Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 18, 2022 6:19:07 GMT
Last year I commissioned a Gibson F5 style bluegrass mandolin from a luthier in Glasgow, and the build work has started, so I'm hoping to share some photos over the coming months. About a year ago I was looking seriously at bluegrass mandolins. It's a style I've really wanted to get into for some time, and I did flirt with it having had an Eastman MD305 and Kentucky KM 322 (both A-style). I used to take my Moon mandolin to a local jam session, but it just wasn't loud or cutting enough. I then started looking at what was available and saw a couple of Lebeda mandolins (Hobgoblin) which looked very interesting. I enquired about a Collings MT but was struggling to find something in the UK. I soon discovered a luthier based in Glasgow who specialised in mandolin-family instruments, and specifically carved bluegrass instruments. Her name is Jill Ryan and she's originally from Ireland, but her workshop is in Glasgow and she studied here. She actually shares a workshop space with Oska Burman Guitars which is also how I managed to try out Oska's guitars. I spent some time drooling over some photos on her website and Facebook page and watched some videos of these mandolins being played. They looked just right, so I contacted Jill who was so friendly and helpful, and invited me to visit her at her workshop to try out her mandolins. I did, and immediately commissioned one. A very silly one. The one with the big, useless scroll at the top. A fancy strap holder. What can I say? I'm that shallow. But just how good does it look??? www.jjryanmandolins.co.uk/
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 18, 2022 6:21:26 GMT
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Post by martinrowe on Aug 18, 2022 7:24:29 GMT
I'm not seeing the other pictures but in the first one the mandolin looks great. I managed to buy a Pava during lockdown but still need to get someone I can trust to change it to left handed.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 18, 2022 8:52:42 GMT
Exciting! Lovely pic in first post, but the others don't show up for me either..
Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 18, 2022 12:12:58 GMT
Weird, I see them fine! I'll try something else, thanks for letting me know.
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Post by Vinny on Aug 18, 2022 12:44:54 GMT
Congrats on the new build, Martin. All pics showing for me. Carving of the arch is very impressive. Just scrape away the bits that aren’t mandolin! Will watch with interest.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 18, 2022 13:15:23 GMT
Build pics fine now, thanks Martin. Nice work! Keith
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brianr2
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Post by brianr2 on Aug 18, 2022 15:51:54 GMT
Wow!
Brian
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Post by forestdweller on Aug 21, 2022 8:30:33 GMT
Wow her mandolins look utterly wonderful- good job she doesn't have prices! I particularly like the A model Robbie
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colins
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Post by colins on Aug 21, 2022 10:06:46 GMT
I have always believed that the F5 Mandolin was the pinnacle of the fretted instrument makers craft, I did make one once and vowed never to repeat the process!
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Post by earwighoney on Aug 21, 2022 15:13:11 GMT
I have always believed that the F5 Mandolin was the pinnacle of the fretted instrument makers craft, I did make one once and vowed never to repeat the process! Would it be possible to ask why that is?
I was just looking at the pictures and I thought just looking at several parts like the scroll, and bending the sides around it, and carving the top look incredibly tricky to do.
Thanks for posting the pictures though Martin, I'm sure it will be a fantastic instrument when it is finished.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 22, 2022 6:11:25 GMT
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 22, 2022 6:20:52 GMT
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Aug 22, 2022 7:43:32 GMT
Wow!! Congratulations Martin! I love the sound of this type of mandolin and it looks like it's going to be a beauty.
Great photos and plenty of them too!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 22, 2022 8:37:15 GMT
Amazing! The top and back carving is lovely to see in stages - so skilful. And all that intricate stuff to make the expensive strap "button" ! Keith
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