Thistle Mandola - Other Instruments

RE: Thistle Mandola

tv1 — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:35:48 +0000

That’s impressive. Proper skills, and a proper instrument.

I’d not know where to start. Wow!

RE: Thistle Mandola

Russ — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:01:10 +0000

Superb @jmcmi93888.

🎶🙂🙏🎸

RE: Thistle Mandola

Boo — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 23:08:51 +0000

@jmcmi93888 That looks great man, excellent work. 👍

RE: Thistle Mandola

JohnMcM — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:04:16 +0000

Well. That is the end of this story. I used sanding sealer and cellulose aerosols to spray the instrument then 400 and 800 grit sandpaper for the elm which gave me a sort of satin finish. I was originally thinking of an oiled finish but this has given the effect with the hardness of the cellulose. I went to 1500, 2000 then 2500 grit for the headstock rosewood, followed by car rubbing compound then "T Cut" car polish and finally guitar wax for the final polish.

Setting up was laborious getting nut and bridge and fret heights to work. I should have sanded some relief into the neck which would have helped but may do this yet which will mean re-fretting. Hmmm!!

Anyway. Here are photos of the finished instrument. Maybe a video of the sound to follow.

7750 7751

RE: Thistle Mandola

Koendb — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 22:28:52 +0000

@jmcmi93888 lovely!

RE: Thistle Mandola

JohnMcM — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 22:14:02 +0000

Thanks for the comments guys. My philosophy is to imagine how they built instruments 100 years ago using mainly hand tools and an imagination. Also, I am only building one-off instruments as a personal challenge. If they turn out sounding good, that is all I can ask. Both of the "Thistle" guitars have developed great tone with playing. The octave mandolin, being elm, is simply an experiment. As I always say, "If it sounds rubbish, at least it will look good hanging on the wall".

RE: Thistle Mandola

Rocknroller912 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:41:53 +0000

Very nice work on the logo, it’s good to see work like that being done by hand and not using CNC. Also like the fretboard as it’s the way I started many years ago before it got fret templates and a fancy gadget.

RE: Thistle Mandola

Russ — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:44:21 +0000

I do like the look of that @jmcmi93888. 👍

🎸🙏🎶🙂

RE: Thistle Mandola

Robin — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:10:40 +0000

@jmcmi93888

And now.The headstock logo.

That's great work, I do like that. That's a skill that I'm going to have learn.

RE: Thistle Mandola

JohnMcM — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:13:21 +0000

And now.The headstock logo.

7626

My "Thistle" logo was adapted to suit the narrower head and transferred onto 1/64th plywood then taped onto the headstock. careful scribing with a scalpel then an angled cut left a clean outline for routing with a 2mm Dremel bit.

The pattern was then transferred to the Mother of pearl and cut, shaped and glued into the recesses.

7628

Another small step for man.