Mandolins
I have built five A style archtop mandolins and five guitar-bodied octave mandolins so far. The first A style was in 2009 and was my first experience with building an archtop instrument. I built the second after the first sold in 2013. Then in 2016 I built my first cherry mandolin. I currently am out of mandolins but hope to build more soon.
The first octave mandolin was a custom order but I was pleasantly surprised by how resonant it sounded. I’ve built a few more but all are sold. I hope to make another one or more in 2023.
Octave mandolin #5, cherry-sold
This instrument design was originally an experiment. I worked it out in consultation with the person who placed the custom order for it, and he provided a plan for a ca. 1937 Gibson L-00 (Guild of American Luthiers plan #55) from which the soundbox design is taken. The only change I made to the soundbox … Continue reading Octave mandolin #5, cherry-sold
Octave mandolin #3, cherry-sold
This instrument design was originally an experiment. I worked it out in consultation with the person who placed the custom order for it, and he provided a plan for a ca. 1937 Gibson L-00 (Guild of American Luthiers plan #55) from which the soundbox design is taken. The only change I made to the soundbox … Continue reading Octave mandolin #3, cherry-sold
Octave mandolin #2, walnut-sold
This instrument design was originally an experiment. I worked it out in consultation with the person who placed the custom order for it, and he provided a plan for a ca. 1937 Gibson L-00 (Guild of American Luthiers plan #55) from which the soundbox design is taken. The only change I made to the soundbox … Continue reading Octave mandolin #2, walnut-sold
Mandolin #5, cherry A style-sold
This mandolin was built from August to October 2019. It’s made from the same pattern as the other four I’ve made, in the Ultimate Bluegrass Mandolin Construction Manual by Roger Siminoff. I made the F5 design in the book into an A5 by omitting the scrolls and points. The top and tone bars are Engelmann … Continue reading Mandolin #5, cherry A style-sold
Mandolin #3, cherry and spruce-sold
This mandolin was built in December 2016. It’s made from the same pattern as the other two I’ve made, in the Ultimate Bluegrass Mandolin Construction Manual by Roger Siminoff. I made the F5 design in the book into an A5 by omitting the scrolls and points. The top is Engelmann spruce with a natural stain … Continue reading Mandolin #3, cherry and spruce-sold
Mandolin #2, A-style cherry-sold
This is the second mandolin that I have built. I followed the instructions in The Ultimate Bluegrass Mandolin Construction Manual by Roger Siminoff except that I made an A-style instead of the F-style he demonstrates. The soundboard and bars are Englemann spruce and and rest of the instrument is made from black cherry except for the … Continue reading Mandolin #2, A-style cherry-sold
Mandolin #1, curly maple-sold
This is my first mandolin, completed in 2009. It was built to the same design as the cherry #2 mandolin but from curly maple and western red cedar.
Zach Hoyt Banjos Etc. 