garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460 
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jul 23, 2021 15:41:38 GMT
The mandolin’s neck has been shaped and I think we’re now beyond the ugly ducking stage that I mentioned a while back!
Here’s a video showing my approach to the neck shaping process. I must admit, it does take me quite a long time to do and is best described as an iterative process: going back, again and again, continually refining until the desired profile is reached.
Cheers Gary
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Post by earthbalm on Jul 23, 2021 16:41:21 GMT
Fantastic Gary.
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,116
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 23, 2021 19:04:45 GMT
Very interesting - and labour intensive!
So here’s a tip for all you luthiers: for necks, get your wood from the outside bit of a thin tree - it’s already round.
No, YOU shut up 😀
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 23, 2021 21:57:06 GMT
Wonderful stuff, Gary! Thank you.
Keith
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Jul 28, 2021 15:06:41 GMT
Over the years, I’ve given a great deal of thought to my bridge’s design and, looking back, at my early mandolins, the design has evolved considerably. So, here is the current incarnation. The ebony blank is roughly fitted to the top plate: by marking out the curve on the base of the bridge from the templates used to carve the top plate it can be done quite quickly and accurately.  Then the slot for the saddle is routed. This allows the saddle to be fitted and by using a simple jig, the bridge’s location can be accurately found.  Then the base of the bridge can be sanded to fit the top plate perfectly and then worked to its final shape.   There is always a tendency for this type of bridge to tip towards the fretboard, so to compensate for that, I now make my bridges a tad wider at the base and set the saddle slot a few mill back. Also, at this stage the saddle is roughly shaped for intonation compensation and slots cut for the strings. The final refinement of the saddle is done once the mandolin is strung up.  Here’s the bridge, you can see that I scallop out the front of the bridge; this is to remove some of its extra mass which is gained by making the base wider. Also, I like to have “feet” on my bridges rather than continuous contact. The feet are directly over the top plate’s tone bars.  Make the nut and then……………….. Cheers Gary |
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Sept 2, 2021 15:08:33 GMT
Just in case you’ve been wondering what’s happened to Archtop #5, well I’m in the middle of the French polishing process and in the photo, you can really see how the shellac pops the grain. Lovely! Cheers Gary  |
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garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on Nov 2, 2021 16:28:10 GMT
 As you can see in the photos, Archtop #5 has now been completed and is ready for sale. I must admit that I'm super-pleased with it! In this video, I run through the mandolin’s specification and give a bit of a demo. My playing never does my mandolins justice!     If you’re interested in owning this mandolin, you’ll find full details on my website. Cheers Gary |
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Post by earthbalm on Nov 2, 2021 16:32:43 GMT
Very, very smart Gary.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 2, 2021 16:54:36 GMT
Beautiful! Thanks for yet another great build thread, Gary - i'm sure this mando will find a good home before very much longer...
Keith
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on Nov 2, 2021 21:49:57 GMT
Another beauty Gary... really enjoyed this thread.  |
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Jo whoever he is.
