Building a Mandolin // Woodworking
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- A HUGE thank you to Woodcraft Gallery for their continued support of my channel. Shop online and find classes at www.woodcraft.com
Another big thanks to www.StewMac.com for sending specialized tools and supplies for the mandolin building class. For a list of supplies we ordered through Stewmac, check out my blog post about building a mandolin on my website, www.anneofallt...
Another bucket list project was tackled this year in the form of building my first mandolin. I've been tinkering around on the mandolin since I was 13 years old, and building my own was actually the catalyst to start woodworking as an adult, but it took me seven years and a push from my good friend Austin Papp to actually do it. He, our friend Jeremy and I converged at our mutual friend Caleb James (a planemaker you might have heard of)'s shop to see if we couldn't build a mandolin (mostly from scratch) in five days' time. Even with three fairly experienced woodworkers and one very talented instrument maker on the job, it was a pretty hefty endeavor, but one we pulled off with flying colors. All of us finished the five days with a playable instrument in hand, and I brought mine proudly back to Seattle for some finishing touches and many years of playing enjoyment ahead. In this video you'll see a very condensed version of the mandolin building process, from carving the arch top and bottom, tuning the top, shaping the neck, fitting the truss rod, sizing, pressing and filing the frets, and sooooo much more. I couldn't be happier with my instrument and cannot WAIT to build another one.
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I'm Anne of All Trades. I have a woodworking, blacksmithing and fabrication shop, a selection of furry friends, and an organic farm in Seattle, Washington. This channel is aimed at sharing my passion for working with my hands, being a good steward of the earth, and preserving antiquated skills and traditions.
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My goal is to learn and share those techniques and skills that are in danger of becoming antiquated traditions. Whether it's carving spoons, making my own hand tools, or growing heirloom tomatoes, the farm and workshop definitely keep me busy and support on Patreon helps me to keep producing quality content to share on TH-cam, Instagram, and my website.
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Now that is definitely the best mandolin video on the internet. I’m a retired scenic carpenter, I have built many things and still carve walking sticks. Next I’m going to make a mandolin like yours. Great video.
That makes me happy to hear! Thanks for the compliments
Anne of MANY talents,
Thank you!
I love that!! "Sitting in the garden I build, in the chair that I built, playing the mandolin that I built." 💕💕💕 So awesome 🙌🙌🙌
Bonus video of you just playing the mandolin for a like ten minutes please! :-)
I was just thinking - where's a video of her just playing?! lol
VERY VERY COOL! I am a violinist and grew up with a family friend who had a violin making shop. Some of my fondest childhood memories were of the sights and smells of that shop and the wonderful instruments that were created. I always thought it would be a wonderful thing to learn how to build one myself. Good on you for doing it!!!
I remember the feeling of playing my first violin build, for the first time. We strung it up "In the white" just to hear the sound. I do this now for all of my builds. Your mandolin looks and sounds great. I hope you keep building instruments. There is nothing better than playing an instrument that you built.
Oh I absolutely will. I've already got plans to!
I only started teaching myself the mandalin a few months ago. Wanted to learn the fiddle but figured this would be easier to learn then string on string with no frets. Enjoyed your video. Thanks
That is a gorgeous mandolin that has a beautiful sound. It was great to see the process of building that and you explaining the whole process and all the tools that were used.
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
I have built many instruments from Dulcimers, Mandolins, Wood top banjos and Harps to Flutes, Bones, and Whistles. A Mandolin is no easy build. Good for you !
Oh my goodness I love it and the tune at the end is the cherry on top! Thank you. I bought my Gibson mandolin in the summer of 1964 and it has given me many hours of joy over the decades, none at all to my wife who had to endure the sounds of me trying to tune it.
The line at the end about sitting on a chair you built in the garden you built playing the mandolin you built perfectly captures what’s so wonderful about this video! (And what you do in general!) love it!
Thank you so much! It was a fun moment to realize the depth of that accomplishment. Made me smile big.
I easily could have watched a much longer (45-60 min) video on this. That is an incredible accomplishment for a woodworker, I never would have thought or attempted it.
Kudos to you young lady!
Thank you so much! Perhaps someday I'll share a longer version of the process. It was such a fun build and I have many hours of footage, but I know I've got a tough time sticking through more than a 15 minute video, so I generally try to time them accordingly.
P.S. One thing I love about your videos is the joy you show in your total self as you work.
It's hard to hide joy when you're having fun!
You have such an infectious enthusiasm, attitude and drive for what you do. Thank you .
no, thank YOU! Kind words go a very long way in this world.
You sweet lady, are amazing. Now I find you not only play music, you make the instrument. Wow. Just wow! Sounded good by the way.
Blonde mandolins are so rare, it makes more of a statement than a burst. I natural finish says to me that you're proud of the wood you selected and want the world to see it.
I agree!
There's people in this world that are famous that haven't come close to the accomplishments or achievements of Anne. It's unfortunate that most of the world doesn't get to know or see the amazing talents of this lady. She's a true inspiration of what I hope my two girls can become when they grow up to be women.
My mandolin project has been sitting half finished for about 25 years. You just inspired me to revisit it. Great video! Enjoyed your playing at the end too. :)
I stand in awe of your multi-field talents. I grew up with a large family of musicians (mostly aunts, uncles, and cousins) and dearly loved the sounds they made with Mandolins, banjos, guitars, violins (fiddles), harmonicas, tubs, spoons, and even pianos, accordions (and various squeezeboxes) and of course voices. All had other jobs and played mostly for church and family. And they all played several instruments. Me? I'm a putz and pluck AT it and don't play it. BUT I do appreciate it. Thanks for being a Mandolinist. A great instrument. Looking forward to some serious finishing work and the NEXT one.
Thanks so much! The next one is inevitable ;)
Beautiful work on the mandolin and nice playing too. But I think what I liked to see most was when you were sitting in the chair that you made, in the garden that you built and playing the mandolin that you carved out was the smile on your face. The look of satisfaction of knowing that you did it. I like to think that smile was the best part of it all. Please keep up the great work in not just the videos, gardening or woodwork but in all that you do. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
Thank you so much for those kind words. Brought a big smile to my face.
✨Anne✨ Please share more videos playing your awesome-wonderfully hand crafted Mandolin that you so patiently created here…. I fully enjoyed seeing it in your eyes and smiles, that you shared here 💞 Is so touchingly real! You certainly have the gift in your HEART to share your own personal JOY with others!! I personally Thank You for sharing this Joy with this awesome video of your Love for life and handcrafted items! ✨You are a Totally amazing person!✨ Thank you Anne! 👍 Your work is outstandingly beautiful! 💞
Great job Anne. I’m a new fan. Love the use of the travesher. I’ve not seen one used before on mandolins. Not only did you build a very challenging and wonderful instrument, you get it. As an instrument maker for over 40 years I can tell you that you’re 100% right that the tension builds up the closer you get to a completed instrument. Every little detail counts and you have to be 100% focused as you complete the build. Finishing is another area that can ruin days of careful work. Sunbursts cover mistakes, even at the Pro level. Keep making great videos!
"I hope you leave this video feeling challenged, inspired and excited to get outside ..." Jeeze, stop inspiring me already! I watched this video a couple of hours ago, and now I'm back indoors covered with sweat and dirt, with sore muscles on top of sore muscles, with a big blister on my hand plus various scratches and scrapes, a pair of pants stained with chainsaw oil and a severely abused chainsaw that's going to need a thorough disassembly and cleaning (as am I, come to think of it). You're altogether too inspiring!
(I don't have a beautiful mandolin to show for all that, but I do have some nice pieces of oak root wood that will hopefully become beautiful bowls.)
hahahaha! This is great. Thanks for the chuckle. I'd love to see some of those bowls.
@@AnneofAllTrades 😃😍 See my channel for some "display" (not how-to) videos, or www.TheChewedStick.com
Nicely done. I very much appreciate the last scene with you playing on the chair in the garden. The things we build with care become part of us. There is a satisfaction and complete knowledge of the crafted items which is not generally understood by those who don't do the work. I am eager to help other folks learn & do things for themselves, but avoid doing the job for them.
That's the best way to help! Sometimes all it takes is having someone you know and trust encouraging you along the way.
@@AnneofAllTrades You are a truly gifted young woman.
Pretty cool! I loved the end where you were sitting in your self made garden, in your self made chair, playing your self made mandolin.
Thank you Anne for being the person you are. You are an inspiration.
You are too kind Dave!
That's a beautiful mandolin Anne.... Nicely done.... 🤙
So it's an ANNE-dolin! Nice work!
ha! It sure is.
I've always admired the craftsmanship and knowledge that goes in to making musical instruments like this. No surprise that you excel at it. Got to say it yet once more... You're an amazing person Anne Briggs. Proud to know you.
Thank you Lee, you are too kind.
and now Anne is a Luthier as well! Nice build.
Totally cool Anne, just a dream to watch you do your stuff
That's pretty amazing, Anne! Nicely done. In the garden you built, in the Windsor chair you built, playing the Mandolin you built - AWESOME! #KeepTheChipsFlying!
Lots of smiles over here this week!
Great work! I agree with you on the blond color.
Well done. What a fabulous build. Nice bit of playing too. You should be very proud.
Thanks so much!
Looking forward to hearing more from your beautiful new mandolin. Thank you for sharing your story. God bless you and your family
Beautiful mandolin congratulations!
You have infectious personality that just makes you want to see more of your videos and can’t wait to see what your next challenge build is. Keep it up
Thank you so much. I'll do my best!
Blown away by your multiple TALENTS...cheers...rr Normandy, France
Thank you!
Building a mandolin was the whole reason I got into wood working as well! Yours turned out MUCH nicer than mine lol. It looks and sound awsome.
Ha! That's awesome. Thank you!
@@AnneofAllTrades also, you should check out obrienguitars.com. he offers a modernized french polish course (both live and a downloadable video) that helped me out a lot. If you want you can see the results I get on Instagram @bgormly31. Still new, but it works quite well.
Ann
What can’t you do ? This is just amazing, and has to be such a rewarding feeling to have made this woodworking masterpiece on your own.
Very impressive, is all I can say. It’s a beautiful looking instrument.
Loved the video, enjoy your new mandolin.
Louie
USA 🇺🇸
Anne such a Beautiful piece and if you're a country bumpkin sitting in your awesome garden so am i ... play those tunes...
Made me smile. Fantastic story to go along with that beautiful creation. Thanks for sharing.
You have to be the most, all around, talented person I've ever known about. What a blessing to watch you bring us all your passions. Thank you for sharing them with us. I enjoy every minute of your videos.
It both looks and sounds great. So happy to see you accomplishing your long term woodworking goal... hopefully it's time to set new goals and keep learning to work towards them!
Oh absolutely! Weirdly, the list keeps getting longer not shorter...
Beautiful Instrument!
Found myself smiling at the end of the video! Guess that means you did a good job with the build, playing it and the video. Thanks.
What a great build!! You have a lot of patience for perfection. I would quickly get tired and careless and oh what I mess I would have made---lol. You are living a rich life!!
hahahaha I've got a bit of patience yet to learn for sure ;)
It is much satisfaction in dreaming of something and putting it all together to enjoy for your entire life thanks for sharing this with us ehhh
Thanks for the support! It's fun to share this stuff.
Is there anything that you can't do? The mandolin is beautiful and it was a lot of fun to watch you build it and explain some of the process to us.
haha oh there's plenty I can't do, but I do love trying new things! Thanks for watching :)
So much talent, so inspirational. I can’t help but smile while watching your channel.
It seriously doesn't get any better than this.... ❤️💪
Beautiful! And the mandolin looks great also!
Aloha Anne from Hilo , Hawaii,,, love the Energy behind the Instrument,,,,, i ordered myself years Back from StewMac,, it was a introduction to the Campfire Shape,,, this Kit ,, i got , i did build it in Eugene , Oregon,, Back in 2007 to 2010,, but being a Luthier myself,, i started building Hawaiian Ukulele's in Lahaina , Maui in 2005 , was when in Started,,,, being Oregon as the Moment , i built a few Ukulele's , repair , and thru "WOODCRAFT" in Coburg , Eugene,, i diid my first class , building a hawaiian Ukulele , and did a second class at Pats Carpentry shop , but i am back in Hilo , Hawaii,, i did play Traditional Music in Eugene with the Mele Aloha Group, for a few years,, i hope the Music Event in Eugene called "Uketoberfest" is still alive,, , keep building ,, Oral in Hilo, Hawaii
Amazing build Anne and in your garden setting, you play so well the joy of your achievement is self evident
Amazing, and I actually envy you on such experience of building your own mandolin. Greetings from Egypt.
Another great job Anna. I love the wood that you used for the build, especially the dark stripe down the center of the front !!! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way, you play very well ! THANKS FOR SHARING.
Thanks so much!
Good lord girl, is there no end to your talents. 😁❤️. Thanks for sharing your wonderful stories.
I love all of your videos. I enjoyed this one so very much. What first drew me to your channel was that you’re female. Then it was the variety. Then the detailed show and tell. For awhile things got more general, and while I still enjoyed it, this feels like getting back to full bodied AOAT, and I can’t wait for that bell to ring me on your next posting. Cheers!
I appreciate the kind words! I've got some really fun stuff I'm especially excited coming out over the next couple months!!
That is beautiful and sounds great, too! It's wonderful to see someone use a passion for doing one thing create something that feeds another passion. Very inspiring!
Thank you!
Not only does it look great, it sounds great. Nice job!
Thanks!
"We started the week as friends and ended as acquaintances."
LOL! Love the build.
hahahaha it was a little... stressful in there hahahaha
That should be on a t-shirt
Wow! That's terrific. You are such a talented person.
Thank you!
This video is excellent! You are an inspiration!
I loved watching this. the mandolin sounds great too!
Thank you!
Great Job Anne!
That sure does have a good sound to it! You play it well, too!
That is so neat! I love the last scene in the garden, shows all your talents!
It was a pretty surreal moment, making that realization! Thanks for the support :)
Great work. Nice jam on the Sailors Hornpipe. It is inspiring. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the build!
Very cool. I took to instrument building myself after playing since I was a little kid. Nothing more satisfying than someone asking me who built my drums when I play them because they love how they sound. Funny how one passion leads to another. ...side note: I have had the opportunity to meet you before and was pleasantly surprised to find that you are just as nice and humble in person. 🍻
Thanks Bryan, you are too kind!
Beyond words Anne..so awesome!! Definitely be proud of that!
Thank you Mark! I am :)
good for you . thank you Anne . my health broke so i started to get a shop put together to keep me busy . i am hoping to build guitars , steel and classical . in process now with the forms for classical now . it just takes time to make all the stuff to even start building . as you saw all the special tooling . i do have time on my side at least . so much to do yea
I love your enthusiasm!! And I too dont always follow traditional leanings sometimes yes but as in your choice of finish I would do as you did. Keep up the awsome channel I look forward to your projects
Awesome! Thank you! I'm not sure which order you're watching these videos in, but if you're in for a binge, I've released QUITE a few since this one came out ;)
@@AnneofAllTrades yes I first caught you when you were forging tools and I liked what I saw, then I saw woodworking vids too and now im hooked, all the best in your endeavors,you seem like a kindred spirit if I may
Great Job Miss Anne, The mandolin is amazing and I can watch you play all day.
Thank you!
Most instrument repair people do not play. It makes all the difference when you know what it can do, what all the parts are, how to refine everything, inside and out. I suggest an electric as a project for you in the future. Thanks for such a great video.
Lovely craftsmanship!
This is so cool!
Thank you!
Beautiful work
Unbelievable talent. Great job.
That’s relatable, I got into woodworking because I wanted to build a guitar. Glad I did. Thanks for sharing this.
Oh really! That's awesome.
It is a beautiful instrument.
Just watched this one again. Enjoyed it just as much the second time. I wish you would sit down some time and play a tune or two on one of your mandolins.
Maybe one day!
Well done Anne.
Thank you!
That is awesome! I watch Jerry Rosa build/repair stringed instruments, and he makes beautiful mandolins too.... that just has to be sooooo satisfying for you! Hope you do make some more!
I'm excited to check his channel out! So many folks have recommended it!
Dang...that is just a beautiful piece of craftsmanship right there. Some very fine picking too. I tip my hat to you fair lady...🎩.
Thank you!
Loved watching the build. Thank you for sharing Anne.
Thank you!
Great job, Anne! It came out amazing. That router jig for doing the edge piece is pretty wild!
Talk about STRESS! Routers and 80% complete instruments make me nervous!
Anne your joint is the best because you are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up. Your Amazing, Deal with it !!!!! :)
ha! You are too kind.
That look awesome! And I love the way mandolin sounds it’s just so relaxing
Awesome job on it. You are very blessed to have such a great life.
Thank you very much! I agree, and I'm grateful for it every day.
The mandolin looks great Anna and congrats on being able to build one.
You're so good at playing! Love it!
I've got a lot more practice to do, but it sure is fun getting more confident as a player!!
Your mandolin turned out fantastic! What a gorgeous instrument that you can be proud to say you made. By the way, you play it beautifully! Enjoyed the video, keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! What a fun project!!
You are really of all trades!
Great job!
Beautiful!
Fantastic Anne! Wonderful project and such satisfaction on a job well done! Amazing! Felt the same way when I built my son a full chess set. Nothing is better
Wonderful! Both Girl An Creation!
Nice job. I'm finishing 2 as I type this.
amazing! I've caught the bug and want to do another one now.
Anne, You're an amazing craftsperson, keep it going. Very enjoyable channel.
Great job