garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Sept 4, 2013 15:21:06 GMT
Hi Guys, Thanks for all the positive comments. I’ll be more than happy to keep you all posted on the OM and TM. The scale lengths are 434mm and 546mm both will have 14 fret necks. Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Sept 4, 2013 7:32:02 GMT
Hi Guys, here’s my latest mandolin- this is one of my “Standard” mandolins, but with the optional upgrade of a rosette, which must make this one, a “Standard Custom”? Visually, the Brazilian mahogany back, sides and neck, the cocobolo fretboard and bridge and thuya burl details work incredibly well, all really complementing each other nicely. It’s only been strung up for a few hours but already I’m very happy with its woody tone. Hope you like it. Also, if you read my meet the luthier interview, you may have noted that I mentioned that I wanted to build an octave mandolin. Well, here’s a double commission for a matching pair- an octave mandolin and a tenor mandola! You can see the progress so far. Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 25, 2013 6:05:53 GMT
Hi Calv, I would suggest Tru-oil applied to the bare wood. It's an American gunstock finish which is readily available on eBay. Once a few coats have been applied and are hard, you can use very fine- 0000 wire wool and wax to get a satin finish. As always experiment on some scrap wood first! Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 14, 2013 14:58:52 GMT
A client has already successfully used one of these pick guards on one of my French polished guitars. I was thinking of a sheet of the stuff to protect any instruments used for demonstrations.
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 13, 2013 15:33:34 GMT
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 9, 2013 17:03:34 GMT
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 7, 2013 15:49:33 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price. Cheers Gary Cheers Gary - I hope you are well. I already have a half litre - should last me a while Half litre!!!!!!!!!! I only buy 90ml at a time- usually use it on two instruments- the rest goes hard and gets thrown away!
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jun 6, 2013 15:58:09 GMT
I always get my Tru-Oil on eBay, a little goes a long way, so I wouldn't be put off by the price. Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 24, 2013 7:34:18 GMT
Darrell is certainly one of my favorites- loads of great solo CDs; often played in the Nava workshop! He also plays with Robert Plant! Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 22, 2013 16:23:26 GMT
My sincere apologies for any distress that I may have caused Cheers Gary
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 22, 2013 7:26:59 GMT
Yes, I've listened to this video a few times now, and been watching the build closely. I've not really GAS'ed for a mandolin, but playing Keith's wonderful walnut Fylde today got me thinking. This is sorely tempting! Umm....... Robbie er, that would be MAS-ing then Robbie! Keith You might like my MAS web page: Nava MAS page
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 19, 2013 17:06:25 GMT
Great interview, Keith and Gary. Gary: I seem to remember that your guitars used to sport really large bridges. Was that something that you tried for a while and then "evolved"? Love the look of your very early Martin/Ditson parlour. How does that sound to you now? Not guilty- I’ve never used larger than “normal” size bridges; quite the opposite, within its design limitations, I like to keep the bridge fairly light. The “Ditson” sounds pretty good to me- what you would expect from a very small bodied guitar, but surprising loud. The width of the soundboard and the position of the bridge limit what you can do with the bracing. Also the short scale (628mm) makes for a more relaxed feel, just right for entertaining in your parlour!
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 18, 2013 14:49:28 GMT
Hi Guys, I thought that you might like to see the latest "Standard" Mandolin that I’ve just completed (and is for sale). Here’s the full spec with some photos below. Hope that you like it! Cheers Gary American Black Walnut back & sides with maple bindings, European Spruce soundboard with a bound soundhole, American Black Walnut neck with maple lamination and carbon-fibre reinforcement strips, Rosewood, compound radius fingerboard with MoP dots &side markers, and wide gold evo frets Burr Walnut head overlay with Golden Age tuners Solid bridge with removable saddle Open-pour shellac satin finish.
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 17, 2013 7:22:29 GMT
Very interesting read. Well done to all involved I used to own a Nava guitar, I think it was the older style Model 1 guitar. Lovely Walnut back. Wish I still had it That one was unique, and pre-dates my Model 1. It had a 12 fret neck and was built to a shape that I only used twice- once for the walnut one that you had and the other was my resonator.
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 454
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 17, 2013 7:21:53 GMT
Really enjoyed reading the article. I've never played a Nava but have followed all the videos on youtube, especially the development of the standard series. Any chance of a standard series octave mandola? Robbie I want to build an octave mandolin or is it an octave mandola? Aren’t all these terms confusing! When I build one it will be in my “Standard” format for exactly the same reason as why I designed the Standard mandolin. Hopefully, it will have a 14 fret neck so there is room to use a capo on it and still have a decent bit of neck left.
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