Mandocaster Build (updated with finished pics.)

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:14 am

Well, Iâ€™ve finally got it built. Hereâ€™s my mandocaster. I still have a few things to do before I break it all down and throw some paint at it. I need to make a proper bone nut (this is a plastic guitar nut I just cut down on each side). I need to figure out a neck plate (Iâ€™ve got a set of grommets on it for now). And I need to buy a set of telecaster knobs. The chickenheads were just handy.

I have to blame and thank DGNR8 for this one. I made him a mandocaster body about a year ago and he kind of got me hung up on these things. Then a few months back a member over at Reranch posted some pics of a mandocaster neck he was making for another member. Next thing you know I was hitting him up for a mandocaster neck and the rest is history as they say. I ran into a lot of little snags on the body, I think I wound up making three body templates and two pickguard templates before I got everything sorted. I guess DGNR8 was really cussing me over the body I made for him last year. Sorry about that dude.

Nothing that a few minutes with a Dremel couldn't solve though.

Iâ€™m going to try my hand at a light relic job on this one. Daphne Blue on the body, tru-oil the neck.

izodiak · Post by **izodiak** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:22 am

I really want something like this.. so nice.
Cant wait to see it with paint!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:29 am

Holy shitz that's awesome - I'm looking to srtat some builds with a mate and the Mando was on the the early list - is there any good sources for templates out there?

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:02 pm

Now with paint and wired up.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:01 am

Looks kinda like a Squier Venus that never grew up. very nice.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:22 am

The finish on that neck looks fantastic. Seriously!

Just truoil rubbed on or did you spray? Can you spray it?

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:32 am

portugalwillie wrote:The finish on that neck looks fantastic. Seriously!

Just truoil rubbed on or did you spray? Can you spray it?

Thanks! TransTint Honey Amber and TruOil. I just rubbed the tru-oil on with my fingertip. Eight very light coats.
I think someone over at reranch sprayed tru-oil through a preval with pretty good results.

Stuart · Post by **Stuart** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:50 am

isn't it more of a Ukulcaster?

either way it looks awesome.

Asher · Post by **Asher** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 4:54 am

Gosh, that looks good.

Do you mind doing a demo?

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 4:57 am

Looks perfect!

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 11:47 pm

That looks awesome. I hope mine turns out that well. I still have to but a bridge.

A uke size would be interesting. Even smaller than a mando!

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:06 pm

DGNR8 wrote:That looks awesome. I hope mine turns out that well. I still have to but a bridge.

A uke size would be interesting. Even smaller than a mando!

Thanks guys.

Hey DGNR8, how goes the Falcon?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:39 pm

it looks amazing, great job as usual!

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:53 pm

The Falcon is on hold so I can make room and enjoy the project. I am close to being finished on 3 others. There's always something I missed or have to order.

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:40 pm

I'm finally coming to the end of the road on a long list of projects.
Although I'm sure it won't be long before I find another project to add to the list.

FitzG · Post by **FitzG** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:26 pm

I made a high pitch girlie noise, much like when my girlfriend sees a squirrel, that is amazing, i love it

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:39 pm

I've got an idea for one of these...
I have the body, and I think I wanna make an electric mandola or something a bit longer scale, but not quite guitar scale.

This looks great! I can't wait to make mine. Thanks for all the info you sent me too.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:33 pm

HERE is about the only place you can buy parts for that sort of thing. I had been waiting to get some pickups and finally took the plunge. I also bought a bridge with flat saddles, which will be my third variation. I still want to try to build one out of parts, but no time soon. Scroll to the bottom and look at the pickups. That P90 one looks pretty tempting.