Bandolims neopolitan and frets!

are there any plans or info on building the brazillian style mandolin bandolim?

are there plans/instructions on how to build bowl back styled mandolins?

i want to build some mandolins. i have most all the tools and a workshop. but not a single desire to make an F or A style mandolin!

my luthier guy has gibson standard fret wire... i have fatter frets on my weber, would it be good to switch to the thinner gibson wire? pros cons?

thank you for reading!!

[Paul Hostetter]

Bigger frets: better. At least the Stew-Mac 147 frets:



No plans for good mandolins like you're after. Find a good mandolin, take some measurements and make some drawings, and copy it. This will, needless to say, be easier for the bandolim than with a roundback!

[Bill Snyder]

For an interesting thread on building a bowlback take a look at this thread although several of the pictures are missing.

[Jim Garber]

The only place I know of exact plans for a bowlback )and a few other mandolins is in Franz Jahnel's Manual of Guitar Technology. You may be able to get hold of it thru interlibrary loan. It is a German book. There are a few plans laid out for various mandolins starting on page 180.

Tho not a bandolim, there are pretty good plans and step by step instructions for a flattop mandolin in John Troughton's The Mandolin Manual which I believe is still in print. I got my copy on Amazon some time ago. Or you could just buy a Stew-Mac Campfire kit or one from Don K (a Cafe member called Luthier).

Jim

[Bill Snyder]

Tho not a bandolim, there are pretty good plans and step by step instructions for a flattop mandolin in John Troughton's The Mandolin Manual which I believe is still in print. I got my copy on Amazon some time ago. Or you could just buy a Stew-Mac Campfire kit or one from Don K (a Cafe member called Luthier).

Jim

I recieved my new copy of The Mandolin Manual today. I got mine from Movie Mars and used a $10.00 discount for using Google checkout.

[Jim Garber]

Looks like the Jahnel book is available.

Jim

[dave17120]

Hi Lemon..... or is it John???
Don't know if you have any building experience, but if not....... build a flatbck first!! I have built several, and I feel I am now in a position to begin building a bowl-back. Loads of technical issues to solve. I have an old plan for a bowl-back (only 7 ribs I think...) but its of absolutely no use in solving those awkward technical issues like what shape to make the ribs..... and how to get 2 ribs in slightly different planes to glue together well... to mention just two.

Once I have finished with my Mureda resurrection project, I hope to start one on my bowl building efforts.... watch this space. Dave