I'm still in business

Just a quick post to say that the octave mandola is still moving along, I simply haven't had time to write any updates (well, I was probably too lazy). I have added some binding to the top, and cut the 'groove' for the binding on the back. I have also made the fretboard, but I won't fit this until all the binding is finished. Finally I've been to Halfords and bought some stainless steel brake cable. I'm going to use this to attach the tailpiece, 'cello-style - I have no idea if this will work!

Time is ticking on now, and I really need to get started on the guitar in August, as it will be one year from my older son's 21st birthday, and he might end up with no present...

Sticking the lid on

It's really starting to look the part. I stuck in my label, gave the inside a coat of varnish and then glued the front on with extramite adhesive. The back and front overlap the sides, so the next job will be to trim these flush, prior to fitting some binding.

Lots of pegs

Here is the obligatory picture of a host of clothes pegs - in this case affixing the lining. After this the front goes on, so I will have to remember to stick in my maker's label. I also glued the back of the cittern today, with its stripe down the middle.

Cittern neck

This generated a great deal of sawdust, but it's looking quite good. The peghead is longer then the octave mandola to accommodate the ten tuning machines, and the neck is wider to give room for the five sets of strings. The fretboard is going to have a slight radius (30cm) to make this wider neck more comfortable. The strips in the fromt of the picture are the pine linings ready to be bent (these should do both instruments if I don't snap them during the heat bending).

Heel Cap

It was a bit fiddly, but I decided to fit a heel cap to the octave mandola as the walnut back wasn't quite big enough. I made this from some of the macassar ebony that I'm using for the fretboard and peghead veneer. I also fitted the truss rod to the cittern neck.

Starting to look like an instrument

I love this moment. I cut out the slots in the neck to accept the ribs and, for the first time I could see the shape and size that the instrument will have when its finished. After a few moments imagining the completed octave mandola, I glued it with araldite and left it to set.

I have also ordered the wood for the back of the cittern - once it arrives I'll have everything I need to finish both the Octave Mandola and the Cittern.

Two Necks

I've been busy over the Easter weekend and have made progress on the necks of the 'octave' and the cittern. I have made and fitted the ebony peghead veneer - the Macassar ebony is lovely to work with and the grain is more interesting that the plain black ebony. On the cittern neck (sycamore) I have put in the centre stripe of three layers of veneer and marked up to start fitting the trussrod. I have also been shopping and bought the tuners and fretwire from Stew Mac in the USA.

More Supplies

I finally decided to go with Macassar Ebony for the fretboard and peghead on the octave mandola, and I've bought a couple of bits on e-bay. I have also decided to try and make an ebony tailpiece, along the design of those used on violins and cellos.

neck and body

Things are starting to move on a bit now. I'm just about to glue the back on, and I've shaped the neck. I now need to order the wood for the fretboard and peg head (and maybe tailpiece). I was going to use Madagascar ebony, but I might try kingwood.

On with the neck

I'm just fitting the truss rod to my walnut neck, and I have had to cut a thread for the first time. It turned out to be pretty straightforward...

New Wood

Both instruments lurched forward a bit. The cittern belly got a set of braces (shown not quite finished here). When I have tidied up the two little braces I will be setting this one aside for a while.




I prepared the tailblock for the octave mandola from some of the alaskan spruce, and glued the walnut ribs to it. I am pretty happy with the joint. I also 'bent' a set of linings from some willow I had in stock (shown in the foreground of the photo). I will probably use these for the backs of both instruments, and make some spruce ones for the bellies. Or then again, I might use stick with just the willow.



Finally, I received a shipment of walnut from Paul at Goulden Hardwoods who was really helpful. I will be using one bit to make the neck of the Octave Mandola, and the other bits may well find there way into future mandolins...

Braces and Ribs

After the lads got beaten at football, I finished off the braces for the octave mandola. I then bent my walnut ribs and put them into the mould. The walnut bent quite easily, and looked really pretty when darkened in the water. The ribs were a little too long for the mould so had to do a bit of trimming and also take out one of the turn-buttons. I will leave the ribs to dry in the mould for a few days.

I have been looking around for some UK-based wood suppliers, especially with the dollare so strong, and I have a couple of leads. I'm trying out Yandles for some maple and sycamore (for the back braces), and contacting tonewood-suppliers to look for some fingerboards, back and neck wood.

Progress at last

I made good on my intention to get restarted on the instrument making, and over this weekend glued up the back of the octave mandola. The two bookmatched pieces are only just big enough and I have have no spare at all. There may be enough for the 'button', but this might have to be made from a separate piece of figured walnut.

I also glued the tone bars to the yellow cedar belly. I had forgotten how quickly the Titebond glue sets and had to scrape some half set adhesive off the bars when I made a hash of it the first time through. With the bars its better to use too much glue to start with and squeeze out the excess. It was much better on the second attempt.

Back to the lutherie

I'm happy to report that the cloakroom is now done (except for wiring in the shower which I will get a proper sparky to do) and I can back to making instruments. I have sharpened up my chisels, plane irons and cabinet scrapers and I'm ready to go. I have even tidied up my garage to celebrate the start of the new year.

I have done some of the calculations (string tension, nut spacing etc.) and set these out on two design sheets (one shown to the left). Next I need to make the octave mandola back from the e-bay walnut.

Cloakroom

Just so you know, this is the reason that I'm on my self-imposed luthiery ban. I still hope to have it finished by Christmas.

Grrrrrr

I'm currently 'fixing up' the cloakroom and so am a self-imposed ban from any proper luthiery - the tension is starting to build! So instead, I've been shopping with some birthday funds. I've bought a set of plans for a Gibson Les Paul, as a guide to building No. 1 son's 21st birthday present and a new set of nut files (all from the marvelous Stew-Mac). I also located a walnut back and sides set on e-bay, and it arrived in the post today. I like the contrasting colours, but it's going to be a tight squeeze for the octave size.

Gittern Plans

This is my current plan - drawn out on holiday:

Soundhole cut out

I've now cut out the soundhole and the outline of the belly. I've also added some reinforcement on the inside to protect the fragile edge of the soundhole. Next to fit the braces.

Commissions

My sister has asked me if I can make her a stringed instrument suitable for playing at a Tudor historical recreation. I have done a bit of research, and the lute looks the most appropriate. However, I'm not ready to do a 'ribbed' bowl back instrument yet, so I will suggest a Gittern. These appeared in the 14th century, and didn't disappear until the 17th or 18th, so she shouldn't get thrown out for having an anachronism! I have also been given an electric guitar (belonging to a friend of my elder son) to fix - a bit of electrics and possibly a new set of frets.

Purfling

I faced a bit of a challenge putting in the purfling which goes round the soundhole. I had been wondering for a while how to cut a neat oval channel. In the end I made a template out of some 1cm thick oak (from an old drawer side) and used this to guide a mini router. My practise attempt went well, but on the real thing the router bit slipped down while I was cutting and the channel was a bit too deep in one place. Still, no real harm done, and the fitted purfling looks quite good.

I will now cut out the soundhole itself (just inside the purfling, and re-inforce the inside with a strip of sycamore veneer.