Saturday, April 04, 2026

New Model Mandolin: 3

Here’s Part 3 of my New Model Mandolin build series. In this one, I look at joining the Adirondack soundboard and making and fitting the rosette. There’s also a bit more on the neck and last but certainly not least, the back gets braced and fitted and you’ll see how the radius dish (seen in part 1) continues to help the process.

Cheers Gary



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Monday, March 23, 2026

New Model Mandolin: 2

 I would have bent my first set of sides during my first year at the London College of Furniture (1976/77) and I’ve bent a fair few bits of wood since. It never ceases to amaze me what you can do with a drop of moisture and a bending iron. I wasn’t 100% sure about the extreme bending that this new shape would need but as you’ll see (spoiler alert) it all went well. So, in part two, I make the rim of the mandolin: bend the sides, fit various blocks, linings etc and use my radius dish for fitting the back. Also, I get the neck blank made too! Quite a lot to take in, so get yourself a cup of tea.

Cheers Gary



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Sunday, March 15, 2026

New Model Mandolin: 1

No sooner one mandolin is complete than another comes along!

So, after a very long gestation period, my New Model Mandolin is finally being realised. In this first episode of a new build series of videos, I look at its overall shape and go into detail about the making of the external mould. The mould is used for accurate construction of the mandolin’s rim.




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Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Nava Electric Mandolin Part 5: Completed!

 

The electric mandolin (e-mando) is now complete! In this video, I give a “guided tour” of the instrument and a demonstration of how the pick-up system works.

And a few photos below.........








Hope you like it!

Cheers Gary

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Tuesday, January 06, 2026

Nava Electric Mandolin Part 4: Details

 


Get a cup of tea, this is a long one!
Cheers Gary

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Sunday, December 07, 2025

Electric Mandolin Part 3

Here’s the latest video, with the e mando coming together nicely!

Cheers Gary


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Sunday, November 23, 2025

Electric Mandolin Part 2

 With the body completed (for the time being), the next job is the neck. And in the video I tell you all about it.



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