindings are grained ivoroid. The neck is adjustable with a traditional truss rod, and reinforced with carbon fibre.
2-point Tawhai Octave Mandolin
Nut width: 38mm
Scale: 575mm
Soundboard: Western red cedar
Back, sides and neck: Tawhai
Fretboard: Puriri, 10inch radius
Frets: Jescar EVO Gold
Finish: Nitrocelulose Lacquer
Inlay: NZ Paua abalone, bone, black mother of pearl
Tuning machines: Golden Age, aged brass with ivoroid buttons
Bridge: Ebony and stained tawhai
Tailpiece: hand-cut 3mm brass, aged with beeswax
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