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

Nava Electric Mandolin Part 4: Details

 

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

Cheers Gary

Electric Mandolin Part 3

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

Cheers Gary

Chambered Body E-mando: part 5

Here’s the latest e-mando video. In this one, I demonstrate how I shape/carve a neck. Although I’m working on an electric mandolin which has a relatively short neck, the process is the same for any of my instruments.

Also below are some choice photos.

Nava Electric Mandolin now complete

 

As you can see above, the latest e-mando has now been completed and is looking (sounding and playing) rather lovely, if I say so myself! Photos below, thanks for looking.

Electric Mandolin Build Part 5

With the majority of the construction now complete, it’s time to concentrate on the tailpiece and bridge and getting the mandolin set-up. The bridge is made from rosewood and will be adjustable for height; so a bit of design work first……

….and then after a bit of work, it’s starting to emerge out of the wooden blank. Much of the shaping of the bridge goes on during the setting-up of the mandolin i.e. slots for string spacing and filing the correct break point for individual string’s intonation.

The tailpiece is hewn from a piece of extruded aluminium angle section.

Once the tailpiece is made and fixed into position, the setting-up procedure can begin.

Electric Mandolin Build Part 4

The fretboard has been sanded to its compound radius and dot position markers inlaid. Next the mandolin can be fretted. 

Once the frets have levelled, ends bevelled and polished etc, I start shaping the neck.

Many hours later and after a good clean-up, here’s the result……

And, one of my favourite details!

Electric Mandolin Build Part 3

So, now is the time to join the neck and body together. This is all about super accurate marking out and careful sawing.

Once the neck has been fitted and glued in place, I “lock” it in place with 4 dowels: I’m great believer in both a belt and braces!

The neck leans back to give a good break angle over the bridge, this creates a gap between the end of the fret board and body, so a wedge to support it goes on next.

And last but not least the fretboard gets glued on. You can see how a leave the neck square: this will make working on the fretboard so much easier.

Electric Mandolin Build Part 2

As you can see, the e-mando’s neck has now been made. Here’s its story…………

The neck is laminated to aid stability. The bulk of the neck is from bird’s eye maple with a central core of Tasmanian Blackwood.

And the head is spliced on.

Whilst these parts are being glued-up, I make the head logo inlay. When it’s possible, I like to cut through the head overlay before it’s glued to the head itself. Inlaying rosewood or ebony is relatively easy as any gaps can be filled and are virtually invisible. However, lighter coloured woods are less forgiving and extra care must be taken.

Below you can see that the completed head overlay has been glued on and there are two fillets of cedar running the length of the neck. Under those fillets are two lengths of carbon fibre rods.

And after some shaping and drilling, the completed neck blank.