A flight of whimsy

[sebastiaan56]

Check out these mandos http://www.mandolinluthier.com/Garchbacks.htm and this guitar http://mimf.com/cgi-bin/WebX?50@230.fJ7 ... 2cb69f75/0

Now i reckon these are way, way, outer space cool. The problem i see is that by joining these various timbers you set up an avalanche of pushes, pulls and stresses as the RH changes and the timbers shift. Obviously it cant be too bad or else no one would attempt it.

How would you do it? Im thinking of adding black fibre between the panels to absorb the movement?

[Paul B]

Why would you make that guitar? I don't get it. It must have a lot of braces to stop that top from imploding. I don't get it, when you can buy a nice spruce top for so little...

But, it's Friday morning and I haven't had my coffee yet.

[sebastiaan56]

Paul,

I only meant the back, I think the guitar on the MIMF is a whimsy,

[Paul B]

fair enough, it's not for me to question other builders choices.

I gotta go find some coffee......

[Nick]

I think the guitar on the MIMF is a whimsy,

***SMART ARSE ALERT***

Looks more like a D*ead Nought to me

***Relax Folks, Alert Over***

Looks kinda cool and must've taken a long time to join all those sections well, but yeah, don't know if I'd want to own it, the thing must move inches in differing climates

[DarwinStrings]

When it comes to the mandolins Sebastiaan it does say 'marquetry-backed' which suggests laying up veneers on a substrate. If you wanted to do at as the guitar has been done then to increase you chance of success over the long term you would be best to choose woods that are rated as very stable and make sure they are well quarter sawn. The mandolins with the sunray type pattern stand a better chance than the geometric flower type patterns as mitres are notorious for coming apart over time. Does look like fun though, good luck.

Jim

[graham mcdonald]

I have seen quite a few of those marquetry back mandos over the years. They are still being made, mostly in what was East Germany. There is an area over near the Czech border around Markneukirken which has lots of instrument builders, both individual and factories.

The sunray type wouldn't be too hard to do (easier than a bowl back mandolin I would think), the star pattern type ones would be harder. I think (from not very accurate memory) that they are done over a maple base but I may be wrong. In any case, most of the ones I have seen have tended to be coming apart at the seams in one way or another. They are not the highest of quality mandolins.

The timbers used are fairly close in weight and the pieces used are quite small, so I don't think there would be too much movement with humidity change. It is just that are not very well put together in the first place, at least the factory ones.

The guitar is just silly

cheers

[sebastiaan56]

Thx guys,

Im thinking that veneers over something stable is the way to go, Ive had this Mondrian type schema in my head for a while.

[James Mc]

I watched a classical with a fancy back being built when I was in Sevilla. They used acoustic veneer (thin maple veneer with a thicker veneer of spruce glued with the grain at 90 deg) the fancy work on the outside of the back was veneer of almond wood, spanish cedar and ebony. Ebony octagon in the center with alternate light and dark wood radiating out from it with thin ebony inserts between. It would have been near 4mm thick when finished. It was fantastic to watch and the speed these guys got things done using hide glue was amazing.

[Allen]

With the guitar he says that they are all edge glued. No substrate. I personally don't see the point, other than just saying that it can be done. I'd be stunned if it held together for more than a year, and while I appreciate that everyones tastes vary, I'll let it go at "I'm not very fond of the look".

The Mandolins don't blow my fur back at all either, but at least there is some artistic flair in some of the designs.