Harris f-5

**Mark Walker** · Feb-14-2008, 8:42am

Well done!

**Don Grieser** · Feb-14-2008, 10:15am

The "wow" factor of your work has consistently been off the charts. But that torch and wire takes it to a whole new level.

**Lane Pryce** · Feb-14-2008, 11:09am

Absolutely stunning. You clearly have a very unique gift. Lp

**danb** · Feb-14-2008, 1:14pm

Very nice Troy! The presumed inspiration is my avatar..

**Siminole** · Feb-14-2008, 1:48pm

Beautiful, just Beautiful........Love that Headstock.

Al

**Troy Harris** · Feb-14-2008, 3:40pm

Originally Posted by (amowry @ Feb. 13 2008, 18:28)

Nice! Do you do the engraving?

Andrew,
I have a friend, who’s a jeweler and gun engraver that does my engraving. I eventually want to try my hands at engraving.

**Troy Harris** · Feb-14-2008, 3:49pm

Originally Posted by (Hans @ Feb. 14 2008, 07:48)

Nice Troy...where'd ya get the .040 wire?

Hans,
I get my fret wire from Jescar. The wire is manufactured in Germany and is available in nickel silver or stainless steel.

**Barry Platnick** · Feb-14-2008, 3:56pm

Wow! That is what I would have my mando look like if I could.
what do you call that color?
what is .040 wire? how does it compare to say collings or gibson?

**danb** · Feb-14-2008, 4:44pm

Originally Posted by (Troy Harris @ Feb. 13 2008, 23:15)

Narrow .040” frets with flat board…

Dan nods in vintage approval at the frets-before-binding and trapezoidal-nibs on the edge of the board.

Nice fretwire

**Troy Harris** · Feb-14-2008, 4:49pm

The color of the top is essentially very concentrated amber... I call it dark orange.

.040” is the width of the crown. This particular fret wire was manufactured to reproduce the fret wire (crown size) used on Loar period mandolins. Mandolin fret wire width can vary from .040” to .080”, depending on personal preference. My understanding is that Charlie Derrington worked with Jeff Silver at Jescar to have this specific fret wire manufactured. It’s great stuff… not easy to get without making a special order of quantity. Although, with generated interest… Jeff Silver may have more manufactured and keep some in stock for small orders.

**mandolooter** · Feb-14-2008, 11:24pm

jeez....another MAS flare-up!

**Philip Halcomb** · Feb-15-2008, 12:56am

Hi all, I just arrived back from Troy's shop. I played this new F5 and man it really sounds absolutely perfect right out off the bench. Since I've known Troy this is the first F5 of his I've had the privilege of playing right off the bench. So given that background I mean no offense by saying that I was expecting a green mandolin with a long road to maturity and breaking in. Then I took it into my hands and strummed an open G chord and it sort of blew me away, it didn't feel stiff or sound brand new at all. I looked up at Troy and smiled. I commenced to play Gold Rush on it and it had that nice woody mid-rangy sound that we all long for in our mandolins and usually only comes after many hours of playing. Then I went up high on it sounded like a top of the line Steinway. Then went to try out the low end and the growl it produced made me quiver and feel like running like one of the 3 little pigs trying to evade capture from the big bad wolf (sorry for the cheesy review type drama, I'm trying to learn from Stan Jay).

Anyway, I really had a blast playing it. It was awesome and played extremely well and comfortably, I look forward to playing it again. It has a real 20's gibsony shape and is truly a really close Loar copy in sound, shape and feel. Only with a torch and wire and modern color scheme, which I personally love. I ran though several of my favorite tunes on it, Boston Boy, Joldier's Soy, Rawhide, and many others and it sounded great. Of course my Harris #7 sounds great too, so even given that this is a truly exceptional instrument, when I picked up #7 which is a really exceptional instrument as well, I didn't feel in the least bit under gunned. Anyhow it's really a pleasure to live so close to Troy and be able to sample these fine new instruments.

**Troy Harris** · Feb-15-2008, 8:44am

Thank you Philip… likewise, it’s a pleasure for me to live nearby such a fine musician.
Dan thanks for the vintage approval. The next mandolins on my building schedule will have a more authentic look…