Watson Guitars
Idyllwild
California, USA

MANDOLINS

Style 'F' (Florentine) Style
Materials Top: European Sitka Spruce. Back, neck and sides: Hawaiian Koa.
Fingerboard Ebony or Pau Rosa, probably inlaid
Hardware

Gold
Finish TBA but probably a subtle Tobacco Sunburst tint

We have just started work on out first Mandolin. This is a brand new product for us so this first prototype will progress cautiously. More pictures and text to follow soon!

Left: (11/26/07) It's been quite a while since I have done anything to the mandolin project - mainly because I have been very busy with other projects. However, I recently took the opportunity to cut out the material for the back of the mandolin from some Hawaiian Koa that I had in the shop.

The photo shows the rough sawn surfaces after the wood had been bandsawed. Once it is sanded smoother the flamed figure of the wood will be more evident. This will make a beautiful back for the instrument.

I'll try to do a little more to the project in the near future as I get time here and there. Come back to this page now and then and see what's happened.

Below: (4/20/07) Here is the Koa material for the back of the mandolin body. This wood has a nice amount of 'flame' in the grain and should result in a very eye-catching instrument!



Above: Here are the AAA Sitka Spruce blocks for the carved top. This is a top quality piece of European spruce with a very close grain, perfect for a mandolin top.
Last update April 20, 2007