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Restoring a Super Orpheum No. 1 Banjo
This Rettberg & Lange Super Orpheum No. 1 tenor banjo found its way to my shop in rough shape after well over 100 years of making music. Man…
4 min read
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Graduates of the class of 2026
Graduates of the Class of 2026 I delivered the first 2 mandolins of my 2026 build to their owners last weekend. It’s been a longer road than planned,…
4 min read
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Headed for the finish line
The first mandolins of my 2026 batch are finally ready for finishing! They were strung up and their owners played them “in the white,” after which I made…
4 min read
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They look like guitars!
Last week my guitar building students completed their 12th class. Everyone now has a completed and closed guitar body and they’re working hard at finishing and fitting the…
4 min read
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The figured faces of maple
In my current mandolin build, I’m using 4 different species of “figured” maple. Each one has its own character, but all are so beautiful, they’re a thrill to…
4 min read
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They Have a voice!
This week I strung up the first two mandolins of my current batch “in the white” (with no binding or finish). I’m using a new source of Sitka…
4 min read
What’s On My Bench
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