Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Here is another one of my mandolins recently finished. This one is a little different in that it is from traditional woods, i.e. Spruce and Maple. Radical for me since I have made so many from Aussie woods, and the Maple is stained (yikes!). The sound is good. It is loud and sustains and rings like a bell, excellent clarity, but not quite to my taste. Is a bit too bright for me, and I will probably not use this wood combination again. I prefer the Tassie Oak mandolin which has similar clarity but more warmth to the sound. Is proof that often the Aussie woods can beat the pants off the traditional woods.

Woods are
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Back, Sides and neck: Big Leaf Maple
Bindings: Ebony
Pickguard: EIR

You work is all class Peter.

Jeremy.

Both very slick Peter and I like the use of stain as well. I understand you are a busy bloke but would still like to put in a request for sound if you get the chance.

Jim

I aspire to build at your level Peter, superb!

Well I have an MP3 of this mandolin, and also the Tassie Oak mandolin, but looks like the file is too big to download to the forum. I need to download them and set up a link to my web page and that will have to wait until tomorrow. Too late now, is bed time.

Watch this space.

Both the mandos you've posted are very elegant Pete. Not too busy, with just enough feature elements to the design to look elegant and classy.

Just uploaded the sound clips. Just something I did in a hurry for a potential customer, so nothing fancy. Hope they work, Frontpage just crashed on me (gggrr).

The Tassie Oak mandolin - http://www.petercoombe.com/for_sale/Man ... le_131.mp3
The Maple mandolin - http://www.petercoombe.com/for_sale/Man ... le_132.mp3

Both the mandos you've posted are very elegant Pete. Not too busy, with just enough feature elements to the design to look elegant and classy.

Thanks, you got it. My approach has been to aim for elegant simplicity and concentrate mainly on the sound. I have never bothered to build those scrolly things that are just decoration and take enormous amounts of time to make and look peculiarly American to me, and don't improve the sound. Unfortunately on this forum (and most other Luthier type forums) we mostly talk about how beautiful is that piece of wood, or how beautiful is that guitar, or how to do something that is related to instrument making. But, sound is what sells music instruments. Sound has always been my passion and the best sounding mandolin I make is the next one. Has worked for me.

Peter

Very nice and very neat mandolin Pete, I was going through a batch of my half finished mandolins trying make up my mind if I should finish one or two, you have just inspired me to get into one. Thanks for that.