Flat top mandolin in Engelmann Spruce and Otway Blackwood

[Bob_H]

I have just completed a flat top mandolin in Engelmann Spruce and Otway Blackwood. It has a mahogany neck and Macassar ebony fingerboard, with a mortise and tenon attachment joint. Coolabah burl headstock veneer and ebony binding. I used a wipe on Osmo Poly X Gloss finish.

I have had a crack at implementing the bracing approach described by Australian luthier Peter Coombe in a series of posts in Mandolin Cafe forum, involving lightweight fan bracing and carbon fibre reinforcement (see https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/thre ... er-bracing). I am very happy with the outcome - it yields a cleaner, cleaner tone than I have been able to achieve in previous builds, while maintaining volume and sustain. I look forward to seeing how it develops over time.

[Mark McLean]

That is a real looker Bob! And if you are happy with the sound too then you have the whole package.
What do you think of the Osmo hard wax oil? I am really partial to it, but my experience so far is limited.

[Bob_H]

Thanks Mark. I'm pretty happy with the Osmo - there is a bit more technique to the application than I first thought, but after a couple of builds I'm starting to get the result I wanted. The soundboards are a bit less forgiving than the hardwoods, and I find getting an even result more challenging. But it is fast, low tech, doesn't require protective equipment so worth working at.