Gladstone Octave Mandolin An Octave Mandolin in the Gouzouki style, with a scale length of 508mm, 13 frets to the body. has a Sound-Port with removable door and a Zero Fret. The Octave Mandolin S/N BHS-OM-001 was made by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
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 – King Billy Pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides) King Billy, Tasmanian endemic softwood, found in cold/wet sub-alpine forests. The tree is slow growing and long lived. Some of the trees were seedlings when Jesus was a boy. The wood is pink/brown in colour, soft, fine grained and light weight. Excellent soundboard material having qualities that impart warm mellow tones. It’s a Critically endangered Species and totally protected, only salvaged wood is used. Soundboard Bracing System – “Carbon Fibre reinforced Falcate.” The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 40ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The Carbon Fibre reinforced Falcate (sickle shaped) Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes that are radiused to 40ft. There’s a layer of Carbon Fibre between the bracing and the soundboard. The Bracing tops were profiled, and another layer of Carbon Fibre put over the top, effectively making an “Í-Beam” like structure. This radiused and curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff. Bridge, Bindings, Headstock 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 a uniformly black or black and brown streaks. It is used for wood turning and carving, inlays, knife handles, piano and organ keys, and instrument wood. Headstock Rear – Queensland Walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii) One of the most popular species in Australia, used for cabinetry, furniture, panelling and musical instruments Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510 series in Cosmic Black 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 – Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) Perhaps Australian’s Best Tonewood. Highly sought after by Australian Luthiers. It is fitted with a double action steel trussrod, which is accessible through the soundhole using a 4mm Allen key The Neck to Body Joint is a “Flat Bolt on Bolt Off” construction at the 13 fret and has 2 x 6mm metal threaded inserts in the neck heel which are also accessible through the Soundhole with a 4mm Allen Key. The Neck has an extension that fits into the headblock to key the neck in position. Rosette – Black Celtic Ring This rosette is made of Black Maple and inlaid with Celtic symbols out of White Mother of Pearl. Headstock Inlay – Claddagh out of White Mother of Pearl Nut – Northern Territory Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer) The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. While Its 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. Strings – Daddario Octave Mandolin (EJ80) Phosphor Bronze Wound, Loop End strings, gauges [0.046w (G), 0.032w (D), 0.022p (A), 0.012p (E)]. Even though this instrument has Carbon Fibre Reinforced bracing, it is not recommended to increase the gauge of string from that as originally fitted. 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.