SBO22 - Mandola

[smart51]

That's the highest pitch bass I've ever heard

 

[Flamingo21]

This is my entry for the Non-Bass category of the Summer Build Off 2022. I have built a four string acoustic mandola. This has been the first acoustic instrument I've built, and I feel it's turned out well, both in looks and sound/playability. The theme of the Build Off is super magic happy fun time, and that's certainly what I've had while building this!

I used many kinds of wood: Birch for the body and thumbrest, Beech for the tail block, Bigleaf Maple for the neck, Bloodwood for the fingerboard and tailpiece, Padouk for the bridge. I used polystyrene for the nut and the bridge saddle.

The strings are Martin M260 guitar strings.
Tuning is C3 G3 D4 A4, like a viola. Scale is 15". The top note is D6.

The whole instrument is finished in "Ruwa" yacht lacquer.

​

Here's a video of me playing. Please excuse any out of tune notes, I have only a few days experience playing mandola. (I never played one until I completed this one!)


And here are some photos:

 

[Mickey666]

That came out great!

 

[Videojunkie]

Really turned out well. Looks like a hoot to play.

 

[RichterScale]

Awesome

 

[/\/\3phist0]

This is my entry for the Non-Bass category of the Summer Build Off 2022. I have built a four string acoustic mandola. It is my first acoustic instrument.

The theme of the Build Off is super magic happy fun time, and that's certainly what I've had while building this! Here's a link to the Build Off:
Summer Build Off 2022 - Fun Time Free For All

------- SPECS -------​

- Body:
The body is made from birch. (Top, back and sides.) It has a tail block from beech. There is no sound post. The top has A-bracing, the back has parallel bracing.

- Neck:
Bigleaf Maple, with a Bloodwood fingerboard. No frets.
Scale 15", nut width 13/16".

- Strings and tuning:
Martin M260 guitar strings.
Bottom strings Bronze Wound.
Top strings Crystal Nylon.
Tuning C3 G3 D4 A4, like a viola.
The top note is D6.

- Hardware:
The tuners came from an old guitar. They were three to a side, so I cut one off on each side. To match their colour, I used copper coloured bolts for strap pins.
The tailpiece is Bloodwood, like the fingerboard, and a piece of shoestring! The bridge is Padouk with a polystyrene saddle. The nut is also polystyrene. There's a birch thumbrest.

- Finish:
The whole instrument is finished in "Ruwa" yacht lacquer.

-------VIDEO-------​

Here I am playing. Please excuse any out of tune notes, I have only a few days experience playing mandola. (I never played one until I completed this one!)

-------PHOTOS-------​

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Nicely executed!

 

[OldShark]

Wasn't aware that so small instruments are allowed to have "mwah", too. Congratulations!

 

[Flamingo21]

Here's an example of how the mandola can be used in classical music. The piece is "Betrachte, meine Seel" from the St. John's passion by J. S. Bach.

There are still some notes out of tune, but I'm gradually improving.

https://youtube.com/shorts/yT42SGDZXgM?feature=share

 

[Beej]

Cool