The Australian mandolin quartet

[graham mcdonald]

Recently strung up is a mandolin quartet - 2 x mandolins, a mandola and a mandocello - made mostly from Australian timbers. King Billy soundboards, blackwood backs and sides, Qld maple necks with head overlays of gidgee and flamed blackwood. The fretboards are ebony with ivoroid binding all round. Gotoh tuners and Allen tailpieces. The mandolin are standard 13.875" scale, the mandola 16.5" and the mandocello 25.5". The body design is based on a Lyon & Healy shape from the 19-teens.

As far as I know, this may well be the first mandolin quartet built using Australian timbers. The King Billy and the Blackwood for the three smaller instruments is all matching from the same trees. The 'cello soundboard back and sides are similar and likely to have come from the same supplier. It all came from the estate of Graham Caldersmith so I don't know where he obtained it from originally. Folks like Steve Gilchrist or Paul Duff have built quartet instruments, but on the Gibson pattern using the usual American spruce and maple.

The hope is to find a buyer for the quartet as a set, rather than sell them individually.

[Dave M]

Graham that is lovely work. It would certainly be nice to sell them as a set.

Your book is still sitting in the workshop next to a partially built flat back mandolin which since the heavy gardening season is now over in the UK might actually get some time spent finishing it!

[lamanoditrento]

Really lovely and having all the same wood, it would be interesting to know if you think the wood choices perform differently at different sizes.

[Bob_H]

A very worthwhile piece of work! Hope you find a keen (and well heeled) buyer!

[kiwigeo]

Mandomaster! Nice work Graham.