I know I’m a procrastinator but this was ridiculous! I started this in the winter of 2004 and finally got around to finishing it this year. Other projects and priorities always seemed to get in the way. The mandolin is a classic F5 shape made famous by Lloyd Loar and Gibson. Hats off to the people who make these for a living because it requires some serious skills. Mine looks better the further away you stand, but I’m really pleased with the sound. The top is Englemann spruce and the rest is hard maple with an ebony fingerboard and peghead laminate. The inlays are mother of pearl. The finish is French polished with shellac.
I based my design on Roger H. Siminoff’s book: Constructing a Bluegrass Mandolin.