MANDOLIN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
   

This mandolin is being built from a Stewart MacDonald A-Style kit, with many custom features. I reshaped the peghead to be reminiscent of the Gibson "snakehead" style, but not copied from it. I bound the peghead with a black/white stripe laminated to the bottom of the white binding.
The peghead design is very similar to my Flatiron Artist mandolin that I am using for design inspiration. The pearl was all cut by hand and inlaid into the ebony overlay.  
The fingerboard has a 14" radius and is bound in white with a thin black piece laminated underneath.
The inside of the back is being graduated with curved scrapers and checked with a caliper.
The top has been graduated and I have drilled the round parts of the F-holes.
The tone bars have been glued into place.
The sides came pre-bent, so I made a form and glued the kerfed linings in place.
The mandolin is now completely glued together. I will string it up and see how it plays and sounds before I stain and finish it.
Another shot of the peghead design.
I made a custom heel cap, similar to what banjos use, instead of the traditional bound neck heel cap used on most mandolins. The side bindings also have the laminated stripes.
   
The flamed maple back doesn't show up well in this photo. It will be more pronounced once it is stained.
A shot of the fingerboard extension and the F-holes.
   
The amber stain applied with a little brown over it to tone down the yellow.
   

I airbrushed a medium brown to make the sunburst. I will add a little red to it to brighten it slightly.
   
I added a little bit of red and it really brightened it up.
   
I scraped the stain off the bindings.
   
Ready for varnish.
The varnish needs to cure before I buff it out, but it really brought out the color..

This is it! Completely finished. I plan to add some sound files soon.
Closeup of the back
And the headstock
 
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