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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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Electric Mandolin Part 1

I’ve just started building a new solid-body electric mandolin, haven't done one for awhile.  I’ll be documenting the process in a series of YouTube videos. Here’s the first episode: hope you find it interesting.

Cheers Gary




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