" Small[er]" arch top plans/diagrams

[Michael Jennings]

I'd like to try my hand at building an arch top octave mandolin [a'la Fletcher Brock guitar shaped]. I have several flattops and even A mandolins under my belt.

I could try to scale down a standard 16" Benetteto or other plan, but wonder if any one has a source for plans in the 14 1/2" LB range or a place to source them.

"Kinko's Reducing" will not work for me as I live fairly remote and none of that up here.

Thanks

Mike

[Mike Conner]

Mike,
Please check out my journal here:
http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=59

I have built 2 GOM that may be in the style and size you are looking for. I have had a couple of other requests for the 14.5" GOM plan. I do have a hand drawn full size drawing that needs some detailing. I recently checked at our local Staples and copying is really pretty cheap. So, if I can find the time to finish up the drawing I could probably send you a copy. Perhaps I can work it out so that MIMF could offer it through the site.

Anyway, if the design shown in the journal is what you are looking for, let me know and we'll go from there.
//mike

[Michael Jennings]

Thanks Mike. I'd be delighted to get a copy when they are ready…. and pay for the privilege… You can PM me and I'll give you my contact info.

I would probably build w/o the cutaway, but that's a simple deal with the plans in hand.

Mike

[Randolph Rhett]

What is a "GOM"?

[Michael Jennings]

Guitar {shaped} Octave Mandolin

[Mike Conner]

OK., give me some time to get the drawing cleaned up and copied, then I'll PM for mailing info. If I succeed in keeping this promise:
- I will not accept payment.
- This will be a drawing from my design. Make any changes you'd like, but let the rest of MIMF know what you did and why so that we can all benefit from your experience.
- If you copy this design and start selling plans yourself, then bad things will happen to you. I mean "suffering of Job" kinds of things
- The build needs to be shared on MIMF so the rest of us can vicariously revel in your success.
//mike

[Michael Jennings]

Wouldn't dream of trying to profit from your material….
This is not the first project in line so time is not too critical
still 20 months away from retirement so still…. got to do's first /get to do's second

Mike

[Gilbert Fredrickson]

Use the Gibson L-0 plan and make the neck/ body joint at the thirteenth fret. I've been hoping to build one. There is a similar model built by Vivitone. Remember, with a few drawing tools and the tenants of master luthierie you can plan anything. All hail Lloyd Loar!

[Mike Conner]

Charlie and team are working on converting my hand-drawn GOM plan into CAD for distribution by MIMF. Should hopefully be available soon. Will post back when confirmed.

[Michael Lewis]

If you have a body shape you are happy with you can use an existing arch top plan side view for your details (neck angle, arch height, over stand, neck , etc etc. Gibson uses one shape for several guitars (J200, L5, L7, L10, etc.).

Whether a body is big or little it is basically the same construction techniques that one uses to put them together. Once you understand what the parts are you can make your own design. This is not rocket science.

[Mike Conner]

The GOM plan, redrawn in CAD by Jamie Unden, is now available through MIMF!

You can see this plan (along with all the other MIMF plans) here: http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1465

[Mark Fogleman]

No reason to go to Kinko's. If the plan is in .pdf you can use the scale and poster settings in the print menu. Heaps of instruction on the web. Another option is Big Print. A great program to scale and print out large drawings/photos/Sketchup files/CAD/.jpgs w/registration marks. Get an Elmer's glue stick and attach the pages together.