Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Just strung up this morning, a classical mandolin, for want of a better term. 13" scale, with a body inspired by a carved top Italian mandolin I found a photo of years ago. The soundboard is Sitka, carved to an arching height of 1/2", graduated a little thinner than normal and X braced. The body is Tulip Satinwood, an Australian sub-tropical rainforest tree which is a marvellous tonewood and almost unobtainable. The neck is Queensland maple with a rosewood fingerboard and tortoise celluloid binding. Rubner tuners with the posts cut down to fit. Strung lightly with J62 10-34.

That's a great looking instrument Graham. Love the headstock.

That looks so good. Very Classical!!

Graham that looks great.

I keep looking through your books and trying to decide if the next one will a mandolin but get seduced into another guitar!

Is this one a commission?

Cheers Dave

Very clean looking instrument! Nice balance (in my inexperience eyes) between traditional and modern

Hi Graham,

Very nice!

Is Satin Tulipwood Rhodosphaera rhodanthema? Also known as deep yellowwood? I planted a deep yellowwood tree near my house about 18 years ago, it's about 8-10 metres high now, maybe 300mm diameter at breast height, maybe 4 metres clear from ground to the first branch. In another 15 years it could be harvested and make lots of wonderful mandolin backs for someone!

Thanks,
GregL.

Rhodosphaera rhodanthema is the tree, didn't know it was called deep yellowwood. Thank you for that info. Could you take a photo of your tree and post it. I have no idea what the tree might look like! If I am still building in 15 years, keep me in mind if you cut it down It really is a very good tonewood, but essentially unobtainable in any quantity.

Cheers

Hi Graham,

There are quite a few pics on the 'net, and here ('Atlas of Living Australia' https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https:// ... ni/2894812) says "Common names include deep yellowwood, yellow cedar and tulip satinwood."
My tree is not easily photographed, but I took a pic of the trunk (centre of image) showing where the first branches are (20 litre plastic petrol jerry can for scale) - the trunk on the left is an Australian Red Cedar I planted at the same time! Thanks,
GregL.

I love that headstock

It looks beautiful!!