Great job! The 'cello looks great but I am wondering if you did anything to accommodate for the much higher tension of the mandocello strings (internal bracing, carbon fiber in the neck / truss rod)? I am thinking about doing a conversion but wasn't sure how a guitar neck would hold up to the tension.
@aaronvanwyk Thanks for the nice comments! No, I did nothing to it neck or top. This vintage Epiphone is sturdy! But even so remember Loar made the first Gibson K-5 in 1922 by merely putting a thinner mandocello neck on an L-5 guitar. Researching, I found out that the carvings for the K-5 & L-5 tops are the same. So Loar was not worried! (<: I am completing a new guitar to mandocello conversion in a few weeks -- this time 17" lower bout -- so will be selling this one.
Nice job on the conversion, especially the headstock. Usually guitar-to-8 string looks mickey-moused. Not this; looks like it was originally an 8 string. Sounds nice too (I heard your next video.) Put these into production, and you'd have some takers for sure. - DWP
@CelticMandoDude Thanks for the kind remarks! I am pleased how it turned out -- and I do think this format i.e., the jumbo guitar body (K-5) is the way to go -- although the scroll (K-4) was attractive. But the larger guitar body certainly helps sound & volume-wise. I plan to post a video comparing my 1936 K-1 with this one -- but I need to play the Epiphone a bit to get more confident on that fingerboard. I think for Celtic music the round hole might be the better than f-holes.
Very nice Bernie. Thanks for bringing it over yesterday. I'd really wait a bit before you modify the neck width. That way someone could always convert back to a guitar in 100 years :-)
@seagrdjmj Thanks for the comment Dave -- good show and tell yesterday! I agree I'm in no hurry right now to work on the neck -- I am starting to come to grips with the width and fret distances.
I know you mentioned this to me that last time with talked over the phone and I remember how excited you were! It sure came out great and it sounds great! Good, quality work!
Great job! The 'cello looks great but I am wondering if you did anything to accommodate for the much higher tension of the mandocello strings (internal bracing, carbon fiber in the neck / truss rod)? I am thinking about doing a conversion but wasn't sure how a guitar neck would hold up to the tension.
aaronvanwyk 3 months ago
@aaronvanwyk Thanks for the nice comments! No, I did nothing to it neck or top. This vintage Epiphone is sturdy! But even so remember Loar made the first Gibson K-5 in 1922 by merely putting a thinner mandocello neck on an L-5 guitar. Researching, I found out that the carvings for the K-5 & L-5 tops are the same. So Loar was not worried! (<: I am completing a new guitar to mandocello conversion in a few weeks -- this time 17" lower bout -- so will be selling this one.
Mandolin1944 3 months ago
This really came out wonderful,beautiful.....you sure don't need my help if you do stuff like this!!! I need to send you one LOL :) !!!!
very best regards
cj
Cj12sings 6 months ago
@Cj12sings I had some help on the hard parts! I don't think I am in your league in that regard!! (<:
Mandolin1944 6 months ago
Very neat and interesting, Bernie. Thanks for sharing. Gwen
cadjunk 7 months ago
Nice job on the conversion, especially the headstock. Usually guitar-to-8 string looks mickey-moused. Not this; looks like it was originally an 8 string. Sounds nice too (I heard your next video.) Put these into production, and you'd have some takers for sure. - DWP
CelticMandoDude 7 months ago
@CelticMandoDude Thanks for the kind remarks! I am pleased how it turned out -- and I do think this format i.e., the jumbo guitar body (K-5) is the way to go -- although the scroll (K-4) was attractive. But the larger guitar body certainly helps sound & volume-wise. I plan to post a video comparing my 1936 K-1 with this one -- but I need to play the Epiphone a bit to get more confident on that fingerboard. I think for Celtic music the round hole might be the better than f-holes.
Mandolin1944 7 months ago
Very nice Bernie. Thanks for bringing it over yesterday. I'd really wait a bit before you modify the neck width. That way someone could always convert back to a guitar in 100 years :-)
seagrdjmj 7 months ago
@seagrdjmj Thanks for the comment Dave -- good show and tell yesterday! I agree I'm in no hurry right now to work on the neck -- I am starting to come to grips with the width and fret distances.
Mandolin1944 7 months ago
Thats very interesting, a good idea to post this!!
gfks11 7 months ago
@gfks11 Thanks for the nice remarks Judie!
Mandolin1944 7 months ago
I know you mentioned this to me that last time with talked over the phone and I remember how excited you were! It sure came out great and it sounds great! Good, quality work!
PossumJoesMando 7 months ago
@PossumJoesMando Thanks a million Michael!! Yes I am really happy with it so far -- need to get used to those distances though!
Mandolin1944 7 months ago