1 00:00:00,566 --> 00:00:02,500 (gentle music) 2 00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:07,333 - Welcome to the "Volunteer Woodworker." 3 00:00:07,333 --> 00:00:09,366 I'm your host Charles Brock. 4 00:00:09,366 --> 00:00:12,166 Come with me as we drive the back roads, 5 00:00:12,166 --> 00:00:16,733 bringing you the story of America's finest woodworkers. 6 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:19,266 (upbeat music) 7 00:00:26,033 --> 00:00:29,500 (upbeat music continues) 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,800 We're going to Nashville, Tennessee to meet Dan Voight. 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,733 Dan became interested in the mandolin at an early age. 10 00:00:42,733 --> 00:00:45,033 He not only wanted to play it. 11 00:00:45,033 --> 00:00:46,633 He wanted to build one 12 00:00:46,633 --> 00:00:50,233 that would perform to his high standard. 13 00:00:50,233 --> 00:00:53,666 Eventually, performance and The Art of Lutherie 14 00:00:53,666 --> 00:00:55,266 led him to the music city 15 00:00:55,266 --> 00:00:58,233 where his work is in constant demand. 16 00:00:58,233 --> 00:00:59,666 Hear his story. 17 00:00:59,666 --> 00:01:01,166 Let's meet Dan Voight. 18 00:01:02,766 --> 00:01:05,733 - [Narrator] "Volunteer Woodworker" is funded in part by... 19 00:01:05,733 --> 00:01:08,733 Since 1970, Whiteside Machine Company has been producing 20 00:01:08,733 --> 00:01:12,500 industrial grade router bits in Claremont, North Carolina. 21 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:15,833 Whiteside makes carbide bits for edge forming, grooving, 22 00:01:15,833 --> 00:01:17,733 and CNC application. 23 00:01:17,733 --> 00:01:20,500 Learn more at whitesiderouterbits.com. 24 00:01:22,066 --> 00:01:25,733 Real Milk Paint Company makes VOC free non-toxic milk paint 25 00:01:25,733 --> 00:01:28,000 available in 56 colors. 26 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,266 Milk paint creates a matte wood finish 27 00:01:30,266 --> 00:01:32,533 that can be distressed for an antique look. 28 00:01:35,533 --> 00:01:37,800 Good Wood Nashville designs custom furniture 29 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,400 and is a supplier of vintage hardwoods. 30 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:44,600 Keri Price with Keller Williams Realty has been assisting 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,800 Middle Tennessee home buyers and sellers since 2013. 32 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,366 Mayfield Hardwood Lumber, 33 00:01:51,833 --> 00:01:54,666 supplying Appalachian hardwoods worldwide. 34 00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:58,400 Anna's Creative Lens. 35 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:03,100 - Wow! 36 00:02:04,533 --> 00:02:07,100 What a collection of mandolins. 37 00:02:08,366 --> 00:02:09,733 Did you make all these? 38 00:02:09,733 --> 00:02:11,000 - I did. 39 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,233 - Wow, so they are like your grandchildren. 40 00:02:14,233 --> 00:02:18,100 They're your grand mandolins, and a guitar. 41 00:02:18,100 --> 00:02:19,500 - And a guitar, that's right. 42 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:22,166 - Gosh, thank you guys. 43 00:02:23,233 --> 00:02:26,666 Have y'all heard the wood shop rag? 44 00:02:26,666 --> 00:02:30,500 It's the theme for the "Volunteer Woodworker." 45 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,200 Could you play it for us? 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,766 - We could probably get through that. 47 00:02:34,766 --> 00:02:36,066 - All right. 48 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:38,566 A one and a two and a... 49 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:41,866 (upbeat acoustic music) 50 00:02:47,866 --> 00:02:51,966 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 51 00:02:56,766 --> 00:03:00,800 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 52 00:03:05,733 --> 00:03:09,866 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 53 00:03:14,833 --> 00:03:18,966 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 54 00:03:23,766 --> 00:03:27,900 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 55 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,933 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 56 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,933 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 57 00:03:50,833 --> 00:03:55,000 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 58 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:03,733 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 59 00:04:09,033 --> 00:04:14,000 We're gonna find out all about Dan, his story, 60 00:04:15,433 --> 00:04:17,433 and he'll even show you a little bit of what he does 61 00:04:17,433 --> 00:04:20,900 when he makes one of these great instruments. 62 00:04:20,900 --> 00:04:25,300 I'd like to thank all you guys for showing up today. 63 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:29,733 Just such a beautiful job, the wood shop rag. 64 00:04:29,733 --> 00:04:30,933 Thank you very much. 65 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:35,333 Well, Dan, you do some beautiful work. 66 00:04:35,333 --> 00:04:38,666 I just love your mandolins. 67 00:04:38,666 --> 00:04:40,900 They're past fancy, 68 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:45,033 and you're a very well known lutherie. 69 00:04:45,033 --> 00:04:48,266 You do repairs and all kinds of stuff. 70 00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:50,233 You haven't always done this though. 71 00:04:50,233 --> 00:04:53,133 Tell us about young Dan Voight. 72 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:59,466 - Well, before I got into playing mandolin and building 73 00:04:59,466 --> 00:05:01,266 and doing that sort of thing, 74 00:05:01,266 --> 00:05:06,233 I played guitar for a number of years as a young man. 75 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:12,066 And it wasn't until I was around 16 years old 76 00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:18,700 where I saw someone building a kit, 77 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:23,666 a mandolin kit where you order the parts and assemble them. 78 00:05:25,266 --> 00:05:27,700 And since I'd always kind of been the person to do things 79 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:29,766 or wanna do things myself, you know, 80 00:05:29,766 --> 00:05:33,133 I like to get into things and see how it works myself, 81 00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:36,666 I thought, well, I could do that. 82 00:05:40,233 --> 00:05:41,533 Around that time, 83 00:05:41,533 --> 00:05:43,233 I was also interested in playing the mandolin, 84 00:05:44,733 --> 00:05:48,133 but looking into them and seeing how expensive they were, 85 00:05:48,133 --> 00:05:50,933 because on average they run a little bit more 86 00:05:50,933 --> 00:05:52,433 than a guitar would. 87 00:05:52,433 --> 00:05:56,900 So I had decent guitars, but the mandolin I was playing 88 00:05:58,133 --> 00:06:00,666 didn't sound quite like how I wanted it to. 89 00:06:00,666 --> 00:06:03,600 So I thought, well, maybe I can build a nice one 90 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:04,766 for myself to play. 91 00:06:04,766 --> 00:06:09,700 And that had always been the drive 92 00:06:11,033 --> 00:06:13,566 to build a mandolin was not so much for a business 93 00:06:13,566 --> 00:06:17,033 or that kind of thing, but just to play a mandolin 94 00:06:17,033 --> 00:06:20,400 or to build a mandolin that I wanted to play. 95 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,366 So that was the initial inspiration to start. 96 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:28,433 - Have you accomplished it? 97 00:06:28,433 --> 00:06:31,566 - I have, I have built, I think my favorite mandolin 98 00:06:31,566 --> 00:06:35,533 that I've played is probably one that I've made. 99 00:06:35,533 --> 00:06:37,566 - That's a wonderful endorsement. 100 00:06:37,566 --> 00:06:38,833 - Yeah. 101 00:06:38,833 --> 00:06:41,466 It's easy to make music on an instrument 102 00:06:41,466 --> 00:06:45,233 that's not fighting you, you know, 103 00:06:47,933 --> 00:06:49,400 it kind of gets out of the way. 104 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:50,733 You forget you're playing an instrument, 105 00:06:50,733 --> 00:06:52,066 you're just making music. 106 00:06:52,066 --> 00:06:53,533 - It becomes the perfect tool. 107 00:06:53,533 --> 00:06:54,400 - It does, yeah. 108 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:55,866 - Yeah, that's great. 109 00:06:55,866 --> 00:06:59,600 Were you interested in art when you were a youngster? 110 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,833 - I was, I think as a child, 111 00:07:03,833 --> 00:07:07,000 I always enjoyed drawing and painting 112 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,600 and making things, 113 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:15,333 but I would spend a lot of time really committed to that. 114 00:07:15,333 --> 00:07:20,100 I mean, I would spend, I remember maybe later middle school, 115 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:22,933 early high school years, 116 00:07:22,933 --> 00:07:27,633 I would sit and draw 10, 12 hours a day. 117 00:07:27,633 --> 00:07:32,600 And I think that time for one time by myself 118 00:07:33,533 --> 00:07:34,866 and being able to be by myself 119 00:07:34,866 --> 00:07:37,933 and focus on doing something really helped me 120 00:07:39,333 --> 00:07:42,066 see the fruits in doing things like making instruments. 121 00:07:42,066 --> 00:07:46,533 And it also trained my eye on things like symmetry 122 00:07:46,533 --> 00:07:49,700 and curve and form and shape 123 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:52,733 and all these things that all have to come together 124 00:07:52,733 --> 00:07:55,966 when you're building an instrument, 125 00:07:55,966 --> 00:07:58,066 especially something with all the curves on it 126 00:07:58,066 --> 00:08:00,666 like these F-style mandolins have. 127 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:06,666 - Well, music is kind of like art or a mandolin. 128 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:10,833 Music is a bunch of things coming together. 129 00:08:10,833 --> 00:08:12,000 - Yeah. 130 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,166 - And you were attracted to music also? 131 00:08:14,166 --> 00:08:15,766 - Yes, definitely. 132 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,566 Like I said, I started playing guitar when I was 12. 133 00:08:21,566 --> 00:08:26,533 My parents both encouraged me to play to get into music, 134 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,300 and I had guitars around the house, 135 00:08:34,533 --> 00:08:38,833 but I never got into it until this young man 136 00:08:38,833 --> 00:08:40,800 from school that I went to, 137 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,466 he came over to my house one time 138 00:08:43,466 --> 00:08:47,133 and he played some actual music on this guitar that I had. 139 00:08:47,133 --> 00:08:48,900 And I was just like, wow. 140 00:08:50,100 --> 00:08:55,100 And that really inspired me to spend time 141 00:08:56,100 --> 00:08:59,466 and to really dig in and play. 142 00:08:59,466 --> 00:09:02,300 And around this time, 143 00:09:02,300 --> 00:09:07,266 it might've been year 2000, something around there 144 00:09:08,666 --> 00:09:12,300 where the internet was really starting to take off. 145 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,533 And so there was so many resources online 146 00:09:15,533 --> 00:09:16,900 to learn how to play. 147 00:09:16,900 --> 00:09:19,633 And so that was another thing I took up for myself 148 00:09:19,633 --> 00:09:23,800 is to teach myself kind of how to play the guitar. 149 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,833 - And you became noticed in your community 150 00:09:28,833 --> 00:09:33,466 or while you were maybe in school as a builder, 151 00:09:33,466 --> 00:09:36,933 as a player, tell us about that. 152 00:09:37,833 --> 00:09:40,666 - Well, after high school, 153 00:09:40,666 --> 00:09:45,633 I felt the need to study further, to go to college. 154 00:09:48,933 --> 00:09:52,633 And it just so happened that the local university 155 00:09:52,633 --> 00:09:56,866 had a guitar teacher who also taught mandolin. 156 00:09:56,866 --> 00:09:59,666 So I was able to do a mandolin degree 157 00:09:59,666 --> 00:10:02,833 at the University of Michigan Flint, 158 00:10:02,833 --> 00:10:04,633 much like you would do a guitar degree 159 00:10:04,633 --> 00:10:06,466 or any other instrument. 160 00:10:06,466 --> 00:10:09,833 And they adapted the program for mandolin. 161 00:10:09,833 --> 00:10:13,966 But while I was there, yeah, the local news did a story 162 00:10:13,966 --> 00:10:17,566 on my building and that was nice. 163 00:10:17,566 --> 00:10:18,900 - That's great. 164 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:22,033 How did you end up in Nashville, Tennessee? 165 00:10:23,566 --> 00:10:28,000 - Well, I had gone to, I don't think they run this anymore. 166 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:32,700 I don't think it exists anymore, 167 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:37,266 but the mandolin symposium, which Mike Marshall, 168 00:10:37,266 --> 00:10:41,300 the mandolin player, he headed that up. 169 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:46,233 And it was a week long of mandolin class 170 00:10:46,233 --> 00:10:48,733 and basically a full mandolin immersion 171 00:10:48,733 --> 00:10:53,666 out in Santa Cruz, California, University of San Jose. 172 00:10:57,533 --> 00:11:00,166 And I went there on a scholarship. 173 00:11:00,166 --> 00:11:03,533 I was able to get scholarship from my university, 174 00:11:03,533 --> 00:11:06,733 and I just enjoyed that so much. 175 00:11:06,733 --> 00:11:11,733 And I met some people there who lived here and they said, 176 00:11:13,166 --> 00:11:14,833 why don't you come down here? 177 00:11:14,833 --> 00:11:17,000 I mean, you're building mandolins, you're playing mandolins. 178 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,966 Nashville was, you know, it made sense to come here 179 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,000 and continue the craft and to meet people 180 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,866 and to be able to be immersed in the music here as well. 181 00:11:31,866 --> 00:11:33,900 - Well, as a woodworker, 182 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:39,966 there's a lot of woodworking in a mandolin. 183 00:11:42,466 --> 00:11:47,366 Tell us about some of the parts of a mandolin 184 00:11:47,366 --> 00:11:50,400 and how wood and wire kind of come together. 185 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,333 - Sure, so a mandolin is made much like an archtop guitar 186 00:12:00,433 --> 00:12:05,366 where you have a body and then you have a neck, 187 00:12:06,433 --> 00:12:09,433 which the notes are selected here 188 00:12:09,433 --> 00:12:11,533 and strings running across. 189 00:12:11,533 --> 00:12:14,866 So the strings are connected to a tailpiece, 190 00:12:14,866 --> 00:12:16,466 like on an archtop guitar, 191 00:12:17,733 --> 00:12:21,833 and they run over the bridge and down the neck 192 00:12:21,833 --> 00:12:23,466 and to the tuning machines here 193 00:12:23,466 --> 00:12:25,833 where you can adjust the tension like a guitar. 194 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:31,733 The main difference is obviously the size. 195 00:12:31,733 --> 00:12:34,266 The mandolins tune like a violin. 196 00:12:34,266 --> 00:12:37,400 And so the pitch is the same. 197 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,300 So a lot of violin music you would play 198 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:42,333 translates well on mandolin. 199 00:12:43,266 --> 00:12:45,400 And you have a top here 200 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,300 which receives a vibration of the strings. 201 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:50,666 - [Charles] So this is not glued down? 202 00:12:50,666 --> 00:12:52,200 - It's not. 203 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,600 So that will come off, and sometimes it happens on accident 204 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,833 and that's something I have to fix for people sometimes. 205 00:12:59,833 --> 00:13:04,100 But the sound is transferred through the top here 206 00:13:04,100 --> 00:13:05,366 and it vibrates 207 00:13:05,366 --> 00:13:07,566 and then comes back out through the sound holes. 208 00:13:07,566 --> 00:13:12,533 And the back also vibrates sympathetically with the top, 209 00:13:13,733 --> 00:13:15,233 so that has a lot to do with the sound. 210 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:21,200 There are a few braces on the inside of the instrument 211 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:22,833 that help support the sound 212 00:13:22,833 --> 00:13:26,766 and help create the tone as you hear it. 213 00:13:26,766 --> 00:13:28,433 - I heard tone woods. 214 00:13:28,433 --> 00:13:29,900 - Yes. 215 00:13:29,900 --> 00:13:33,400 - And so what are the tone woods that are used here? 216 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,033 - In this particular instrument, 217 00:13:35,033 --> 00:13:39,733 you have an Adirondack spruce top, 218 00:13:39,733 --> 00:13:41,300 which are really nice 219 00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:45,666 because you can carve them quite thin, 220 00:13:45,666 --> 00:13:48,800 but they still retain their strength, 221 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,500 so they end up vibrating quite nicely. 222 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:55,966 And they work well for instruments, especially the mandolin. 223 00:13:55,966 --> 00:13:58,200 - And the tops and sides 224 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,066 or the bottoms and sides are different, right? 225 00:14:01,066 --> 00:14:02,566 - Right. 226 00:14:02,566 --> 00:14:06,600 So this is some very nicely figured maple back inside. 227 00:14:09,766 --> 00:14:14,500 And largely, maple is used because it's structural 228 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,933 just to hold the shape and the form of the instrument. 229 00:14:18,933 --> 00:14:22,233 The neck also is made of maple. 230 00:14:22,233 --> 00:14:25,300 - But there's so much art here. 231 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,300 All of this little, is this binding? 232 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:31,200 - It's binding, yes. 233 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,633 - And this all applied and cut by hand. 234 00:14:33,633 --> 00:14:35,066 - It is. - Glued on. 235 00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:36,666 - It is. - Yeah. 236 00:14:36,666 --> 00:14:41,466 - So this binding is nitrocellulose, 237 00:14:41,466 --> 00:14:43,333 same stuff as ping pong balls. 238 00:14:43,333 --> 00:14:44,166 - Really? 239 00:14:44,166 --> 00:14:45,066 Wow, didn't know that. 240 00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:50,800 - But basically we mandolin makers will cut a channel 241 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,833 or a ledge into the side of the instrument, 242 00:14:52,833 --> 00:14:55,566 and then this binding is bent 243 00:14:55,566 --> 00:14:58,866 and glued into that channel. 244 00:14:58,866 --> 00:15:00,600 - Well, you've got a shop here. 245 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,033 - I do. 246 00:15:02,033 --> 00:15:04,566 - Can you take us down and show us how you do it? 247 00:15:04,566 --> 00:15:05,400 - Let's go. 248 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:06,200 - All right. 249 00:15:07,433 --> 00:15:10,833 (upbeat acoustic music) 250 00:15:16,833 --> 00:15:20,966 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 251 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,933 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 252 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,733 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 253 00:15:45,266 --> 00:15:46,566 These are tone woods. 254 00:15:46,566 --> 00:15:48,233 Is this where it all starts? 255 00:15:48,233 --> 00:15:51,100 - It is, so what we have here 256 00:15:52,533 --> 00:15:57,466 is one very highly figured maple back for a mandolin. 257 00:15:58,733 --> 00:16:02,200 Two piece came out of the tree like this, 258 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,500 and we're gonna glue it together like this 259 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,466 and we'll carve it 260 00:16:08,466 --> 00:16:11,566 and this will will be the backside of a mandolin. 261 00:16:11,566 --> 00:16:13,700 - Now, that is beautifully figured. 262 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:17,100 It just shimmers. 263 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:18,933 - [Dan] You would be hard pressed 264 00:16:18,933 --> 00:16:22,633 to find a figured maple more figured than this. 265 00:16:22,633 --> 00:16:25,333 This is really outstanding. 266 00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:27,066 - So, that's the back. 267 00:16:27,066 --> 00:16:30,300 And then there there's material for the sides. 268 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:31,100 - That's right. 269 00:16:32,333 --> 00:16:37,300 So here we have some mandolin side stock 270 00:16:38,233 --> 00:16:40,233 that I've sanded to thickness. 271 00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:45,233 And we will steam bend this to get the shape 272 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,033 for the perimeter of the instrument. 273 00:16:48,033 --> 00:16:49,866 - And it's figured also to match 274 00:16:49,866 --> 00:16:50,666 - [Dan] It is. 275 00:16:50,666 --> 00:16:52,166 - And that's very nice. 276 00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:55,533 Yeah, very thin, but you'll steam it. 277 00:16:55,533 --> 00:16:57,066 - [Dan] That's right. 278 00:16:57,066 --> 00:17:00,133 - [Charles] So you can make those beautiful graceful curves 279 00:17:00,133 --> 00:17:02,066 that the mandolin is known for. 280 00:17:02,066 --> 00:17:03,333 - That's right. 281 00:17:03,333 --> 00:17:07,733 - And then for the top, what have we got? 282 00:17:07,733 --> 00:17:12,000 - So for the top, we have a two piece, 283 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,733 much like the back, but it's a different wood. 284 00:17:14,733 --> 00:17:19,000 Instead of maple, we'll use Adirondack spruce. 285 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,833 And structurally, it's sufficient for the top, 286 00:17:22,833 --> 00:17:27,733 but much lighter in weight and tone wood also, 287 00:17:27,733 --> 00:17:29,666 because it rings. 288 00:17:29,666 --> 00:17:31,233 - Let's see. 289 00:17:31,233 --> 00:17:32,733 (wood thuds) 290 00:17:32,733 --> 00:17:34,033 You have to hang it like this. 291 00:17:34,033 --> 00:17:34,833 - That's right. 292 00:17:36,633 --> 00:17:38,566 There's a node here 293 00:17:38,566 --> 00:17:42,533 somewhere around three, four inches from that corner. 294 00:17:42,533 --> 00:17:44,100 (wood dinging) 295 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:45,366 You can get it to sing. 296 00:17:45,366 --> 00:17:47,233 (wood tapping) 297 00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:49,933 - Oh, yours sings better than mine. 298 00:17:49,933 --> 00:17:51,166 That's great. 299 00:17:51,166 --> 00:17:53,366 Well, there's also a neck and so forth. 300 00:17:53,366 --> 00:17:55,733 Can you show us those pieces? 301 00:17:55,733 --> 00:17:59,466 - So here we have a mandolin neck in its early stages. 302 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,766 You can see here how it was one piece, this width, 303 00:18:04,766 --> 00:18:08,100 but we've glued on some ears to make it big enough 304 00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:11,100 for the headstock pattern to fit. 305 00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:13,866 Also, we've routed a channel 306 00:18:13,866 --> 00:18:16,200 and put a truss rod in here, 307 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,166 and the truss rod helps to counteract 308 00:18:18,166 --> 00:18:21,633 the tension of the strings to keep the neck straight. 309 00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:23,033 - And that's important I guess, 310 00:18:23,033 --> 00:18:25,366 so it keeps it from having a bow, or... 311 00:18:25,366 --> 00:18:26,200 - That's right. 312 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:27,666 - Yeah, wonderful. 313 00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:31,866 So there's a bit of engineering that goes on here. 314 00:18:31,866 --> 00:18:35,200 - There is, just equalizing the tension of the strings, 315 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,766 keeping the neck straight allows the instrument 316 00:18:37,766 --> 00:18:39,233 to play as easy as possible. 317 00:18:39,233 --> 00:18:43,833 - Well, I've seen different styles of mandolins. 318 00:18:43,833 --> 00:18:47,533 In the United States, there's an an A-model. 319 00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:48,800 - That's right. 320 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,633 - And this is an F-5, is that what it's known as? 321 00:18:52,633 --> 00:18:54,066 - Yes, the F-model, 322 00:18:54,066 --> 00:18:58,966 which it's known for its extra curves and appointments. 323 00:19:00,233 --> 00:19:02,366 - Yeah, who designed this type of mandolin? 324 00:19:02,366 --> 00:19:06,033 - Yes, so actually in the early 20th century, 325 00:19:06,033 --> 00:19:10,800 Gibson came out with the first F-model mandolins 326 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,800 or the mandolins with a scroll on them. 327 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:18,766 And Lloyd Loar has popularized these F-style mandolins, 328 00:19:20,033 --> 00:19:21,800 and they have become sort of the foundation 329 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,366 on which your modern F mandolin is built on today, 330 00:19:26,366 --> 00:19:27,966 that fundamental design. 331 00:19:27,966 --> 00:19:30,333 - And so usually like with bluegrass music 332 00:19:30,333 --> 00:19:35,300 or old time music, it might be an F-model, 333 00:19:36,533 --> 00:19:39,300 but it could also be an old A-model too. 334 00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:40,700 - Sure, yeah. 335 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:43,433 And A-model, they're built much in the same way, 336 00:19:43,433 --> 00:19:48,400 carved top, carved back, and they sound also quite the same. 337 00:19:52,366 --> 00:19:55,300 I would say F-model gets a little more attention 338 00:19:55,300 --> 00:19:58,633 because of the flare it has in the design. 339 00:19:58,633 --> 00:19:59,833 But mandolin has been around 340 00:19:59,833 --> 00:20:01,866 a long time before that, actually. 341 00:20:01,866 --> 00:20:05,266 Mandolins used to have a flat top with a bowl back, 342 00:20:05,266 --> 00:20:08,000 which is a totally different construction. 343 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,966 And they all originate from the lute family instruments. 344 00:20:14,366 --> 00:20:16,866 So there's all kinds of shapes and sizes of mandolin. 345 00:20:16,866 --> 00:20:19,600 - How do you put all the parts together? 346 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,933 - So I had stock before here. 347 00:20:21,933 --> 00:20:24,600 And we said we were gonna bend this into this shape, 348 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,166 so that's what we have here. 349 00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:30,500 And all the side pieces are glued 350 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:35,500 onto these mahogany blocks here and they retain, 351 00:20:36,766 --> 00:20:38,233 or they hold the shape of the instrument 352 00:20:38,233 --> 00:20:41,266 and give some structural points. 353 00:20:41,266 --> 00:20:43,500 Also, we have some lining 354 00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:47,100 or curved lining with small cuts here 355 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:51,500 to allow you to bend and glue this piece there. 356 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,733 And that gives you a ledge to glue your top 357 00:20:54,733 --> 00:20:56,733 and your back onto the instrument. 358 00:20:56,733 --> 00:20:59,100 So that's essentially the gluing surface there. 359 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,233 - Wow. 360 00:21:01,233 --> 00:21:06,100 Now, to to curve the top and the back, 361 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:11,533 it takes some special tools and a special eye. 362 00:21:11,533 --> 00:21:16,000 I think the specifications are very specific. 363 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,933 - Yes, it's very important actually how thin the top is, 364 00:21:19,933 --> 00:21:22,600 how high or how low the arching is 365 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,833 all plays a role into how it moves, 366 00:21:26,833 --> 00:21:30,000 the flexibility of it and how it ultimately sounds. 367 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,133 - Will you show us how you do it? 368 00:21:31,133 --> 00:21:32,033 - Sure, let's see. 369 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,033 - So I see that this is an F-style top 370 00:21:37,033 --> 00:21:39,900 and it's arched. 371 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:44,900 In fact, it kind of recurves out this way 372 00:21:45,700 --> 00:21:47,233 all the way around. 373 00:21:47,233 --> 00:21:51,733 It takes some special skills to be able to shape this. 374 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,033 Tell us about the tools and the skills. 375 00:21:55,033 --> 00:21:57,733 - Sure, so we have to remove everything 376 00:21:57,733 --> 00:21:59,633 that's not a mandolin. 377 00:21:59,633 --> 00:22:02,633 This has a couple elements to it. 378 00:22:02,633 --> 00:22:04,300 It's got a peak arch here. 379 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:06,400 And like you were saying, it's got a recurve 380 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,833 or a low point kind of around this area. 381 00:22:09,833 --> 00:22:11,433 And then it's got a scroll. 382 00:22:11,433 --> 00:22:14,533 So basically we just have to make all this come together 383 00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:15,900 and blend it all in 384 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,466 and finalize our exterior shape of the top. 385 00:22:19,466 --> 00:22:24,233 To do that, what I do is I'm gonna turn off all the lights 386 00:22:24,233 --> 00:22:25,900 and we'll just use this lamp here 387 00:22:25,900 --> 00:22:28,600 to cast shadows on the top. 388 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,833 And you'll see how that will help cast shadows 389 00:22:31,833 --> 00:22:35,300 to exaggerate the imperfections in the surface 390 00:22:35,300 --> 00:22:37,066 and make it easier to shape. 391 00:22:37,066 --> 00:22:39,200 - All right, can't wait to do it. 392 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,400 - [Dan] So a few tools I'd like to use here 393 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:48,400 are a gouge or a chisel that has a little curve on it. 394 00:22:49,633 --> 00:22:52,700 And I like this because I can come in here 395 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:59,033 and I can remove just small amounts of wood 396 00:22:59,033 --> 00:23:03,933 and sneak up to my line on the scroll like this. 397 00:23:03,933 --> 00:23:06,633 - [Charles] And grain wise, you're moving downhill. 398 00:23:06,633 --> 00:23:07,966 - [Dan] Always going downhill. 399 00:23:07,966 --> 00:23:09,166 That's right. 400 00:23:09,166 --> 00:23:10,833 So another tool we'll use 401 00:23:10,833 --> 00:23:15,033 is some sandpaper on a hard foam block. 402 00:23:15,033 --> 00:23:18,000 I'll actually bend this here with my hand 403 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,600 to conform to this shape, 404 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,866 and that way we can smooth everything out. 405 00:23:21,866 --> 00:23:24,666 (sandpaper scraping) 406 00:23:24,666 --> 00:23:27,233 But the more you do it, the more familiar you are 407 00:23:27,233 --> 00:23:30,400 with the shape of the instrument, the faster it goes. 408 00:23:31,833 --> 00:23:33,233 - [Charles] And the light really makes a difference 409 00:23:33,233 --> 00:23:35,633 cecause you could see all the little undulations 410 00:23:35,633 --> 00:23:38,366 and everything, the flats and the curves 411 00:23:38,366 --> 00:23:39,633 and how they come together. 412 00:23:39,633 --> 00:23:41,433 - It does, we can do a quick experiment. 413 00:23:41,433 --> 00:23:43,700 Let's say this light was directly overhead. 414 00:23:44,666 --> 00:23:46,866 Now everything looks flat. 415 00:23:46,866 --> 00:23:47,766 It looks done. 416 00:23:47,766 --> 00:23:48,700 - [Charles] Yeah. 417 00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:50,166 - [Dan] But when it's here, 418 00:23:50,166 --> 00:23:52,800 you can tell that we have a lot more shaping to do. 419 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:53,600 - Right. 420 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:58,966 (upbeat acoustic music) 421 00:24:04,733 --> 00:24:08,866 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 422 00:24:13,666 --> 00:24:17,800 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 423 00:24:22,633 --> 00:24:26,766 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 424 00:24:31,733 --> 00:24:35,866 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 425 00:24:38,166 --> 00:24:40,266 Dan, it was such a special day. 426 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,166 You are such an artist in so many ways. 427 00:24:44,166 --> 00:24:48,500 And wood building such beautiful instruments 428 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:52,933 and playing the Tennessee Waltz like no other. 429 00:24:52,933 --> 00:24:54,233 Can I come back? 430 00:24:54,233 --> 00:24:55,433 - Of course you can. 431 00:24:55,433 --> 00:24:56,933 - Thank you. 432 00:24:56,933 --> 00:24:58,533 I'm gonna be heading down the road 433 00:24:58,533 --> 00:25:01,933 to find a story of another great woodworker. 434 00:25:01,933 --> 00:25:05,100 See you next time on the "Volunteer Woodworker." 435 00:25:06,066 --> 00:25:09,366 (upbeat acoustic music) 436 00:25:14,866 --> 00:25:19,066 (upbeat acoustic music continues) 437 00:25:24,633 --> 00:25:28,133 - [Narrator] "Volunteer Woodworker" is funded in part by... 438 00:25:28,133 --> 00:25:31,533 Since 1970, Whiteside Machine Company has been producing 439 00:25:31,533 --> 00:25:34,866 industrial grade router bits in Claremont, North Carolina. 440 00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:38,200 Whiteside makes carbide bits for edge forming, grooving, 441 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,133 and CNC application. 442 00:25:40,133 --> 00:25:42,933 Learn more at whitesiderouterbits.com. 443 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:48,100 Real Milk Paint Company makes VOC free, non-toxic milk paint 444 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:50,433 available in 56 colors. 445 00:25:50,433 --> 00:25:52,666 Milk Paint creates a matte wood finish 446 00:25:52,666 --> 00:25:54,933 that can be distressed for an antique look. 447 00:25:57,933 --> 00:26:00,166 Good Wood Nashville designs custom furniture 448 00:26:00,166 --> 00:26:02,666 and is a supplier of vintage hardwoods. 449 00:26:04,133 --> 00:26:06,866 Keri Price with Keller Williams Realty has been assisting 450 00:26:06,866 --> 00:26:11,100 Middle Tennessee home buyers and sellers since 2013. 451 00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:12,666 Mayfield Hardwood Lumber, 452 00:26:14,133 --> 00:26:16,833 supplying Appalachian hardwoods worldwide. 453 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,400 Anna's Creative Lens, 454 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,866 crafters of resin on wood decorative arts. 455 00:26:24,866 --> 00:26:26,966 Visit CharlesBrockchairmaker.com 456 00:26:26,966 --> 00:26:29,366 for all you need to know about woodworking. 457 00:26:30,333 --> 00:26:32,100 If you'd like to learn even more, 458 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:35,133 free classes in a variety of subjects are available 459 00:26:35,133 --> 00:26:38,933 for streaming from CharlesBrockchairmaker.com. 460 00:26:38,933 --> 00:26:41,466 (gentle music) 461 00:26:42,933 --> 00:26:45,333 (upbeat music)