[Complete] "Temple Mandolin No. 000". My debut project.

LittleBlue

Neck shaping begins: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg26.jpg Voila! Used hand files and sand paper to shape: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg38.jpg And the back. Machinehead holes beginning to be drilled. Also used ebony for a decorative neck heel plate: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg39.jpg

LittleBlue

Gluing the neck to body: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg44.jpg The neck glued onto body: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg45.jpg Truss rod placed in (not glued!!) and fretboard glued on too, and 12 fret fitted. Also, I love a zero fret!! http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg46.jpg

LittleBlue

Sanded down mando and applied finish. I use try-oil. Ridiculously easy to apply and looks great! not the strongest of finishes though. Dowell through the machine head hole and hung from a suitable place: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg47.jpg Finish dried and machine heads fitted. Schaller machine heads with ebony buttons. http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg48.jpg Bridge carving from ebony: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg49.jpg

LittleBlue

Bridge finished carving and polished up on buffing wheel. Made the truss rod cover out of a section of ebony from the fretboard scrap (following that same brown line figuring as the fretboard). Tailpiece fitted as well: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg50.jpg Close up of rosette and final bridge: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg51.jpg On display at the Merton College end of year show: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg52.jpg

LittleBlue

And finally fitted with a flamed sycamore arm rest. This is permanently fixed to the binding on the top. Any further onto the soundboard and it would have restricted the vibrations, damaging the overall tone: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg53.jpg And another view: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg54.jpg

LittleBlue

There we have it!! Happy to answer in questions on the building process etc. Enjoy!!

Deadman

Sweet Jesus my brain hurts! Astounding piece of craftsmanship. Ignore anyone here who tells you to relic it or add a bigsby

Andyjr1515

Lovely job. Astounding

LittleBlue

Thanks guys :-)

PVO_Dave

Wow, great job

failed_astronaut

Thats a beaut!

mart

Truly stunning. The bridge especially looks incredible!

LittleBlue

mart;385165" said:

Truly stunning. The bridge especially looks incredible!

The carving of the bridge was one of the most enjoyable parts. I love how ebony polishes up as well.

Jalapeno

Just lovely ! B-)

BigMonka

That's stunning handiwork, did you have experience building anything like that beforehand?

I also agree with the above that the bridge is gorgeous. Top marks!

LittleBlue

Thanks BM. This was the first time I'd built anything like this, since doing airfix models when I was young. It's actually given me more confidence to do simple things like putting up shelves and other stuff around the house. Funny really.

Evilmags

Bloody hell. That is really pretty.

Rocker

Deadman said:

Sweet Jesus my brain hurts! Astounding piece of craftsmanship. Ignore anyone here who tells you to relic it or add a bigsby

Says it all.  One of the posts of the year.  Congratulations my friend.  Enjoy your handiwork.

LittleBlue

Rocker;389189" said:

Deadman said:

Sweet Jesus my brain hurts! Astounding piece of craftsmanship. Ignore anyone here who tells you to relic it or add a bigsby







Says it all.  One of the posts of the year.  Congratulations my friend.  Enjoy your handiwork.

Merci beaucoup. I am enjoying it very much so, and it's getting played a lot.

LittleBlue

One picture I didn't show. I saw these machine heads and knew they had to go on this. A bIt close to the edge but good enough: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/parkerska/Temple Mandolin No 000/imagejpg1-1.jpg These are the Schaller Da Vincis in chrome with small ebony buttons. Love the glass window and their simple yet elegant look.