Sunday, January 17, 2021
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Happy Holidays!
First thing’s first; Amanda and I wanted to thank you for your continued support and friendship throughout this most difficult of years and wish you Happy Christmas and best wishes for the new year!
Labels: chambered body electric mandolin
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Archtop #4 Completed
The fourth in my series of Archtop mandolins is now complete and happily residing with its new owner in Scotland. Below are some photos and a video for you. I must say that I am extremely pleased with this instrument!
Labels: Archtop mandolin, Gary Nava luthier
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Chambered body, electric mandolin: tailpiece
I’ve just made the tailpiece for the next emando and the video below gives you an idea of the processes involved in making one. One thing that occurred to me as I was making it; it’s one of the few things that I make, where you can start and finish it in the same session- no gluing, no finishing etc. just hewn from one piece of material!
Labels: chambered body electric mandolin
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Chambered body, electric mandolin 4- Koa back
I’ve been working on the Koa back, to match the sides that you would have seen in an earlier post. One aspect of making the back, that I knew would be challenging was to cut out the access panel for the electrics. Why? Well, normally on my solid bodies, I route the control cavity and make up a cover from aluminium, brass or whatever. But on this one, as it has a thin back, I thought it be a nice idea to carefully cut-out the opening for the cavity and keep the “waste” to use as a matching cover. I first saw this idea on those amazing Alembic basses; it’s a feature they call it a “continuous wood backplate". However, lacking sophisticated machinery, I had to use my router, a template and template follower and a 1mm diameter cutter.
Labels: chambered body electric mandolin, Gary Nava handmade mandolins, Luthier
Friday, November 13, 2020
Chambered body, electric mandolin 3
Labels: chambered body electric mandolin, Handmade mandolin, luthier mandolin
Friday, November 06, 2020
French Polishing; The Last Word!
Here is the last instalment in my quadrilogy of French polishing videos; “Archtop #4 French Polishing pt4: Final, Fine Applications”
Cheers Gary
Labels: French Polish, Luthier