All your little hand made special tools are absolutely priceless! I always used to make special tools for different car jobs for my stepdad to make his work easier as he got older.
Thank you. Just to clarify, I am Jerry Sr., my son is Jr. that's why I designated Sr. on the songs. So the music is mine, my father was not a musician. Sorry for the confusion.
+Rosa String Works AWWWW Dopy me. All the better. Very nice job! I neither play a stringed instrument nor repair them but very much enjoy your work. I do saxophone repair here and there mostly for myself so I truly appreciate the expertise.
It's a little painful to watch the top slipping along the carpet as you work it, but it's also a good reminder that, hey, if a method works for such an experienced craftsman, more power to ya! Thanks for sharing! Really fun to watch all your videos, Jerry!
Hello Jerry, Your song Grandpas ole fiddle. Great song.. It struck a nerve with me pretty quick. Reason being is my Grandpa was a great Guitar and Banjo player..and singer as well. He was fortunate enough to play with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs many years ago.. Grandma and Grandpa lived on Lester Flatt Mountain in Sparta Tennessee for a long long time. I do miss them days of spending time in Sparta.. This ole Indiana Hoosier boy felt more at home down there than I do here. If it wasn't for the snakes I would be living there for sure.. I kinda think that's why my Dad decided not to stay in the south. He hates them ole snakes.. Anyways, thanks again.. Take cafe and be safe.. Chris
That mandolin is starting to look like a mandolin again! It is really interesting about those 2 tops being made by the same guy, and the music was awesome!
You are a true luthier! Hearing your band was a bonus! Like the guy from the movie O Bother Where Art Thou... that was some fine pickin' and singin'. You show little known secrets that only a guy like you would know. Woah! Thankz
I can sit and watch you do this all day and never find a dull moment just love the skill of the craft and your music is just a great addition o your skills and by the way love your voice & playing best wishes Paul
I noticed your comment that the top provided 80% of the sound. I believe that to be true. At the same time I believe the back of a string instrument provides 80% of the strength. That's why they are thicker in the center normally. The thickness in the center provides a beam effect. The greater the thickness the stronger the beam. The edges don't carry as much of the string tension load so they can be thinner to reduce weight and allow the instrument to vibrate better too. Now, that's my opinion as an engineer. The original designers of our modern string instruments may have had other reasons for what thicknesses they used. You can take that as palaver if you want. I really enjoy your videos and think you are a master at what you do. Some people could work 35 years at the same trade and not come close to what you can accomplish quality wise. Thanks for sharing with us.
Back in 1981 I was homeless in L.A. and somehow I acquired forty bucks (2 days labor probably) and I needed a small light stringed instrument to "keep my chops fresh". I found a cheap mandolin (a terrible instrument) and it did what I needed it to do. For a couple of months I slept in the back of a moving truck that didn't have a back door. One day I woke up to find that the truck was on Sunset Boulevard and it came to a stoplight and I jumped out the back and landed on my cheap mandolin. Not much of a loss.
Jerry you are doing a great job on that instrument. It's looking good. Did you scalop the braces on the top? I agree with you about thoes two tops. I like your band. you have a great sound. I would like to see you build a guitar from start to finish. it would be a great video I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your videos. As always you've done an excellent job. Thank you.
I am sure you have posted this at sometime, but I wonder what size and make of finger plane you are using? Love the videos and really look forward to each! Thanks for your commitment in posting good content.
Thank you very much Nathan. I have a 10, 12, and 18 millimeter plane. I rarely if ever use the 18 millimeter it's just too large. For the detail carving I use the 10. I use the 12 for hogging out a lot of material. Hope that helps.
Stewmac would make a $75 tool to do the job your simple, practical ballpoint pen through a block of wood does with scrap parts. I love it. I'll bet your instruments never get a crack out of the edges of the F-holes. The luthiers that make $2oo mandolins are probably fainting because your using Titebond glue. What do you get for your instruments, around $6000 is it?
What do you do with the old broken tops you take off ? Do you keep them for parts ? Just wondering cause I would love to have some pieces like that to make some folk art.
Is the gauze where the f-holes are to be cut something most mandolins have (used by some early mandolin maker that everyone since copied) or is it something you do because it makes cutting the holes easier?
It doesn't make cutting easier it just makes the perimeter stronger. The wood likes to split in F holes. Lloyd loar on his mandolin back in the twenties was the first to do this as far as I know. I guess I'm just carrying on the tradition and it definitely makes the F hole much stronger.
On the instruments I sometimes use strips of Walnut which I cut here, I also have built mandolins out of Sycamore which I cut here. I have used Hedge Apple better known as Osage orange for guitar Bridges that I cut here on the farm.
was the customers original mandolin top broken somehow and was it totally not repairable? Or did he just want a custom made Rosa String Works custom to show all of his friends? Don't get me wrong i like to see a true craftsman like yourself work. Just seems odd to me that he had a machine made mandolin and wanted to have a custom top made?
Jerry you are doing a great job on that instrument. It's looking good. Did you scalop the braces on the top? I agree with you about thoes two tops. I like your band. you have a great sound. I would like to see you build a guitar from start to finish. it would be a great video I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your videos. As always you've done an excellent job. Thank you.
All your little hand made special tools are absolutely priceless! I always used to make special tools for different car jobs for my stepdad to make his work easier as he got older.
Very nice work. Really appreciate you showing how this is done. Music from you dad and friends very nice.
Thank you. Just to clarify, I am Jerry Sr., my son is Jr. that's why I designated Sr. on the songs. So the music is mine, my father was not a musician. Sorry for the confusion.
+Rosa String Works AWWWW Dopy me. All the better. Very nice job! I neither play a stringed instrument nor repair them but very much enjoy your work. I do saxophone repair here and there mostly for myself so I truly appreciate the expertise.
It's a little painful to watch the top slipping along the carpet as you work it, but it's also a good reminder that, hey, if a method works for such an experienced craftsman, more power to ya! Thanks for sharing! Really fun to watch all your videos, Jerry!
That is the specific purpose for the carpet
You certainly now how to use a scroll saw.A pleasure to watch a craftsman at work.
Thank you very much.
Hello Jerry, Your song Grandpas ole fiddle. Great song.. It struck a nerve with me pretty quick. Reason being is my Grandpa was a great Guitar and Banjo player..and singer as well. He was fortunate enough to play with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs many years ago.. Grandma and Grandpa lived on Lester Flatt Mountain in Sparta Tennessee for a long long time. I do miss them days of spending time in Sparta.. This ole Indiana Hoosier boy felt more at home down there than I do here. If it wasn't for the snakes I would be living there for sure.. I kinda think that's why my Dad decided not to stay in the south. He hates them ole snakes.. Anyways, thanks again.. Take cafe and be safe.. Chris
Thank you. Good story. The song is a true story about my grandfather. Thanks again.
I never agree with any disagreers! Let them keep their narrow minded opinions to themselves... You make things perfectly clear Jerry, every time!
That mandolin is starting to look like a mandolin again! It is really interesting about those 2 tops being made by the same guy, and the music was awesome!
Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated.
You are a true luthier! Hearing your band was a bonus! Like the guy from the movie O Bother Where Art Thou... that was some fine pickin' and singin'. You show little known secrets that only a guy like you would know. Woah! Thankz
Thank you very much.
Master craftsmanship and boy you’ve got a wonderful band, love your videos I guess I’ve watched them all.
I can sit and watch you do this all day and never find a dull moment
just love the skill of the craft and your music is just a great addition o your skills and by the way love your voice & playing
best wishes Paul
Thank you Paul. Very nice of you to say that.
I noticed your comment that the top provided 80% of the sound. I believe that to be true. At the same time I believe the back of a string instrument provides 80% of the strength. That's why they are thicker in the center normally. The thickness in the center provides a beam effect. The greater the thickness the stronger the beam. The edges don't carry as much of the string tension load so they can be thinner to reduce weight and allow the instrument to vibrate better too. Now, that's my opinion as an engineer. The original designers of our modern string instruments may have had other reasons for what thicknesses they used. You can take that as palaver if you want. I really enjoy your videos and think you are a master at what you do. Some people could work 35 years at the same trade and not come close to what you can accomplish quality wise. Thanks for sharing with us.
Your attention to detail is amazing.
Thanks Michael.
I can hear a major difference in the top you made compared to the Kentucky top! Great work as always Jerry!
Thanks Randy. In person, you can hear the difference from across the room.
mighty nice work mr Rosa.
Thanks Terry.
Back in 1981 I was homeless in L.A. and somehow I acquired forty bucks (2 days labor probably) and I needed a small light stringed instrument to "keep my chops fresh". I found a cheap mandolin (a terrible instrument) and it did what I needed it to do. For a couple of months I slept in the back of a moving truck that didn't have a back door. One day I woke up to find that the truck was on Sunset Boulevard and it came to a stoplight and I jumped out the back and landed on my cheap mandolin. Not much of a loss.
Wow! That's quite a story. I hope your situation has improved significantly. Thanks for watching.
You are quite the skilled luthier/craftsman. The top you made sounds soooo much better than the original.
Thank you Dale.
This is just beautiful, if I could get away form your videos, maybe I could get my hands busy and get some work done
+Coal City Garage thank you very much.
That method of marking the braces is called scribing. I could hear the difference. Like a bongo compared to a snare.
Jerry you are doing a great job on that instrument. It's looking good. Did you scalop the braces on the top? I agree with you about thoes two tops. I like your band. you have a great sound. I would like to see you build a guitar from start to finish. it would be a great video I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your videos. As always you've done an excellent job. Thank you.
I am sure you have posted this at sometime, but I wonder what size and make of finger plane you are using? Love the videos and really look forward to each! Thanks for your commitment in posting good content.
Thank you very much Nathan. I have a 10, 12, and 18 millimeter plane. I rarely if ever use the 18 millimeter it's just too large. For the detail carving I use the 10. I use the 12 for hogging out a lot of material. Hope that helps.
Stewmac would make a $75 tool to do the job your simple, practical ballpoint pen through a block of wood does with scrap parts. I love it. I'll bet your instruments never get a crack out of the edges of the F-holes. The luthiers that make $2oo mandolins are probably fainting because your using Titebond glue. What do you get for your instruments, around $6000 is it?
Yes that's correct.
Awesome work, inspired to work on my own, just a rogue that's in need of some help. What state do you live in ?
Wayne Brown South Central Missouri near Rolla Missouri. Good luck with your project.
I would love to hear the difference betwwen a hand carved and a cnc machine made mandolin
What do you do with the old broken tops you take off ? Do you keep them for parts ? Just wondering cause I would love to have some pieces like that to make some folk art.
+Tele Man65 Also where can I get your CD or album. Love you usic and my daddy would just really love it as well.
+Tele Man65 Never mind I found where to get them, sorry !
+Tele Man65 the CDs are for sale on my website rosastringworks.com/media.html
I just save the tops for comparison purposes.
Is the gauze where the f-holes are to be cut something most mandolins have (used by some early mandolin maker that everyone since copied) or is it something you do because it makes cutting the holes easier?
It doesn't make cutting easier it just makes the perimeter stronger. The wood likes to split in F holes. Lloyd loar on his mandolin back in the twenties was the first to do this as far as I know. I guess I'm just carrying on the tradition and it definitely makes the F hole much stronger.
Jerry, are any of the trees around your home spruce or able to be used in your craft?
On the instruments I sometimes use strips of Walnut which I cut here, I also have built mandolins out of Sycamore which I cut here. I have used Hedge Apple better known as Osage orange for guitar Bridges that I cut here on the farm.
Such a tease!
I try... thanks for taking a look.
That's just a lot of work Jerry. I think I'll leave the mando building to you. Although it does look like fun.
Thanks Dane give it a try.
SO MANY GUITARS TO BUILD SO LITTLE TIME, SOME DAY
was the customers original mandolin top broken somehow and was it totally not repairable? Or did he just want a custom made Rosa String Works custom to show all of his friends? Don't get me wrong i like to see a true craftsman like yourself work. Just seems odd to me that he had a machine made mandolin and wanted to have a custom top made?
Larry, There was no top at all. He got it as is from a repair shop. Thanks for watching.
Here it is 2018 and I am searching for a 9forty dollar mando that is not terrible.
What device do you use to tune the top?
I use my ear and a chromatic tuner. It seems adequate. A lot of it is knowing how to hold it and how to tap on it.
Jerry you are doing a great job on that instrument. It's looking good. Did you scalop the braces on the top? I agree with you about thoes two tops. I like your band. you have a great sound. I would like to see you build a guitar from start to finish. it would be a great video I'm sure. Thank you for sharing your videos. As always you've done an excellent job. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I really appreciate your kindness.