Two A Models Finished

An A-4 (oval hole) and an A-5 (f-hole), finished.

Detail of the A-4. Ivoroid binding, custom herringbone rosette and ebony accents.

Inlay of Mother-of-pearl and Abalone

The lovely flamed maple backside.

"Flower pot" design in Mother-of-pearl and Abalone, black tuner knobs and "tortoise shell" binding.

Detail of the A-5. Tortoise binding, with rosewood accents.

Backside of the A-5. Flamed red maple back and neck. High gloss lacquer finish.

Retro-fitting Carbon Fiber Neck Reinforcement

This mandolin was built several years ago and the neck was not as straight as it should be. The adjustable rod was as tight as I felt it could go. I decided to remove the fretboard and install two carbon fiber bars to keep the neck straight. I use the carbon fiber on all the new mandolins I build, but since this one is already finished I had to devise a way to rout two parallel slots down the center of the neck under the fretboard. I first removed the fretboard with a thin knife and some heat.

Then I designed a jig that would hold the mandolin underneath and guide the router to cut two perfectly straight grooves.

A view from the top.

The mandolin is clamped flat against the jig from underneath.

The router cuts one groove by sliding along one of the guides, then cuts the second groove by sliding along the other side, putting the grooves about 3/8" apart.

The grooves have been cut to the proper depth.

The carbon fiber bars fit perfectly in the slots and are glued in place with epoxy. I'll glue the fingerboard back on and touch up the finish and it will be done.

Walnut Tenor Banjo

Close up showing the black/maple checkerboard purfling.

Walnut rim, neck and resonator

Inlaid Abalone and Mother-Of-Pearl

Walnut rim with maple bottom edge. Figured walnut neck with ebony and maple cap

Burled walnut resonator with concentric rings

Mother-Of-Pearl fingerboard inlays

The complete "pot" assembly

Tenor Banjo Project

The one on the left is a short scale open back tenor. The one on the right is a modern scale resonator tenor. Both are set up for playing Irish music.

 

The headstock finished featuring an original inlay design of mother-of-pearl and abalone.

 

The flange pieces were custom made for me from my original design. They are laser cut from stainless steel and nickel plated.

 

The maple neck and resonator were stained in a sunburst of amber and browns and then sprayed with clear lacquer.

 

The open back was made from maple and walnut and left natural with a clear finish.

 

The "pot" assembly. The wood rim is made of walnut with a maple bottom cap. The tenor banjos have an archtop tone ring mounted on the wood rim.

 

Finished parts ready to be assembled.

 

Making the necks of maple and walnut. The foreground necks are four-string tenors and the background neck will be a five-string.

Counting Down

It's up to $1325 with 11 hours to go!

See And Hear

Here is a video of me playing "Blue Eagle" and "Cattle In The Cane."

(And, yes that is an old-school Hi-8 Video camera. I couldn't get rid of the display in the corner of the screen.)

Start the Bidding!

The mandolin is now being auctioned at the address below. All the money from the sale will go toward scholarships for music students to attend an Irish music camp, school or other musical program. To watch the auction, or better yet, to bid, go here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120615232087&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT