it looks the right shape!!



neck block.....



tail block.....



and a start on the linings...

the zouks are under way!!

today was a parent interview day in school so I had gaps between interviews to get a lot of little jobs done.

2 tops & backs joined:

plane the mating edges parallel on a shooting board...



tent & tape...



glue



flatten it out, wipe off the squeeze out



then tape the other side



two tops...



two backs



the sides were planed done to 2.5 mm, I made a set of body moulds from some blockboard using the template I made last week with the data projector.....

and I got two sides bent.



these can stay overnight to cool, dry out and get used to thier new shape.

I cant bend the other sides until this box is closed up and the mould is available again.......

I'm heartbroken.

not for me, but for Lee who commissioned Mando #42

he's just heard from his doctor that due to problems with his elbows he MUST stop playing strummed instruments, so he has to clear out his guitars, and he's asked to withdraw from the deal on buying this mando.

I don't care on a financial level as I'll easily be able to shift it as it's a good looking instrument, but I really feel for him as he worked through this build with me, checking details, making suggestions, and going loopy with praise every time I posted pics on the blog.

He LOVED this thing, even though he hasn't laid a finger on it.

My prayers are with you Lee, I hope you get a good price for your gear, And I pray that the next time you visit the Doc he'll be amazed at your recovery and tell you you can buy all your gear back!!

God Bless you mate, I'd be gutted if I was told to clear out for medical reasons.....

Yay!!

the postman came with a BIG parcel......

never saw the guy trying to get it up my drive, but it weighed a TON!!!



inside, a few sets of EI Rosewood for bouzoukis.....



some spruce tops for same.......



some ebony and EI Rosewood fretboard blanks for fanned fret instruments down the line......



as well as some mahogany back & side sets and a heap of spruce bracing stock, some of which looks clear enough of knots to maybe be useful for a carved mando top..... time will tell!! (no pics of those as the camera ran out of batteries.......)

and NO, I WON'T be telling my lovely (and generally very understanding) wife how much this little lot cost!!

hopefully I'll get the backs & tops joined and the mould for the bouzoukis sorted next week when I'm back at work.

here we go again!!

#42 is now done.....

here's a sound sample











this'll be off in the post after the weekend.

and I'm off school for a week for half term. yay!! after the break it's all go an a pair of guitar bodied zouks, an all mahogany guitar made from a church pew, and I want to build one for myself. Fanned frets, sound port and maybe even an arm rest bevel......