Mando/guitar build

[stuw]

This is still a project in the works.

It started when I brought back to life a "61" Silvertone N1. It got me thinking about a Mandolin built about the same. I did some research on the net and found the Howe/Orme http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howe-Orme and based it loosely from it.

My flickr account will not let me post pics individually so I had to make an album. I'm not wild about it but its better than nothing I guess.

I will be adding more to it as the build go's on.

http://https://www.flickr.com/photos/93238525@N02/sets/72157644594079356/

[ttcycling]

Very cool! How did you bend your sides? What is the dark wood?

[stuw]

tt,
The wood is quilted maple dyed black with aniline dye. I have now sanded down the first coat, and will apply a second which I may lighten up abit, I won't know till I do my test piece. What happens with figured wood and aniline dye's is it darkens the deepest grain first and gets lighter towards the surface, this makes the grain "pop" when finished.

Not sure if you can tell by the new pics but I have my "pearloid"(some call it mother of toilet seat) binding on, just scraping and leveling that now.

Last pic is my side bending form which I used my heat blanket on, and the doweled form to hold my sides during construction.

[stuw]

Neck is ready for frets, then on to the finish

[stuw]

Test fit before I fret and start finish. I do not like the finger board extension, will modify it this weekend.

[stuw]

Down to installing the nut, tail piece, and strings. I should have her ready for the big test sometime this week.