Gladstone Blackheart Sassafras Mandolin 01
Gladstone Mandolin “Blackheart Sassafras”
An ‘A’ style Mandolin with a scale length of 352mm and 12 Frets to the Body. This Mandolin
S/N - Mando-BHS-001 2026 was built by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
This instrument is a combination of Flat Top and Carved Mandolin design. The soundboard top is carved, but the underside is flat. Neck angle is set higher than a flat top instrument.
Back and Sides - Black Heart Sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum)
Another unique Timber from Tasmania, like Tiger Myrtle in that the patterns are caused by a fungal discoloration of the heart wood. Each piece being distinctly beautiful and different from the next.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard - Alaskan Bear-Claw Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Sitka Spruce has long been the standard sound board material. The Bear Claw pattern is unique to each piece and gives it a third dimension.
Soundboard Bracing System –Carbon Fibre Reinforced ‘H’ Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The rectangular cross section Adirondack Spruce Bracing is installed over a layer of Carbon Fibre. The Bracing tops are then profiled/carved/tuned to give the desired stiffness gradient across the soundboard, but still maintaining the rectangular cross section. A second layer of carbon fibre is then installed down the middle of each brace, this effectively turns each brace into an ‘I’ Beam, greatly increasing its strength and rigidity. The braces are then carved into a triangular cross section, which decreases their mass but not their strength. This radiused, CF reinforced symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Headstock, Bindings and Fretboard - Indian Ebony (Diospyros ebenum)
Indian Ebony is an exotic wood native to southern India and Sri Lanka. it's a particularly hard, dense, tropical hardwood, with a fine texture. The heartwood may be uniformly black or black and brown streaks. It is used for wood turning and carving, inlays, knife handles, piano, organ keys, and instrument wood.
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510 series in Cosmic Black with Ziricote Buttons
The smallest closed gear tuners, made to order in Japan and are of exceptional high quality and recognized as such around the world.
Adjustable Floating Bridge a “Brekke Bridge”
An Ebony Floating Bridge with a height adjustable saddle. The height can be set using the supplied 1.5mm Allen Key.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Curly Maple refers to the grain structure/figure in this species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning. The neck has a stacked heel, of Maple and Queensland Walnut and is fitted with a dual action steel Trussrod that can be adjusted through the soundhole with the supplied 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette & Headstock Inlay – Oval, Triquetra and Ghost Tree
The Rosette and Headstock inlays are made of Black Pearl, ethically sourced from New Zealand.
The Ghost Tree inlay has been created using reconstituted Brass Powder.
Nut–Northern Territory Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. While the Nut is a firm fit into the slot, a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Tail Piece– Hand Made Brass
The 1.2mm Brass tail Piece is designed to accommodate either Loop or Ball End Strings. It’s been polished, then Powder Coated in gloss black. Powder Coat is very hard wearing, chip and scratch resistant, ideal for this application.
Strings – D’Addario Stainless Steel EFW74
Medium gauge flat wound stainless steel mandolin strings. Flat wound mandolin strings deliver a smooth feel and full tone preferred by classical, jazz, and bluegrass mandolin players.
Pick-up System – This instrument does not have a pickup,
However, it is pickup ready, having an output jack compensation block fitted in the lowerbout.
Finish - High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish.
An ‘A’ style Mandolin with a scale length of 352mm and 12 Frets to the Body. This Mandolin
S/N - Mando-BHS-001 2026 was built by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
This instrument is a combination of Flat Top and Carved Mandolin design. The soundboard top is carved, but the underside is flat. Neck angle is set higher than a flat top instrument.
Back and Sides - Black Heart Sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum)
Another unique Timber from Tasmania, like Tiger Myrtle in that the patterns are caused by a fungal discoloration of the heart wood. Each piece being distinctly beautiful and different from the next.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard - Alaskan Bear-Claw Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Sitka Spruce has long been the standard sound board material. The Bear Claw pattern is unique to each piece and gives it a third dimension.
Soundboard Bracing System –Carbon Fibre Reinforced ‘H’ Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The rectangular cross section Adirondack Spruce Bracing is installed over a layer of Carbon Fibre. The Bracing tops are then profiled/carved/tuned to give the desired stiffness gradient across the soundboard, but still maintaining the rectangular cross section. A second layer of carbon fibre is then installed down the middle of each brace, this effectively turns each brace into an ‘I’ Beam, greatly increasing its strength and rigidity. The braces are then carved into a triangular cross section, which decreases their mass but not their strength. This radiused, CF reinforced symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Headstock, Bindings and Fretboard - Indian Ebony (Diospyros ebenum)
Indian Ebony is an exotic wood native to southern India and Sri Lanka. it's a particularly hard, dense, tropical hardwood, with a fine texture. The heartwood may be uniformly black or black and brown streaks. It is used for wood turning and carving, inlays, knife handles, piano, organ keys, and instrument wood.
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510 series in Cosmic Black with Ziricote Buttons
The smallest closed gear tuners, made to order in Japan and are of exceptional high quality and recognized as such around the world.
Adjustable Floating Bridge a “Brekke Bridge”
An Ebony Floating Bridge with a height adjustable saddle. The height can be set using the supplied 1.5mm Allen Key.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Curly Maple refers to the grain structure/figure in this species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning. The neck has a stacked heel, of Maple and Queensland Walnut and is fitted with a dual action steel Trussrod that can be adjusted through the soundhole with the supplied 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette & Headstock Inlay – Oval, Triquetra and Ghost Tree
The Rosette and Headstock inlays are made of Black Pearl, ethically sourced from New Zealand.
The Ghost Tree inlay has been created using reconstituted Brass Powder.
Nut–Northern Territory Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. While the Nut is a firm fit into the slot, a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Tail Piece– Hand Made Brass
The 1.2mm Brass tail Piece is designed to accommodate either Loop or Ball End Strings. It’s been polished, then Powder Coated in gloss black. Powder Coat is very hard wearing, chip and scratch resistant, ideal for this application.
Strings – D’Addario Stainless Steel EFW74
Medium gauge flat wound stainless steel mandolin strings. Flat wound mandolin strings deliver a smooth feel and full tone preferred by classical, jazz, and bluegrass mandolin players.
Pick-up System – This instrument does not have a pickup,
However, it is pickup ready, having an output jack compensation block fitted in the lowerbout.
Finish - High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish.