Safe in the Highlands

Another tense few days, whilst Martin’s mandolin was in transit; it took almost as long to get to the Highlands as Youhei’s did to Japan!

Anyway, it arrived safe and sound and here are few photos; spruce soundboard, maple back and sides, sapele neck and a fair old smattering of cocobolo!

Left handed e-mando II

Good progress made with Chris’s e-mando; essentially, most of the woodwork is done, so I shall now get it set-up, wired and playing and when I’m 100% happy with it, I’ll take it apart and apply the finish!

Safe in Japan

What a tense week it’s been for Amanda and me! Last Sunday we packed Youhei’s mandolin ready for its 6000 mile trip to Japan and off it went with UPS on Monday. Being able to track packages is both marvellous and nerve wracking. From us to East Midlands Airport to Cologne, Germany to Hong Kong and finally Tokyo!

You can imagine our relief when we received an email from a very happy Youhei!

Here are a few choice photos of his mandolin; quilted maple back and sides, walnut neck, head overlay and binding, European spruce soundboard.

Martin’s mandolin

This week saw Martin’s mandolin; strung up, “in the white.”

This is the first time that I’ve used this particular design of rosette and combined with the all the other cocobolo details, the design of the whole instrument is coherent. Aesthetically a limited pallet of tonewoods works really well.

Left handed e-mando

Well, you can see below that Chris’s electric mandolin is definitely a lefty!

 And here are a few shots of the tailpiece being made- by hand, no CNC here.