by all means, please try it out. i don't mind at all. can't imagine i'm the first one to stumble upon the idea... or maybe i am, who knows? please let us know how it goes!
i came across it after punching the bridge through the soundboard on one of my favorite 3 stringers. tried about six or twelve other things first and just couldn't get happy about any of them. there's likely to be something even better for this waiting to be discovered, so don't be afraid to experiment and experience!
Thank you so much. I think I have the perfect box to make this thing work. I'll be starting shortly. I hope you dont mind if I borrow your light switch idea.
the tension of 8 steel strings is high, and my first mandolin build suffered because of it. the photos of that build are under my album titled "elmer". all my experiments at bracing elmer internally deadened the sound i liked, so i chose to have a mandolin that sounded great, even if it didn't last...
that box didn't even make it a year before it sunk. fortunately, by then i had stumbled upon these switchplate covers. combined with a good solid wooden cigar box and a through-style neck, they seem to brace the soundboard adequately. crocbite mandolins built with this technique are holding up great with time. the metal plate does color the tone somewhat, but i really like it and my customers do too.
also, many of my mandolins live their lives in open g 'sawmill' tuning, so the tension is lessened slightly. this also allows them to be played similarly in style to the appalachian dulcimer, another great love of mine.
cheers, and best of luck with your first mandolin. they are more challenging to build, but hugely rewarding when you get it right!
I'm thinking about starting my first mando build but I'm worried about the tension all the strings put on the box. How much support do you have in this box? Do you have a pic of the inside?
Comments
by all means, please try it out. i don't mind at all. can't imagine i'm the first one to stumble upon the idea... or maybe i am, who knows? please let us know how it goes!
i came across it after punching the bridge through the soundboard on one of my favorite 3 stringers. tried about six or twelve other things first and just couldn't get happy about any of them. there's likely to be something even better for this waiting to be discovered, so don't be afraid to experiment and experience!
Mr. Croc,
Thank you so much. I think I have the perfect box to make this thing work. I'll be starting shortly. I hope you dont mind if I borrow your light switch idea.
cheers,
Adam
the guts : http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/photo-496?context=album&alb...
why yes, yes i do. i'll load that photo now.
the tension of 8 steel strings is high, and my first mandolin build suffered because of it. the photos of that build are under my album titled "elmer". all my experiments at bracing elmer internally deadened the sound i liked, so i chose to have a mandolin that sounded great, even if it didn't last...
that box didn't even make it a year before it sunk. fortunately, by then i had stumbled upon these switchplate covers. combined with a good solid wooden cigar box and a through-style neck, they seem to brace the soundboard adequately. crocbite mandolins built with this technique are holding up great with time. the metal plate does color the tone somewhat, but i really like it and my customers do too.
also, many of my mandolins live their lives in open g 'sawmill' tuning, so the tension is lessened slightly. this also allows them to be played similarly in style to the appalachian dulcimer, another great love of mine.
cheers, and best of luck with your first mandolin. they are more challenging to build, but hugely rewarding when you get it right!
Love it!
I'm thinking about starting my first mando build but I'm worried about the tension all the strings put on the box. How much support do you have in this box? Do you have a pic of the inside?
Sweet, clean and neat!