This is a prototype of a mandolin model I have been working on for a couple of years. I have always loved the Gibson f5 master model mandolin. It has ingenious design features which make it by far the loudest and most refined of the flat backed mandolin designs. You can read about these features on my mandolin pages.
This model has all the internal structural features and dimensions which give it the performance characteristics of an F5. The old F5 with its scroll, points and head shape is very elegant, but is a late 1800s art-nouveau design which adds enormous time to the building process. My new S model owes more of its external shape to the guitar designs of the 1940s and 50s.
- I have deliberately avoided points on this mandolin. The F5 was probably very well cared for in the hands of concert performers like Lloyd Loar (its designer) and other orchestra soloists. In the rough and tumble of bluegrass, blues and other folk styles, the points are too vulnerable to bumps and knocks. The rounded horn, cutaway and head shape is much more forgiving.
- It requires great care in bending the ribs to this tight horn and cutaway and fitting them to the internal block, but the result gives me a great sounding instrument which is simpler to finish and can be made with wooden binding (always better) and non-shaded finishes.
|
