Dennis Russell - Posted - 02/03/2011:  11:27:17

Hello all, What type of materials would you use if you wanted to build inexspensive mandolins? I must get two or three persons a year who want just a simple mandolin to fool around on, I siggested just a small "A" model or one of stew mac kits "The campfire model", what do you all say. Two music stores here in town one sells mandolins when available, but they arent very good ones, one had a fingerboard comming loose wanted $275 for it I didnt say anything. But what does everyone think that a Campfire mandolin is worth when completed. I thought about getting one and then copying the design and demensiions from the plans to build a few more to sell....................Dennis in Az

mandoteacher - Posted - 02/03/2011:  12:33:20

Heck I would just buy one of those Savannah mandolins you see on Amazon.com for $50. I got one here...they are playable if nasty looking.

Mr Charlie - Posted - 02/04/2011:  04:49:42

Dennis I built one of the camp fire mandolins a few years ago and I just love to play it , I have a good mandolin that I like , But I have taken the camp fire to alot of jams and every one wants to play it, It has a real bark to it and really good good feel to it. I highly recoment them

Woodman - Posted - 02/04/2011:  06:29:16

Just got a Michael Kelley but I'm keeping my Rogue ($50 on Amazon) for a knockabout instrument. I bought it to see if I would really like playing mandolin. It took a little setup but I'm pleased with what I got for the money. Don't know how they compare to the Savannah.

Since I started woodworking for pay I've learned it's awful hard to make a decent wage on low end stuff. Never made one but can't imagine making any instrument for less than a few hundred $ worth of labor, regardless of materials.

mandoray - Posted - 02/04/2011:  09:09:20

On this topic, if building mandolins is something I wanted to explore, how would you recommend I get started? Additionally, what tools might I need initially?
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but while we are on the topic.

Ray

mrbook - Posted - 02/04/2011:  16:05:15

Try one of the Saga kits, available on eBay or from International Violin for about $100. A lot of the hard work is done, but still enough to do to make it your own. In 1981, being in a similar situation, I built one of the kits that Stwe-Mac sold at the time (A-model), and I still play it today. At that time you couldn't find any of the cheap mandolins available today, but you could spend almost as much time making one of those playable as building a kit - and you could end up with an instrument you are actually proud to own.

Edited by - mrbook on 02/04/2011 16:07:26

theonly1hardway - Posted - 02/04/2011:  16:23:12

I bought a Johnson on ebay a couple years ago it was alot cheaper than I could buy a kit....I think it was like $70.00 not the best but I have not had any problems with it and it plays well.
harrisonbanjos.com

Mr Charlie - Posted - 02/05/2011:  08:37:25

Here is a picture of my home built Camp Fire Mandolin that I built and would not sale it or trade it fore a dozen of the cheap ones on e-bay as it is solid and has a good tone to it. It would be hard to build these to try and make money on them unless some one had both of the two to compare in their hands to see for them selves. It takes to much time to build them for less than $500. But if you want to build for yourself, I would highly recomend them.

Camp Fire Mandolin

Fstpicker - Posted - 02/05/2011:  15:19:17

Nice looking campfire mandolin, Mr. Charlie!! How does it sound to your ears?

Jeff

mandovoodoo - Posted - 02/05/2011:  17:46:36

So much depends on one's woodworking skills. An Army/Navy type looks pretty trivial to me as far as construction. But it likely would be a good deal to take on from scratch for some people. Can really get a lot out of a flat top / flat back with care and they're easy. Don't need fancy wood. The rim isn't hard to build over a mold. Probably bend cold with care, soaking, and some fabric softner.

Have fun.

banjodad - Posted - 02/06/2011:  03:14:10

I am going to try to build an F style when I get the guts but I had to have the Siminoff book for sure. It is a great wealth of information.

yancypup - Posted - 03/12/2011:  16:55:29

I would start with the cheapest thing I could get my hands on if you're like me. I am building a dulcimer now. I had a slight difference in height where the top and bottom plates mated so I thought I would take a plane after it. Did I mention I can't see too well and the pieces were crotch cut? Well, I've taken some serious divots out of the top and bottom plates. It is taking forever to sand these out with 60 grit. If I had spent more than $30 for the wood, I would have been heartbroken. As it is, it is a learning experience. BTW, it will work out because the plates were too thick to begin with and they are hard maple so sanding ruts into the sapwood isn't so much of a problem. I am a dangerous idiot with hand tools. Wood runs from me!

Dennis Russell - Posted - 03/13/2011:  08:26:58

I guess I answered my own question, I was ust feeling around to see what everyones opinion is, mabey come up with new ideas., My wood working skills are very good unfortunately I always get in a hurry and skip over important details and it ends up as a disaster or not quite right. it takes time and patience to build any type of a musical instrument. I see from a catolog that I have a person can purchase a few of instrument made out of Cardboard as a beginners instrument, I think it was a dulcimer. My first instrument I built was from scratch, plans were the Roger siminof bluegrass mandolin, that was 17 years ago. the instrument isnt pretty looking but it plays OK, I wont sell it or give it away because it is my first. the wood is not from traditional woods, I used a cheap grade coniferous type of wood for the sound plate and the maple came from a old maple chair that I cut up on my table saw, the neck is laminated pieces of maple and the peg head veneer is ebonized walnut and many other things I grabbed a hold of to complete the project. I think I made the F5 model for a total cost of less than $200 back then, I didnt use hide glue I used tightbond and epoxy and super glue used lacquer for a finish, thinking about redoing it if I dont ruin it in the process..........Dennis in Az

FXHERE - Posted - 04/27/2011:  18:24:09

I just finished one like Mr Dennis built..It is walnut with a cedar top...I bought an old flatiiron with the top busted off ebay and took it apart and got my pattern..It surprised me how good it sounds....No bluegrass monster but sweet and fun to pick on and fun to build..I used a bolt on neck like the flatiron as I also use this style on the guitars I make..

Jim Baker - Posted - 05/14/2011:  10:04:09

I love my stewmac campfire kit. It was easy to build and plays and sounds great.

DaddyJ - Posted - 05/14/2011:  18:11:19

I'm thinking about getting one of the International Violin kits.  Heard good things about them and they're cheap.

cryo - Posted - 06/08/2011:  21:09:32

If anyone is interested, I thought It would be useful to start a group for those of us with an interest in inexpensive mandolins. Please join if you find it appropriate. Any suggestions for a group logo would be appreciated.