Arch-top Mandolin Finished

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:32 pm

Very stylish, and I definitely want to pick it up and give it a play.

Taffy Evans · Post by **Taffy Evans** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:27 pm

I love the style, very please on the eye. A guitar to match would make a great pair. Well done.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:34 pm

Oh man! That's a little killer in the style department, just LOVE it Bob she's a cracker....Hope you made Tony commit to doing a sound file to share with your mates.

Cheers

Kim

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:45 pm

Thanks everyone.

Graham - your book has been invaluable as a reference. I've made a few of your jigs. The one for setting the height of the drill press when doing the back and top conours is brilliant. I'm getting a mate of mine who is a fitter and turner to make me a precision one out of stainless.

Considering it's shape it sounds remarkably like an F5.

It's about two inches shorter than a Gibson F5 but the top is carved all the way through to the upper bout and out to the edges of the cutaway, which gives the top a bit more area to resonate.

Dave - a guitar sized one is definitely on the cards.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:30 pm

That looks really cool Bob be keen to hear a sound file like everyone else.
couple of questions.
What is the neck made out of ?
And is it a loud instrument?

Not that i no much about mandolin I gig with a couple of players, and have just started to teach my self on a cheap Suzuki instrument that I brought on ebay. The Suzuki was made in 1968 don't think it has any quality woods but is a very loud instrument maybe cause of the action is a bit high due to the neck angle etc etc oh for a nice one.

Colin S · Post by **Colin S** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:49 pm

One great looking little mandolin Bob (now that's a sentence I never thought I'd utter!)

I've always been a sucker for a nice archtop, and that just looks like a Honey I shrunk the guitar archtop.

I needn't comment on your workmanship Bob as you know what I think of your skill level, one of the builders I really admire.

Lucky new owner.

Colin

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:40 pm

Hey Bob, I know "0" about mandoes, so forgive me if this is a dumb question as I suspect it is. The increase length of the shaft on the tuners at the very top of the headstock, it's a cool way of allowing for that extra flair in that area and has me thinking that perhaps this is a standard Gibson F5 thing and the tuners come standard this way, is this correct?

Cheers

Kim

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:44 pm

Bob, you and Dave did a bang up job. Its beautiful. Like everyone else, I can't wait to hear what it sounds like.

Dennis Leahy · Post by **Dennis Leahy** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:46 pm

I love it! Beautiful job, Bob and Dave!

Dennis

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:33 am

I was just so enamored with the instrument that I didn't notice the bang up job you've done with the photo's Bob. Did you do them your selves. or get a pro to do them? They really look great.

sebastiaan56 · Post by **sebastiaan56** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:00 am

Hi Bob,

all of the above and some. Bloody beautiful! I just rescanned your posts and dont see what you used for the binding.

Kim,

they look like standard F5 tuners to me.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am

Colin S wrote:Honey I shrunk the guitar archtop.

Colin

I too, really like the mini Archtop shape.

That's one killer little mando Bob. Looks fantastic

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:58 am

Kim- yeah they're standard F5 machine heads.

Allen - the photos were taken by Dave's father-in-law who is a semo pro photographer.

Sebaastian - the bindings are ivoroid.

And yes, I'll try and get Tony to record something for me.

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Arch-top Mandolin Finished

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