Blackwood Mandolin

[Bob Connor]

Finished this one today.

All Blackwood acoustic mando with a K & K pickup - no soundhole.

However it's almost as loud as my Ray Black F-model.

And yes it is left handed.

[MBP]

How do you get to the pickup?

Looks good.

[Bob Connor]

How do you get to the pickup?

You don't.

[Nick]

How do you get to the pickup?

Chainsaw.


Mmmmmmm Lovely Blackwood Nice clean,simple, elegant lines Bob & all well executed as usual.
How do you reckon it would go with polished brass tailpiece?

[Bob Connor]

It'd look heaps better with a Brass tailpiece Nick but all I had was the el cheapo one that I installed.

This was for a mate and he was desperate to get his mits on it so I threw on that tailpiece that I had floating around the workshop.

I may replace it at a later date. I only put it together yesterday so I gave it to him and told him to bring it back in a month or so when everything has settled in for a final going over.

[Ron Wisdom]

That's beautiful, Bob!! I love blackwood. Is the binding maple?

Ron

[Allen]

Very nice Bob. I'm guessing the binding is Cheese wood. At least it looks it from here.

Flat top and back? What sort of bracing for such a beast?

[ozziebluesman]

Great little instrument there Bob.

Very tasty indeed.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers

Alan

[Clancy]

Flat top and back? What sort of bracing for such a beast?

And such a looong bridge?

Very cool looking package Bob!

[Kim Strode]

Great looking Mandolin Bob, I'm always impressed at the look of your finished instruments - always stylish.

[Bob Connor]

Thanks guys.

I cheated on the binding and used ivoroid

Allen the bracing is just an X-brace 12mm x 6mm. Top and back are both flat.

This is the second such beast I've built. I did a prototype with an Engelmann top but it fed back on stage at reasonable volumes so this one has the Blackwood to try and get more volume before feedback.

The back of it has a 2" x 1/2" lump of Blackwood glued down the centre to take the back out of play so this is purely for stage use.

You may remember that I started a guitar for the same reason. Again I didn't like the Spruce top on it so I routed it off and it's waiting to get a Blackwood top as well.

I sort of like the look of the long bridge Craig. It's a bit like the bridges on the Macceferi. Because the acoustic properties of this instrument aren't my main consideration I felt i could afford to stretch things a bit

Regards

[charangohabsburg]

Great looking mandolin, Bob! Who would cut a hole in such nice timber!