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Bothell, WA U.S.A.
Previous Build - Lutz Spruce/Walnut Hummingbird Octave Mandolin
Or is it an octave mandotar? Or an octar?
Lutz spruce top.
Walnut back and sides.
Indian rosewood binding.
Khaya neck.
Indian rosewood fretboard with Indian rosewood binding.
Rosewood bridge.
K&K pickup
I play mandolin in addition to guitar so I thought it would be interesting to build something in between the two instruments. This is the prototype I built to test out some ideas. The body design is typical of a steel string flat top acoustic guitar but significantly smaller. It's about the size of a baritone ukulele but with a deeper body. The scale length is 20".
Body plan & mold
Bending sides
Head & tail blocks installed
Installing reverse kerfed lining
Shooting top plates
Shooting back plates
Assembled back plates
Deflection testing top plates
Installing rosette
Leveling rosette
Completed rosette
Completed top
Gluing braces to back
Gluing braces to top
Braces installed
Carving back braces
Top braces carved
Sides ready for top and back
Back fitted to sides
Top fitted to sides
Pickup installed
Gluing sides to top
Gluing sides to back
Closed up box
Assembled body
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