Today I strung up my latest large bodied octave mandolin, with German spruce top and cocobolo back and sides. It is constructed with my modified neck joint. This can be identified by the fingerboard continuing almost to the sound-hole rather than finishing a centimetre or so back.

I have also changed the body shape just a little. The curve leading towards the tail is gentler and the line leading up to the neck is a little more curved. The body is now a little less pear shaped and a little more apple shaped than before.

Cutaway Model 1

Here are Model 1 cutaway sides in the mould. The little knot visible on the left is not a problem as long as it occurs on a straight rather than on a curve. The sides have to be marked out bearing this in mind.

Left handed Parlour guitar

Here it is strung and ready to go. Pictures of the front are reversed to show a right-handed guitar (and left-handed case!). The green tint is visible only in natural light and sometimes photography flash light, and is a reaction between Brazilian rosewood and the melamine lacquer.

Adirondack Spruce

Many of the the famous classic US steel string guitars were built with Adirondack spruce soundboards. As it became harder to source, most guitar factories replaced it with the cheaper and readily available Sitka.

Adirondack is stiffer than both Sitka and European spruce and could suit my designs well. Although relatively expensive and difficult to find in suitable widths, it is still available and I’m building an experimental guitar with and Adirondack spruce soundboard.

This guitar will have old Brazilian rosewood back and sides, and a figured Honduras mahogany neck. Because I feel the greater soundboard area will suit the stiffer spruce, I’m building it in my Martin Simpson signature model mould. It be fitted with rosewood binding and birdsfoot and colours trim. Here are the back and sides, first ready to be glued together, and then glued and clamped, and finally fully lined ready for the soundboard

Parlour guitar

This is now lacquered. It’s waiting for final buffing, then the bridge will be glued on and it can be strung up. After which I have only to find a left handed guitarist to play it before I ship it to Alex.