Winter Buildoff thread : 4 string Mandolin Shaped Object

[Dark Horse]

I’ve been wanting to pursue building a mandolin shaped object for a while, ever since I saw the one my friend Rick (Moonshine Custom Guitars) built. I guess this is as good a time as any to make that happen.

Hopefully I can build and complete this….

Here’s my woodpile. This could change, but will likely be …

Mahogany neck and body
Redwood top
Bolivian Rosewood
Wenge, bocote, ebony, walnut, or similar bridge ?

Not sure on the rest. Probably hipshot tuners, some sort of SCPB pickup, CTS pots, short scale, etc blah blah blah


I’ve sketched up a few different body shapes, and am choosing between these two….

A)

B)

Headstock will probably be a modified version of a F Style mando headstock …

I have a few ideas to possibly take it out of a “standard” build, but still deciding whether or not to pursue those ideas.

Anyway, that’s the idea….

Hopefully I can make it happen.

 

[Crawforde]

Are you thinking Hollow, Semi hollow or solid body?

 

[13ghosts]

Nice woodpile, looking forward to it! I wish you every strength, so that we will see many more builds from you after this one!

 

[Dark Horse]

Are you thinking Hollow, Semi hollow or solid body?

Leaning toward a chambered build to help with balance

 

[Dark Horse]

Nice woodpile, looking forward to it! I wish you every strength, so that we will see many more builds from you after this one!

Thanks

 

[Flamingo21]

I have a few ideas to possibly take it out of a “standard” build, but still deciding whether or not to pursue those ideas.

Inquiring minds would like to learn about those ideas.

 

[AK4570]

Inquiring minds would like to learn about those ideas.

Indeed they "wood!"

 

[burgerdj]

I’ll get the popcorn…this ones gonna be good!

 

[Water buffalo]

This makes me so happy Brother!

 

[Dark Horse]

Thanks

Inquiring minds would like to learn about those ideas.

A few ideas for possible bridge construction, as well as taking some ideas from Turner guitars and Dan Armstrongs as far as rotating/sliding pickup. Still deciding….

 

[Pauly 4001]

Double course in octaves?
Contoured chambered body?
I’m in.

 

[Dark Horse]

Well, my plan was to start making templates today, but my body isn’t cooperating… so it’ll have to be another day.

This is likely to be a slow moving thread, at best. Sorry.

 

[Flamingo21]

 

[Dark Horse]

Trying to come up with alternate (easier) build plans in case my health doesn’t allow a lot of shop time. I have scans on Thursday to see if we can find out the status of my tumors…I’ve been getting more pain in my ribs lately to go along with the pain the tumors in my spine cause. Hopefully we can find out what’s happening and fix it…more chemo or radiation or whatever. Honestly, just want to relieve the pain levels at least to a more manageable amount. Being in pain 24 hours a day for approaching two years sucks. Anyway, things ebb and flow, and hopefully the scans will show us how to proceed.

Thinking a simplified version - slab body, front/back binding, neck binding, single SCPB or similar pickup would also be really cool…just maybe not quite as cool as a carved top semi hollow with a moveable pickup.

Anyway, just having backup plans for my backup plans. In the meantime I drew up a better version of the body outline and started sketching the headstock shape. These are just sketches, will clean up the lines and such before making templates . On these sketches, I also think the headstock will need to be physically larger to visually balance the body.

 

[Water buffalo]

Trying to come up with alternate (easier) build plans in case my health doesn’t allow a lot of shop time. I have scans on Thursday to see if we can find out the status of my tumors…I’ve been getting more pain in my ribs lately to go along with the pain the tumors in my spine cause. Hopefully we can find out what’s happening and fix it…more chemo or radiation or whatever. Honestly, just want to relieve the pain levels at least to a more manageable amount. Being in pain 24 hours a day for approaching two years sucks. Anyway, things ebb and flow, and hopefully the scans will show us how to proceed.

Thinking a simplified version - slab body, front/back binding, neck binding, single SCPB or similar pickup would also be really cool…just maybe not quite as cool as a carved top semi hollow with a moveable pickup.

Anyway, just having backup plans for my backup plans. In the meantime I drew up a better version of the body outline and started sketching the headstock shape. These are just sketches, will clean up the lines and such before making templates . On these sketches, I also think the headstock will need to be physically larger to visually balance the body.

View attachment 7410757

Still very cool Brother!

 

[postalflunkie]

I've seen some really cool F bodied bass guitars. I've thought about how cool an 8 string piccolo (strings doubled, not octaves) would be.
I'm watching this build closely for many good reasons