The Manduolian

[Tymus]

Hi everyone, here are some photos of my new baby, the “Manduolian”, a resonator mandolin styled to resemble the National Duolian.



It’s another Busker Flea ukulele conversion similar in design and construction to my three string guitar, see my earlier post “The Flea String” michaelmesser.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talkingblues&action=display&thread=3683



In the body’s upper bout I cut some Duolian style sound holes, I also blocked up the ukuleles original sound holes in the wall of the sound-well.



I made the National styled tailpiece from brass sheet and four brass panel pins, I electroplated it at home using a couple of old 10p coins some vinegar and a battery charger.



The one-piece neck is made from an unknown hardwood that looks like a cross between mahogany and teak, it is fitted with a non adjustable box steel trussrod.



The headstock is faced with a Honduras mahogany veneer. The fingerboard is genuine Brazilian Rio rosewood (old cut stock, pre CITES trade ban) with mother of pearl position dots, the nut is a piece of smoked bone and the heal cap is ebony.



It’s set up with light gauge phosphor bronze strings with a low action and plays really well, it sounds great too! It also fits perfectly back into the ukulele case.



I’m really pleased with how this instrument has turned out in looks, sound and playability but most of all I think it’s so ….. cute!
Tymus.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Tymus,

It looks beautiful. Your work is excellent.

John, Rudy and the gang would be proud of you

Shine On,
Michael.

[pete1951]

Very smart! What is the scale lenghth? also you said you filled the sound holes in the well, is there now no link between the well and the rest of the body?
Odd that National didn`t make one like this as it looks `correct` if you know what I mean
Pete T
`Manduolian` Is also the perfect name

[Tymus]

Thanks for the comments,

The name Manduolian seemed to suggest itself, I’m very pleased with it, as Pete said “the perfect name”.

The scale length of 360mm was dictated by the uke’s body dimensions, this is slightly longer than the average mandolin (350mm). Using a 360mm scale meant that the 12th fret would align precisely with the neck body joint and allow for accurate intonation. The uke’s original scale measured to be 372mm with a body joint between the 12th and 13th frets.

On the uke’s the 6” cone sits over a large hole in the base of the soundwell (just like the guitars) this hole remains unaltered. As the uke’s don’t have soundholes in their upper bouts, in order for the instrument to “breath” and the sound to escape from the body, a series of ½” holes are cut in the soundwells 1” deep vertical wall (the guitars don’t have these holes). The sound can escape through theses holes then up through the small perforations in the coverplate. As I had cut “f” holes in the body these soundwell holes were no longer needed so I blocked them up with heavy duty aluminium tape thus forcing the sound to escape through the new “f” holes.



The above photo is of the Busker Flea Ukulele, it shows how the Manduolian started its life! Note the absence of soundholes and tailpiece.

Personally I don’t much like the National Mandolin body shape, but it does allow for a larger sized cone. I believe it was originally designed as a tricone hence the somewhat triangular shape, Michael correct me if I’m wrong! National made ukuleles in two body sizes and so could have easily adapted one of these for a mandolin, I think it’s a shame they never did!

I have suggested to Robin that Buskers could produce these and corner the market!

Cheers Tymus.

[growler]

HI Tymus
I think your Mando is wonderful, you have made a great job of it , Ukes don't interest me, but a mandolin like yours would....... I would put an order in for one right now ( Robin ).
Tymus it might sound a bit strange but for me just looking at your photos I can tell that it sounds good.

Well done

Regards

Growler

[pete1951]

Thanks for the the info. Do the ukes have a neck-stick? and does the Manduolian have one?
(I don`t think I`ll be making one, but I may do a `nomal` reso-mando, which will have to be a Mandolion now you have the `name`)
Pete T

[Steverb]

I think it's fabulous Tymus. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Steve

[steverino]

Outstanding work tymus, both in concept and execution. Bravo!

[robn]

Hi Tymus,

That is absolutely fantastic!!!!

I think you tried to send me an email about her a couple of weeks ago but it crashed my in box so I couldn't open it

You have done a wonderful job - have you got any sound clips? I bet she would be great in a busking bluegrass band

That is just excellent work, really, really excellent. I hope folk here appreciate the thought, skill and time that has gone into producing such an instrument.

Robin

[Tymus]

Thanks everyone for your kind and encouraging comments, it’s nice that the Mandoulian has been so well received!

To answer Pete’s question, yes the ukulele had a neck stick mortised into the necks heel. The Manduolian’s neck has a full length integral stick, that is to say the neck and stick are cut as one piece from a solid piece of hardwood. It also has a Mahogany end block fitted inside the body, the tailpiece/strap button screw goes through this block and locates into the end of the neck stick. This was necessary to hold the tailpiece in place but it also has the advantage of adding a little more structural strength to the instrument, useful when you consider that the eight mandolin steel strings exert far more force on the instrument than the original four nylon uke strings did!

Hi Robin, sorry to hear that my e-mails failed to reach you, photos etc of this instrument. I’ve re-sent them and hopefully they’ll arrive this time! Please let me know if they don’t! PS. I hope its OK that I posted the photo from Buskers website here!

Cheers all, Tymus.

[Michael Messer]

Tymus came along to our show at the Green Note on Friday and brought three instruments to show me; the Manduolian, a three string resonator cigar box guitar, and a cello-style lap steel. I think the venue thought another band had turned up!

All three are beautifully designed and built, and sound great. But the most interesting one for me is the Manduolian. It is an excellent sounding resophonic mandolin, which because of the small body also has many of the characteristics of a South American Charango. In fact a ten string one would be a Charango. The Manduolian plays well, sounds lovely and was created with both passion and expertise.

Tymus, thanks for coming on Friday and for bringing the instruments. Much appreciated.

Shine On
Michael

[Tymus]

Hi Michael,

It was a good fun gig! It was great to get the opportunity to show you the Manduolian, the Flea String and the Lap Cello, I enjoyed hearing them being played by an expert! I'm glad you enjoyed seeing them and thanks for your nice comment above!

Cheers Tymus.

[Tymus]

Thanks to Photobucket!!!! I've just had to re-upload all the photos!