cutaway guitar nearly done. strings on, a little fine tuning once the instrument settles under tension.

mando:

top and back glued to sides



edges trimmed



binding slot cut



walnut binding on

Work on the cutaway guitar.....

tuners in, frets levelled nut cut



bridge made and glued into place

some time spent with the OM today.

I'll leave it for a week or so under tension to settle then see about a final setup.

because the scale length is slightly shorter than a bouzouki would be I've tilted the neck back an extra couple of degrees to increase the break angle of the strings over the bridge. no where near the angle of a violin, but just a little more than regular to help drive the top. (shorter scale means less tension unless you go up a gauge of strings)

So what's a guy to do while he's waiting for the varnish on a guitar and an octave mandolin to dry?

I know!!

what about make another mando!!?

Mahogany back & sides, spruce top.

It's spray time!!

so, a load of sanding and ready for finish.....



the pics don't show it so well, but this top has a nice bit of bearclaw figure across it. subtle and pretty.....

More neck work.

fretboard radiused and stained black (ebony isn't uniformly black y'know.....



frets in and the neck body joint fine tuned a little.....



and similar to the OM. without the blackening. rosewood isn't black......



this is ready to glue in now, but I've run out. Hopefully I'll get some tomorrow!

A bit of neck work on the cutaway guitar..





and the OM....

bracing on the top





body closed



bound in walnut





and some neck work.









before long it will look like an instrument!!

#79 mahogany spruce Octave mandolin

sides bent, back braced and attached to sides.



top joined and rosette cut



and partially sanded.

so, I have a minor problem......

the two lefty mandos I'm just finishing off.....

the one with the bone saddle and the pickup, I KNOW where it's going, but I've lost the email addy for the person who said they were interested in the other one!! if by chance you read this and say "hey, that's mine!" drop me an email and claim it OK?

thanks!!

well the inspectors have moved on and while we aren't allowed to say how well we did until it's published in December..... well, no-one's geting sacked!! but then again, that tells you nothing as they can't sack you on the strength of a single inspection anyway........

As a result of the ETI visit and all the extra stress involved, luthier work has been limited.

the guitar has had the back braced and fitted to the body.



the top braced



and fitted





the two mandos both have strings on, and need a little setting up to finish them. the one with the bone saddle in the bridge still needs the pickup fitted.

sadly I WON'T have them done before the Half term break which starts at 1pm tomorrow, but they WILL (hopefully anyway) be done by the end of the week we get back.