Gladstone Octave Mandolin |
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Big Thanks to Daoiri Farrell for playing this instrument at the National Folk Festival Instrument Makers Pavilion. Video and sound taken on an iPhone. There is some spill sound from other instruments in the Pavilion.
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Koko Octave Mandolin
An Octave Mandolin in the Irish Bouzouki style, with a scale length of 560mm and 15 frets to the body and has a Zero Fret. The Octave Mandolin S/N Oct-Mando-Albz-001 was made by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
Back and Sides - Koko (Albizia lebbeck)
Koko ranges from Indomalaya to Northern Australia. Its divergent grain directions impart a unique banded appearance which, coupled with its rich colors, makes for a truly unique hardwood. An excellent, very decorative timber, and has been compared to black walnut. The wood is suitable for turning, carving, general construction, furniture, veneer, and of course Musical Instruments.
This tree grew in Rockhampton Racecourse and was saved from the chipper.
Body Construction – High Impedance Double Linings
The joints from Sides to the Soundboard and to the Back are double lined (a Kerfed Lining and an internal Rimband) this increased the rigidity/impedance of the joint which in turn improves the overtones and sound complexity/quality.
Back Bracing – Live Bracing
The Back Bracing is a “Live Bracing Design “which increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made with a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard – Bearclaw Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
A Conifer and by far the largest in the Spruce Family, up to 100 meters tall and 5m trunk diameter. Sitka Spruce has an outstanding stiffness-to-weight ratio and straight-grained, lending this timber to a wide range of commercial uses, such as furniture, aircraft components, boat-building and musical instrument soundboards.
Bearclaw Sitka spruce has a shallow, cross-grain curl that seems to increase cross-grain stiffness in acoustic guitars. Many luthiers feel that it enhances the tone and sustain of spruce and can be visually stunning.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate 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 Falcate (sickle shaped) Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes that are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops were profiled. This radiused/curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Headstock, Fretboard, Bindings and Bridge - Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
The fretboard has a Zero Fret, Compound Radius and is bound with Maple purfling and Ebony Bindings. The Bridge is a Gladstone Guitars Pin-less Design’.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same 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.
This is a 3-piece neck, American Curly Maple with a Koko Spine with Black/white Maple accent lines. It’s fitted with a double action steel trussrod which is accessible through the soundhole with a 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette – Paua Shell Ring with black/white/black accent lines
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510, Black with Ziricote Buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. Manufactured in Japan and distributed worldwide GOTOH GUT Co., Ltd. began manufacturing stringed instrument parts in 1960. The SG510 Baby series Tuners are the smallest closed gear tuners on the market and have quickly become one of their Flagship models. These high tech, precision cut, Sealed Gear type tuners are lubricated for life and with an 18:1 ratio give the player a positive confident feel.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 6mm saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the 'as fitted' Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.
An Octave Mandolin in the Irish Bouzouki style, with a scale length of 560mm and 15 frets to the body and has a Zero Fret. The Octave Mandolin S/N Oct-Mando-Albz-001 was made by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
Back and Sides - Koko (Albizia lebbeck)
Koko ranges from Indomalaya to Northern Australia. Its divergent grain directions impart a unique banded appearance which, coupled with its rich colors, makes for a truly unique hardwood. An excellent, very decorative timber, and has been compared to black walnut. The wood is suitable for turning, carving, general construction, furniture, veneer, and of course Musical Instruments.
This tree grew in Rockhampton Racecourse and was saved from the chipper.
Body Construction – High Impedance Double Linings
The joints from Sides to the Soundboard and to the Back are double lined (a Kerfed Lining and an internal Rimband) this increased the rigidity/impedance of the joint which in turn improves the overtones and sound complexity/quality.
Back Bracing – Live Bracing
The Back Bracing is a “Live Bracing Design “which increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made with a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Soundboard – Bearclaw Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
A Conifer and by far the largest in the Spruce Family, up to 100 meters tall and 5m trunk diameter. Sitka Spruce has an outstanding stiffness-to-weight ratio and straight-grained, lending this timber to a wide range of commercial uses, such as furniture, aircraft components, boat-building and musical instrument soundboards.
Bearclaw Sitka spruce has a shallow, cross-grain curl that seems to increase cross-grain stiffness in acoustic guitars. Many luthiers feel that it enhances the tone and sustain of spruce and can be visually stunning.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate 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 Falcate (sickle shaped) Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes that are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops were profiled. This radiused/curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Headstock, Fretboard, Bindings and Bridge - Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
The fretboard has a Zero Fret, Compound Radius and is bound with Maple purfling and Ebony Bindings. The Bridge is a Gladstone Guitars Pin-less Design’.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same 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.
This is a 3-piece neck, American Curly Maple with a Koko Spine with Black/white Maple accent lines. It’s fitted with a double action steel trussrod which is accessible through the soundhole with a 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette – Paua Shell Ring with black/white/black accent lines
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510, Black with Ziricote Buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. Manufactured in Japan and distributed worldwide GOTOH GUT Co., Ltd. began manufacturing stringed instrument parts in 1960. The SG510 Baby series Tuners are the smallest closed gear tuners on the market and have quickly become one of their Flagship models. These high tech, precision cut, Sealed Gear type tuners are lubricated for life and with an 18:1 ratio give the player a positive confident feel.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 6mm saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the 'as fitted' Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.