Hamlett #11

[Lane Pryce]

Very nice. I know John's attention to detail is uncanny. He did the setup on my Kelley A5 and the playability is scrumptious. Your F4 is a real treat for the eye and one I am sure you will treasure for years to come. Lp

[Spruce]

Nice 4!

You know, this has to be about the first time I haven't seen Sunburst chime in on a thread of interest in years... #
Must be shy, I guess... #

Hey, is that some of that fire-killed Engelmann??

[amowry]

That bridge is fantastic! Beautiful piece of spruce, and beautiful everything else!

[Bill Snyder]

Very nice.

[ShaneJ]

Wow! John, that's awesome! I noticed the saddle right away. I like that.

[Jason Kessler]

A pip!

[ledmandlin]

What everybody else said, John; really fine.

Bruce

[sunburst]

Hey, thanks, folks!
I've been kind of busy the last few days, not on the net much, Bruce. Yep, that's the fire killed Engelmann. Some wonderful wood, that carved like butter! (thanks!)

By the way, I probably never would have designed and built this mandolin if it weren't for Adam. He knew what he wanted, and we worked together all the way through the design, from the unbound board and headstock, to the flat fingerboard, to the neck size, to the cosmetics. He's in Maine, and I'm in Virginia, but now that there is this internet, we had the whole thing designed and "built" in Photoshop, and we both pretty much knew exactly what it would look like, almost before it was started.
The rosette and the pine cone were his ideas. Working with the customer on a design is usually fun, but when the customer has been to design school, like Adam, it can be a learning experience too!

[Adam Tracksler]

I can't tell you what a wise, insightful professional John is. He has some great ideas and was absolutely wonderful to work with. He totally understood my ramblings and was able to synthesize my wierdo neck shape "specs" (Umm,, I really liked that 1918 Gibson A I played a while ago, and the breedlove neck, but i want it hind of wider, and not as Veed as the gibson...I have big hands) into a neck that fits my hand perfectly (And my wifes -- she loves it too).

My dad was checking it out (He is building his first guitar - and I think this blew his mind) "Adam, this mandolin goes to 11"

[Stanley Cox]

atrack, Great looking 4. It looks as if you and John paid a good deal of heed to "Sunburst's" advice.
Good work.

Stanley

[Adam Tracksler]

After taking this out and really whailing away on it, I am more impressed than before.

It really is starting to sing.

Open chords sound lush and full - kind of autoharp-ish. There are a few nice sweet spots for chopping. The mandolin really works well and is consistent up and down the neck. I was sitting in between two banjos and could hear myself and the rest of the jam could hear me too!

[Darren Kern]

John, this is one of the most beautiful blonde mandos I've ever seen. Everything about it looks perfect. That inlay is amazing. I'm at a loss for words except to say that I hope someday I can build something half as nice as this. atracksler, congrats, you've got a keeper with this one!!

[sgrexa]

I know this thread is really old, but maybe John will comment. What is the significance of the pinecone? Obviously, spruce comes to mind first, but this has many religious and occult associations and has left me curious. Thanks!

Sean

[sunburst]

Adam (the mandolin's owner) is from Maine. White pine is the state tree of Maine, and the pine cone is a state symbol. He wanted some kind of association with the state of Maine, and the white pine cone was the eventual decision.

[Kowboy]

Great choice in your builder. I'm sure you'll enjoy this for many years to come. Being from Virginia does help of course!

[Pete Jenner]

This must from the days when 'Sunburst' was known as 'Blondie'.

[dan in va]

i haven't seen this one before, and everything about the design really works.

Especially the tailpiece....getting away from parallel lines keeps some assymetries from being noticed, such as the center line from the neck through the TP being a little off, like so many mandolins are. Also, wedging a tooth pick in the slot behind a string keeps strings from popping out during changes better than any other tailpiece i've tried -- yes, including the hinged style.

Gotta say that i miss that gleaming square block about as much as the sharp stick in the eye that it is. +1 to the guys who think the Gibson shape TP is out of character with the F and A style curves.

And that pine cone is just great...the perfect thing for an unbound scroll peghead.

Well done, John.

[sgrexa]

Great choice in your builder. I'm sure you'll enjoy this for many years to come. Being from Virginia does help of course!

Not sure if John is still in VA, and how did you know I selected John, not that it is a bad choice of course?

Sean

[Kowboy]

Not sure if John is still in VA, and how did you know I selected John, not that it is a bad choice of course?

Sean

John is still in Virginia. I do not know him, but have researched The Stelling Banjo Company and know he worked there for a time and built the very first Stelling Mandolins here in Virginia. Kim Breedlove did build mandolins for Stelling, but in California prior to John. I did not know you had selected John Hamlett. I was referring to the Original Poster here. Are you aware that "sunburst" is John Hamlett. I am presently having a Stelling S-5 being build by David Houchens. He is "Bryce" on this forum. I may be picking the Stelling up in a few weeks. Getting a little excited right now.

[sunburst]

Hi Kenny. The mandolin in your avatar is, in fact, one that I built.
I'm barely still in Virginia. As soon as I can get everything packed up I'll be heading out... (so many loose ends...)

[tburcham]

Congrats Adam! Beautiful mandolin! Mr. Hamlett is a premeir builder of the modern era. I would love to have one of his mandolins in my collection before "I turn my toes up."

[Kowboy]

Hey John. Man I sincerely hope that you will enjoy your new home. I think that Virginia has many locations that I could call home. I guess it's in the blood as my ancestry goes back to the 1600's all right here along The James River. I've been coveting the people that call Virginia's Mountains their home. Best wishes.

[blauserk]

I'm barely still in Virginia. As soon as I can get everything packed up I'll be heading out...

Curses! (I'm a Virginian.) And only a few weeks after I'd first heard your mandolins being played. (Sounded wonderful, by the way.) 'Scuze my ignorance, but where are you heading to?

My favorite:

[red7flag]

Fabulous job John. Sublime.

[Bill Snyder]

So 8 1/2 years later does Adam still play this mandolin?