F5 Mandolin Kit

It took me a year in total to complete this kit during 4 years with interval. I'm satisfied with wood quality and accuracy. Although it needs basic skill and experience but patience and careful works will be rewarded. I will enjoy playing and watching. Thanks for nice kit.

A customer wanted an F4-style mandolin to 'match' his 1921 GIBSON mandola. Some discussion lead to the purchase of the F5 kit as a starting point. I made a shorter F4 neck to suit. The quality of woods in the kit was astonishing, and my customer is as happy with the result as I am. Well done STEWMAC.

great kit. Also bought the cd which is essential. Everything fit perfectly and while it took a GREAT deal of time it turned out well on my first trial.

fine woods, rims came of a bit out of shape,but that didn't cause much of a problem.(maybe due to the belgian climate?). I could have used some more binding for trial and error, and the finger planes were necessary. I could have used the micro chisles, but it was possible to do it with a very sharp knife. just finished the mandolin; it sounds great already. finished it with the water-based clear lacquer,with the amber stain. that turned out real well.My wife thinks I have a new girlfriend, called Mandolina...Some day I'll built another, trying to get the belgians into bluegrass. thanks

This mandolin kit is high quality materials. In my opinion, this kit is above the skills of the average beginner. I had built 2 guitars which were usable but not beautiful. This mandolin kit was all the challenge I wanted plus some. I found the binding very difficult, and the neck joint. Just know to proceed very slowly and think through each step. My mandolin ended up with some faults. The top and back thickness was too great because I didn't carve enough material. The binding job was ugly. The action was very high which was repairable. Good luck and take lots of time.

I was very impressed with the speed I received my kit in only a matter of days ! I am also very happy I took the suggestion given out from you guys to add Dan MacRostie's dvd to the kit ! Its been invaluable

A little more info on voicing the instrument would have been really helpful but all in all I'll be coming back for more.

Thanks to everyone involved !

Got a mandolin from this kit made in 2003 by luthier Doug O in Cleveland. Once again when done right it is right there with tone and volume of much more pricey pieces. This one has the signature Gibson tone IDK how he did it.