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100+ Year-Old Mandolin Restoration
This Oscar Schmidt mandolin, built in the late 19th or early 20th century, came to me several months ago in virtually unplayable condition. Years of string tension had…
4 min read
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Combining Tradition and Modern Technology
I’ve completed the first significant step in my 2025 mandolin build! Rough construction of a mandolin neck involves 12 distinct steps including cutting and squaring the main shaft,…
4 min read
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2025 Mandolin build!
This month, I started building a batch of archtop mandolins to be completed by winter, 2025. They’ll feature Loar-inspired arching and graduations for that punchy tone that cuts…
4 min read
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Guitar Bracing Experiment: Final Conclusions!
My experiment with two guitar bracing systems has come to an interesting conclusion. Both guitars have great volume and projection, and a strong bass tone. The Martin-style scalloped…
4 min read
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A Water Uke
This tenor ukulele is instrument #3 in a series I’ve made from Mninga (Pterocarpus angolensis) reclaimed from old furniture in Tanzania. The customer, a for a water walker…
4 min read
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They have a voice!
I’ve been building two guitars with similar design, but different bracing. Once an instrument is structurally complete (but not varnished) I like to string them up to get…
4 min read
What’s On My Bench
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