'The Mango Tree'

[JJ model]

Here's some shots taken before spraying the finishing of a special build for the coming Healdsburg Guitar Festival.......
looks like quite a number of luthiers will be displaying their 'tree' at the show, should be interesting.
enjoy!

[Lutherie Gervais]

I'm looking forward to see you there !

[Mark McLean]

Wow, Jeffrey, I'm speechless. It looks like you could have painted it on - it is amazing to think that it is the natural colour of the timber. The inlay complememts it perfectly. You have gotta show us some more pictures of it under finish when it is done. The half-slotted, half-solid headstock looks cool too.
cheers
Mark

[Nick]

Stunning build Jeff, your guitars could never be accused of lacking elegance or aesthetic appeal.
Are the dark lines a laminated neck or had you inlaid them also? I couldn't see them continuing down the heel, but that just maybe camera angle.

[Allen]

Just dead sexy.....

[DarwinStrings]

I have recently taken to looking through the AGF and saw your tree there Jeffrey. Looks like there will be some beautiful looking guitars heading for that festival and yours is certainly one of them.

THIS ONE from Indian Hill Guitars certainly had my attention, mmmmm blonde.

Jim

[curly]

That is the art of the craft .
Following through a concept build without looking like a gimmick is a difficult thing . Your instrument combines so many elements and harmonises them . I like .
Pete

[ozwood]

Jeff,

You take Lutherie to a Higher art form , beautiful stuff mate , can't wait to see it with a Finish on it .


Congratulations .

Cheers,

[inoz]

Very nice Jeff, I can picture it in my mind finished and hanging out the back of your shop, and then after Heraldsburg in a glass case withthe rest of the special ones.

[demonx]

Amazing. Simply stunning.

Outstanding guitar. I really hope you post finished pics of this once its cleared and strung up.

[JJ model]

started the finishing journey....... looking more like ' mango' now

[nnickusa]

Hmm, well, I too am building with mango at the moment, but not in a similar vein to your work.

Beautiful. I'll be happy, as always, if the bloody thing doesn't collapse into a small black hole when I stick some strings on it.

I have a question about mango for you, if you don't mind? The stuff I'm using feels sort of waxy, even to the point that tape won't stick to it unless there is a coat or two shellac on it. Is this normal, in your experience?

[inoz]

Beautiful Jeff, I love the back.

[P Bill]

You have set the art meets craft bar very high.

[JJ model]

Thanks Folks! Thanks to the Creator and nature has got plenty of surprises !
I hope guitar making is not boxed and confined to a certain traditions and myth. I have tried and will try anything as long as it can make a good sounding geetar!.

Nick, where did you get your mango wood? from Indonesia? those guys there soak all the wood in diesel , a cheap way of treating wood and the smell is horrible and the dust is oily.

[nnickusa]

Jeffrey,

I bought it off someone on the forum here. It has no smell(except like wood) it just seems to be a bit waxy, but has been well sanded, and once I saw that tape didn't like to stick I fresh scraped each piece before glue up and shellaced before taping up the bindings. I just wondered if all mango was like this, or it's this piece?

It's solid as a rock, and will be bound this weekend, and set the neck next week. Getting close to finishing myself...

Thanks for the reply

[JJ model]

Hi Nick,
My mango wood doesn't gives me any problem. I bought some from a vendor from Indonesia and its smelly and oily to the core. Someone bought a piece of land and there was a mango tree ( 180 years ) 3 generations , and he bulldozered everything to the ground and i was fortunate to savage half of the tree. The grains are beautiful! Have been letting it to rot for while to get more 'wow' looking design.
Mango is not very hard wood and of course they are many variant, some are sweet, some sour and some poisonous !
The sap from the fruit can make your mouth blister and swell.......

well, today I'm done with my last spray and letting to dry until next week and hopefully can enjoy the 1st fruit of ' The Mango Tree'.

[Nick]

Is that Mylar (or similar product) you are masking the bridge area with Jeff?

[Dave]

Stunning guitar Jeff

I bet it will go down a storm when you take it to the show

I love your builds and your work is such quality

All the best
Dave

[JJ model]

Thanks Folks!
Nick, I just cut out a circle from some promotional materials ( plenty of free paper! ) and using masking tapes to cover up the hole.

[JJ model]

Here you go, the mango is ready ( for Healdsburg Guitar Festival )....

[Kamusur]

Wow cop that, you'll smack them in the gob with this one Jeff.

Steve

[ozwood]

Thanks for sharing Jeff,

That's gotta be a winner

Beautiful and Unique .......Love your work.

Cheers,

[DarwinStrings]

A few slices, a touch of soy and there you have it Jeffrey. My first mango season in Darwin was a treat, I tried every different mango I could reach on a tree. From small yellow lemon scented ones (yum) to long red namdocs and then I found one that truly surprised me, never would I have believed that such a gorgeous fruit could have a variety that tasted so foul, I would rather sniff durian than go near one of that variety again.

Jim

[JJ model]

Jim, you forgot to add a few slices of those tiny red chillies