garynava
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 460 
My main instrument is: Stanley No.5
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Post by garynava on May 13, 2018 16:06:07 GMT
I’ve started the next Archtop mandolin. I’m so pleased with the one that Jeremy now owns that I can’t imagine changing the design but what I will do is refine my building technique, maybe make a few jigs etc.
The next Archtop will have American Black Walnut back and sides; I’ve had some lovely pieces of walnut in stock for years and have finally had the courage to convert one piece of it into back and sides- mostly by hand!
"For your viewing pleasure- MAN vs WOOD!"
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 13, 2018 16:25:30 GMT
Some serious sawing there Gary - I thought it would take you a lot longer than an hour to get through that huge slab!  Keith |
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francis
C.O.G. 
Posts: 2,475
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on May 13, 2018 17:01:20 GMT
Brilliant Gary - full of admiration for the effort put into the instrument so far. Glad I've got a bigger bandsaw as I'm not sure I would manage that piece of walnut.
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 26,135
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on May 14, 2018 7:31:30 GMT
Crikey, that looks like a lot of hard work! That walnut looks brilliant, mind  |
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Post by cottonopolis on May 14, 2018 15:45:49 GMT
Thanks for posting the video Gary, really enjoyed it and look forward to future video updates.
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
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Post by davewhite on May 14, 2018 16:09:09 GMT
Man 1 Wood 0 methinks  Great stuff Gary, I loved watching that and seeing two lovely sets emerge - I couldn't decide if it was a lutheie or workout video, probably both  . Looking forward to seeing the walnut "mandolinise". |
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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 May 22, 2018 14:30:24 GMT
Here's the head for the new mandolin..... and also a video of how I did it. The videos for the what is now "Jeremy’s Archtop" proved to be popular so I thought I’d do a second series and look at some different aspects of the build.  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 Jun 8, 2018 15:26:57 GMT
This week I completed the back plate for the next archtop mandolin. I’ve put this video together so you can see how it’s done. Again, working by hand is physically demanding but also immensely satisfying. You’ll see how the simple jig that I made effectively holds the back plate whilst carving.
That's it for the week- treat myself to a beer!
Cheers Gary
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Post by lars on Jun 8, 2018 20:40:11 GMT
Thank you so much for your videos Gary! They give me so much. And I also appreciate and share your love and respect for the handiwork. And it looks like it's gonna be a lovely instrument! /Lars
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by davewhite on Jun 10, 2018 12:42:11 GMT
Gary - Interesting stuff as ever. How did your "cunning plan" work out in terms of the resulting symmetry of the grain pattern on the back?
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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 Jun 11, 2018 14:27:30 GMT
Gary - Interesting stuff as ever. How did your "cunning plan" work out in terms of the resulting symmetry of the grain pattern on the back? Glad you liked the video Dave. Not 100% symmetrical, but there are two small pin knots either side of the centre joint which show that the two halves are from the same board which is what I hoped for. 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 Jun 21, 2018 15:34:56 GMT
Here’s the tailpiece for the walnut archtop. You’ll see that there’s a thin green line running through it; this continues a decorative theme that the mandolin will have. I like to get the tailpiece made before the back is glued on to the rim, that way I can drill a hole for the jack socket and support the end-block to eliminate any chances of splitting. 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 Jul 12, 2018 15:23:23 GMT
I’ve been slowly making progress with the next archtop mandolin. One thing that helps enormously to get the top plate to its correct thickness, is drawing a grid on the wood and then accurately mapping out the dimensions. You can then see exactly where you want to remove more material; I did this 3 or 4 times until I was 100% happy with it.  With the top plate at its correct thickness, the sound holes can be cut-out (I can’t really call them f holes, can I?). I spent a long time, on the last archtop, working out how to set-up a Dremel to cut the holes; that time invested paid off as it took a fraction of the time to produce these ones. Although you could cut them with a fret saw, I need their surfaces to be perfect in order to be able to neatly bind them.   I feel quite strongly that the holes should be bound; it protects the softwood edges from accidental damage, strengthens and helps to lessen any risk of cracking at the holes, stops moisture escaping via the end grain and looks jolly nice too! The black veneer had to be bent using a soldering iron as a small improvised bending iron.   Cheers Gary |
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davewhite
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Posts: 3,548
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Post by davewhite on Jul 12, 2018 15:48:46 GMT
Very tasty  |
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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 Aug 4, 2018 15:09:29 GMT
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Great stuff Gary, I loved watching that and seeing two lovely sets emerge - I couldn't decide if it was a lutheie or workout video, probably both 
. Looking forward to seeing the walnut "mandolinise".
Jo whoever he is.
