Totnes School of Guitar Making, South Devon, England, UK Totnes School of Guitar Making, South Devon, England, UK Totnes School of Guitar Making, South Devon, England, UK
Guitar making course, Totnes, Devon

Course photos: May 2012

Instrument details: Fried van Doorslaer - Arch top mandolin

Construction

Fried starts by planing the wedges that will become the front and back.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

The halves are then glued with hide glue.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

The front is carved to shape, starting with the edges and overall thickness.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

The final shape is obtained using small planes and scrapers.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

The inside is then carved out.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

The shape of the inside of the front is transferred onto the braces for the initial fitting.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

Care must be taken that the weight of the cramps do not distort the front when gluing the braces.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

Fried now moves onto the neck and fits the truss rod, covered by a maple fillet.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

Bending the sides.

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Construction

Shaping the neck.

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Construction

The neck, front and sides are assembled.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Construction

Fried checks his partially assembled mandolin.

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Construction

Routing for corner bindings.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Finishing

The trial stringing. Picture of the finished instrument to follow...

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Course photos: May 2012

Totnes School of Guitarmaking  Collins Road, Totnes, Devon, England, TQ9 5PJ  Phone: +44 (0)1803 865255
E-mail: info@totnesschoolofguitarmaking.co.uk   Facebook: