Smith Creek Mandolin
-Red Spruce Tonewood
-CNC Carved Archtop Instrument Plates
-Handcrafted Stringed Instruments
 
Exact cnc carving on F-5 scroll does nearly all the work.  Click on the image above to see Mandolin Gallery.
H-5 scroll.  Click on the image above to see Mandola Gallery.

CNC Carved Archtop Plates

F-5 Mandolin Top
click to see Mandolin Gallery
Adirondack Red top plate, carved inside and outside.  Accurate to within thousandths of an inch, so all you need to do is lightly scrape or sand the plate to be ready to join to your rim.  The outline, arching and graduations were developed after studying and drawing 10 Loar Mandolins.

Add a set of plans for only $5 and have perfect f-holes cut for $15.

Top Plate
Grade


CNC Cut f-holes, $15
F-5 Mandolin Back
click to see Mandolin gallery
Two piece curly Red Maple back plate, carved inside and outside.  Accurate to within thousandths of an inch, so all you need to do is lightly scrape or sand the plate to be ready to join to your rim.  The outline, arching and graduations were developed after studying and drawing 10 Loar Mandolins.

Add a set of folded f-5 plans for only $5 and curly red maple side material, 3 pieces 30" long, 1-3/8+" wide, .90" thick for $18.

Back Plate
Grade

Matching Curly Maple Side Material $18 (only available with purchase of back)
F-5 Mandolin Plans with templates for Inside Body Mold
Developed after studying ten Loar signed Gibson F-5 Mandolins, plans include top and back graduations from two signed Loar instruments, and one "unsigned".  Outline taken from Gibson F-5, #73013, signed April 25, 1923.

Templates for all parts needed including neck, headstock, body mold, f-holes, pickguard and more.  Plans measure 48" x 36".

Inside Body Mold:  used by violin builders for centuries but ignored by most books and mandolin building methods, these plans include templates for making an "inside body mold" which is far easier to use and produces better results than outside body molds.

These plans are sold at cost to customers buying tonewood, plates or cnc carving service.  They can not be purchased separately.


Set of F-5 Plans, $5. 
H-5 Mandola Top
click to see Mandola gallery

Adirondack Red Spruce H-5 Mandola top plate.  Top is carved inside and out.  Accurate to within thousandths of an inch, so all you need to do is lightly scrape or sand the plate to be ready to join to your rim.

The outline, arching and graduations were developed after studying and drawing one of the few Loar Mandolas in existence.  These are the most accurate Loar Mandola reproduction plates you can find.

Mandola Plates come with a free set of working drawings to use with the cnc carved plates.  Check it out HERE.  The drawing has templates for all the parts you need in order to build a Mandola including the inside mold.

 

Top Plate

Grade
H-5 Mandola Back
click to see Mandola Gallery

Two piece curly Red Maple H-5 Mandola back plate, carved inside and out.  Accurate to within thousandths of an inch so all you need to do is lightly scrape or sand the plate to be ready to join to your rim.

The outline, arching and graduations were developed after studying and drawing one of the few Loar Mandolas in existence.  These are the most accurate Loar Mandola reproduction plates you can find.

Mandola Plates come with a free set of working drawings to use with the cnc carved plates.  Check it out HERE.  The drawing has templates for all the parts you need in order to build a Mandola including the inside mold.

 

Back Plate

Grade


Matching Curly Maple Side Material $18 (only available with purchase of back)

Archtop Guitar Top

Single Cutaway 17" Archtop Guitar Top, available in Sitka and Red Spruce.  Carved inside and out, graduated precisely, only needs a light scraping or sanding to be ready to join to your rim set.  Designed to work perfectly with the Benedetto Plans available through Stewart MacDonald's Guitar Supply.

AAA Sitka: $260  (Master Grade available, please call for price and delivery)



Red Spruce: 
AA, A and A- available.  A- may have one or more pitch streaks.  These do not affect the top structurally, but are best used for dark sunburst or solid color tops.

Top Plate
Grade


Have perfect f-holes cut for $15

Archtop Guitar Back

Single Cutaway 17" Curly Maple Archtop Guitar Back.  Carved inside and out, graduated precisely, only needs a light scraping or sanding to be ready to join to your rim set.  Designed to work perfectly with the Benedetto Plans available through Stewart MacDonald's Guitar Supply.
(AAAA and Master Grade available, please call for price and delivery)

Picture to the left is AAAA grade.

AAA:  Very nice top, a great value.  Great choice for sunburst, good choice for natural finish.  Nice flame, a bit lighter than higher grades or fades towards the edge.  In stock now.
AAAA:  Great choice for sunburst or natural finish.  It has strong flame.  The flame goes from center to edge, may lighten slightly near the edge.  Please call or email for price and delivery.
Master Grade:  Fantastic figure edge to edge.  Even better than the picture to the left.  Please call for price and delivery.


Back Plate
AAA Curly Maple: $320



Matching Side Wood:  $15
(Only available with purchase of back)
Archtop Plate Picture Gallery: