#029 Kelley A model

[Skip Kelley]

Here's some pics of my latest A model. It has a California redwood top with red spruce tone bars. Domestic maple. A big thanks to Will Kimble for the new varnish info!! It is Captains oils varnish with a french polish topcoat. Thanks to all you guys for your inspiration!

[crazymandolinist]

Love it. Especially the headstock. So much better than the same-ole same-ole ebony snakehead jobs. If you could though, leave the flash off when doing frontals, the white behind the f holes is less than pretty. Also like your choice of finish.

[JEStanek]

Great work, Skip. I like the fingerboard extension very much.

Jamie

[jasona]

Classic look, nice and clean. Well done Skip!

[Ed Goist]

Here's some pics of my latest A model. ...snip...

Wow! Beautiful. Excellent work!

[pickloser]

That's a beauty, Skip!

(sigh) Here comes that MAS fever again.

[Mark Walker]

Skip - that's a real beauty! Love that grain and finish on the back of it!

[Steve Sorensen]

Skip,
Love it! Great inlay design. Would sure like to get your take on the redwood top with spruce tone bars.
Steve

[Trey Young]

Awesome looking mandolin Skip! That F4 you built still haunts me...keep up the great work!

[fatt-dad]

I'd go with the snakehead, but agree, that's a beautiful mandolin!

f-d

[waldensridge]

Hi Skip, it has been a long time since we talked, but I could not stop myself from commenting about your redwood topped A. As the owner of your redwood topped "Monte" copy (#16), if this one has half of the power that mine has, it is going to be shaking nails out of stages for years to come. My redwood top did not take any time to open up, but believe it or not, it continues to get more depth. Whoever is lucky enough to buy your A, will never again have to wonder what a chop is supposed to sound like. Congratulations on building a beautiful mandolin.

Wayne Millington

[Brent Hutto]

Skip,

You may have commented previously on this but I'm new to the Cafe. What are the qualities you look for in a redwood soundboard as opposed to spruce?

I happened to encounter a redwood and maple A-5 style mandolin at a guitar show last week and the builder encouraged me to play it. A few minutes noodling around in the ridiculously loud environment made it hard to tell much but I did think it keep a very sweet and full tone well up the neck on the A and E strings. I don't think it was a loud mandolin overall but it seemed to lose less than most in that extended upper register without getting piercing.

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks guys for all the kind words!
Wayne, I've gotten more calls about your mandolin than anyone I have built. I'm so glad you like it brother!
This mandolin is from wood I had left over from your's.

The redwood gives the mandolin a real mellow sound without being muddy or to tubby sounding. It really does sound old from the start. I read somewhere that Bill Bussman uses spruce tone bars on some redwood tops so that is where I got that from. I would like to build another one with redwood. I'll have to buy more.
I always play my wife's favorite song, "Amazing Grace" to get her opinion. She wanted to know why are you playing so loud? Don't you love it when someone says that mandolin is too loud.

[Agustin]

Beautiful! Skip

[Will Kimble]

Well hey there, you are welcome! Nice job!

Will Kimble

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks again Will! I appreciate all your help!