MIMF

Here's a pair of mandolins I just finished up. I tried some new things, and thought I'd build matching Octave Mandolin and standard Mandolin.
I used woods I have not tried before, Osage Orange for the backs and sides, and I had some Honey Locust that I used for the necks. The tops are Red Spruce. The rosettes were just some glued up scrap I had around, and I made the bridges laminated to add some contrast also.
So here you go folks!

And here is the Little Brother.

These are flat-topped mandolins, with a soundport in the side. The bracing underneath is similar to what you might see in a small flat top guitar, but there are differences.

Gorgeous, Mark! Great work on bringing all the coloring together.

Very nice. I like the unified design and I like the rosettes. In the photos, it looks like the top has a significant dome to it. Is that so or is it just and illusion brought about by the burst?

Since my two mandos are still in the works, I must ask: what are the scale lengths?

Very attractive, Mark. Why didn't I think of using a burst on osage orange? They look like winners.

Thanks! I used the 13-7/8" scale and a 20.5" scale. The tops and the backs have a 15' dome....I have been thinking about going with more to see what happens.
That Osage is just about the right color for the center of the sunburst!

They look quite nice.

With time and light exposure, the osage will be close to the color of walnut.

It always is a guessing game how will appear in contrast to other woods around it.

That's part of the experiment here, I want to see how long it'll take for me to see a change. I did put a pretty strong amber tint on it.

They're really excellent, Mark. I keep looking back and forth between them, but I can't find anything that makes me prefer one over the other. They're both terrific. Sort of like a set that needs to stay together. You just inspired me to get back on my own mandolin project.

Thanks Patrick, since I sold all of the mandolins I had for myself to play I built these thinking to keep them. That way they'll stay together and I'll be able to watch how they develop.

VERY nice, Mark!

Very beautiful!

Great looking Mando's, Mark.
All the design elements come together. I love the burst and edge treatment. The peghead looks quite nice too.

Beautiful instruments, I really like your wood choices.

Those are very nice Mark. I love the way you did the rosettes.

Those are quite a pair of tasteful mandos - thanks for posting them.