Mandolin 1  “Rosebud”

Rosebud is my first mandolin.  The experience of building it was much more like making a violin than making a guitar.  I really enjoy making carved top instruments because of their sculptural quality.  I made this mandolin for Tristan Baar, and it is based on a 1920’s Gibson F5.  The top is Sitka spruce with an airbrushed sunburst lacquer finish. 

The back, sides and neck are made of birdseye maple.  The binding is curly maple.  The center layer of the neck, and the heel crown are ebony. 

The bridge is made of ebony with an adjustable bone saddle. 

Tristan wanted a vine with rosebuds for the fingerboard inlay.  The vine is paua abalone and the rosebuds are red mirror glass.