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  #1  
Old 09-26-2006, 06:01 PM
Freeman Freeman is offline
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Default Third home built - FK-5 mandolin (for Tim)

I bought some wood from Tim McKnight and odds and ends from Roger Siminoff. My first (and probably last) attempt at a mandolin - one quarter the size of a guitar yet four times the effort.





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Old 09-26-2006, 07:57 PM
nmp2004 nmp2004 is offline
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Looks beautiful. I'm amazed at the talent here on this forum. Happy with the sound of of the mandolin?

saul
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Old 09-26-2006, 08:22 PM
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Wow, that looks hard! Great job.
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Old 09-26-2006, 08:27 PM
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Wow, the headstock alone has a life on its own. Beautiful work !
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Old 09-26-2006, 08:37 PM
jsegovia jsegovia is offline
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Wow, amazing! That's a beautiful instrument.

I'd love to hear it - any mp3s?

Jesse
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Old 09-26-2006, 09:01 PM
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That must have been a challenge!!
I bet it was worth it, It looks great!!
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Old 09-27-2006, 08:23 AM
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Congratulations, that looks great! I love the headstock inlay.

Fliss
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Old 09-27-2006, 08:45 AM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Very Nice!
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Old 09-27-2006, 09:08 AM
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Looks yummy - the question is, did you have fun doing it and was it worth the time/effort?

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Old 09-27-2006, 12:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reags
Looks yummy - the question is, did you have fun doing it and was it worth the time/effort?

Yes, yes and yes! And thank you everybody for your kind words. The inlay is actually kind of fun and isn't too hard (a dremel tool with a router base makes it much easier), and building a couple of instruments has given me a much greater respect for people who choice this as a career or hobby or want to reset necks on a daily basis.

If a gumby like me can build a passable guitar or mandolin, those of you who have considered it can also - and there is nothing more rewarding than playing an instrument that you made. For what it is worth, here are my first two attempts

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Old 09-27-2006, 02:17 PM
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Hi Freeman,
Man that was FAST.... Great job. How did you like / dislike binding that little puppy? I spent 4 hours one day just binding a scroll. It sure does give you a new appreciation for mando builders, eh? Now you know why they get big bucks for a handbuilt mando I think I will stick with guitars.
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Old 09-27-2006, 02:26 PM
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Tim, it was totally fascinating (and totally frustrating). I really got into the Lloyd Loar lore - the tap tuning of each brace and the f-holes and all that sillyness. Roger Siminoff has been a joy to work with and a wonderful source of information.

The bindings were frustrating - as you know the trick is to heat them in boiling water and prefit each curve - then try to miter the ends. I did break them in a couple of places - the little scroll on the headstock can be seen in that picture. I can't imagine trying to cut the binding grooves without that special Dremel guide (yet Loar did them by hand). And carving the volutes and scrolls was fun too - a small blade in my band saw and a little drum sander for my Dremel helped a bunch here.

There are some mistakes - that is how I am learning but listening to a friend play Ashokin Fairwell on this little thing made me smile. Isn't that what it is all about?

FK

btw - thank you so much, Tim, wouldn't have happened without your PM last spring

lastly, if anyone is interested in the build or a beginner's attempt at a 'burst, I have posted some information on the Kit Guitar Builders forum.
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