560 RSW - The Worlds Finest Mandolin Ever Built By A Human - Part 1

[@donwilliams3626]

Please express our gratitude to the whole RSW band for entertaining us as we enjoy watching your skill displayed before our very eyes. The finest ever built by mere mortal fingers

[@michaellevesque8084]

Oh, this is gonna be such a fun journey, thanks for bringing us along for the ride, Jerry.

[@greggpospiel629]

I enjoy watching your videos, your very detailed, honest and you add a little humor all at the same time. You're not only building one of the world's finest instruments but you're also inspiring several generations of future luthiers to try their hand at it and that's a good thing. God bless.

[@marshallhoward9497]

Jerry thank you. I will never make a mandolin or guitar. But I am learning so much and I don't reckon it's a waste of time. I learned to level and crown my frets, smooth the ends. Even attempt to carve a bridge. So thanks again for helping me make my instruments play as good as I possibly can.

[@jeffwarren9791]

I sure do wish there were some guys like you left in my neck of the woods to learn from.there was a few but they're all gone now.i was lucky enough to get one of their personal guitars,from a man named Jerry strangely enough!! His name was Gerald "gerry" kneebone.he was a native gentleman from prince Edward Island and he and I were freinds(he was 40 years my senior) and just a wealth of knowledge in regards to stringed instrument building.ill take a picture of the guitar and send it to ya.i wanna show you a unique feature on the neck and ask if you've ever seen it before.i suspect it is meant to be a rest for the heel of your palm to ensure the guitar doesn't slip from your hand when strumming but I'm mot sure maybe you'll know!! Look out for the pics if ya see this.thanks for being a fantastic teacher Jerry.have good one man

[@robertgoss4842]

Splendid program. Your running commentary is the best part. Greatly enjoyed watching your process---great confidence, almost no wasted motion. Eager for more mandolin madness.

[@stevevaughn2040]

Good for you. We should all want to excel at what we do, no matter what

[@smbrumbaugh]

I personally love the title of this series. It made me laugh a bit because after watching you for a long time I know you're a pretty humble guy. I love some good tongue-in-cheek humor. Knowing it's more related to your goal, I think it's great that you're aiming high!

[@robmoreau3272]

you're so humble , Jerry, but you are the BEST

[@peterjones4621]

Hi Jerry, I went back and found part 1 of this fascinating build of the worlds finest Mandolin ever built by a human. This is going to be fun, a few slabs of wood and then the finished product, a beautiful, custom Mandolin by you Jerry. In my minds eye I'm envisioning you with the finished instrument in your hands and playing us it's first ever piece. I'm now going to begin watching every episode and catch up as my tired old sleepy body allows me. Thank you Jerry, God bless you and yours.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

I think you should retitle this video "the world's finest mandolin building lesson(s) ever taught by a human" So much information in so little time.

[@ilias4156]

Thankyou thankyou thankyou. the first 2 minutes meant alot to me. Trying to get there, and have been caught short sometimes. cheers. Heres to a Goal!

[@bobollie]

I’m all in for this. Allllll innnnn. Thanks for this mate!

[@josequins9099]

Wow, I've never seen such beautiful wood markings. Absolutely stunning. Gonna binge watch this build lol

[@Daniel_cheems]

This one will be such a treat to watch! Thank you for bringing us along Jerry!

[@razvanbutiac7684]

And the journey begins... this is a really nice dream come true, no cutting corners on materials price, no cutting corners on hours spend, attentions on details that could make a brain surgeon to blush... just one target: the best hand crafted instrument Jerry can do. Good luck Jerry!!! I cannot wait to see this.

[@colindamo]

I have no doubts that your mandolin build will the best……ever! I know you are not trying to brag but if anyone would have the “right” to brag it would be you! Good luck and keep on building. Thanks Rosa crew!

[@stu-j]

Stunning maple back! Its such a shame its never really seen when you see it being played but its Stunning and a lot like the master built gibson acoustics. Gorgeous.

[@erics7712]

Hello sir, I have a lot of experience as a furniture cabinetmaker and restorer with all sorts of glues. I would strongly suggest NOT using titebond 3 for your purpose. It doesn’t harden as much as original titebond and has way more creep even after curing. You will notice a visible raised glue line even months after glue up. No matter how well you sand, it’s tends to come back. It’s a more pliable glue as it’s titebonds water resistant glue. Great for cutting boards, exterior other exposed surfaces. As I’m sure you’ve noticed even titebond creeps a bit.

[@zapa1pnt]

Jerry has been using Titebond, on his instruments, for 40 years and no problems yet.

[@TyinAlaska]

I know a few masters luthiers who would 100% agree with this statement, that if you use tightbond on a stringed instrument, always use #1/original.

[@jenniferwhite6089]

wow i would think hide glues he would have chosen to be the best for that sound wize

[@rogerramjet6615]

Very useful information thanks for sharing.

[@spudpud-T67]

@@zapa1pnt Have felt the glue joint your self. Jerry has no problems sure but he is definitely not a perfectionist.

[@Kirkorr123]

I love your sense of humor.

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Jerry…….I thought you were done building instruments??? Ah! Like most builders, you can’t give it up! Even with age and Arthur-Itis! Arthur being one of the Itis Brothers! Bruce-Itis is another! Don’t get me wrong, you ARE a master builder-luthier! The ONLY way I will stop is when they pry the chisel from my cold dead hand! I love that you are building another mandolin! It WILL be the best you or anybody can build! I am so glad that you are going to include your loyal subscribers to view the build! Love ya Jerry! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@RosaStringWorks]

No, I said I am through building for customers/orders. I have always planned to build a couple more for me/family. I will build a Dobro next.

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

Great work as always Gerry!! I´m not aa mandolin player ..but will avidly watch this build series. What makes your stuff better than the rest is your Music - Pure musicianship & NOT the ´Generic KZbin Tat´ that all the other channels use to appease the Algorithm!! Cheers from Madrid

[@chrisbassman3936]

Love the antics of the older videos from 5 years ago or so. New style isn't bad at all, but the feel isn't the same. Needs more jokes and "old man talk" as i call it regarding the minescuel complaints. Just a hoot. Love the super string heavy bluegrass originals you play too.

[@MrBuck6566]

Ditto what Kre8tive said...Can't express how much enjoyment I have gotten from your Video's over the years. However on this project I will be anxiously awaiting each episode.

[@matspersson5188]

We’re definitely in for a treat here. Can’t wait. 👍🏼

[@Hot88s]

Can’t wait for the next video! I’ve always wanted a f mandolin, but still playing my c model. Love your videos.

[@colinowenuk]

Really looking forward to the rest of this journey.

[@maoribaca2655]

What a joy. I love how sincere you are I knew for a dam fact that this was no click bait and was a sincere attempt on your part to make the finest instrument made by a human.

[@cliffludo6860]

Never in a million years would I have thought I would get hooked on a Yank building a mandolin! Subscribed by a limey!

[@wayneshirey6999]

John Steinbeck once said that if you reach for the moon you can sometimes catch a few fireflies.

[@JonesJr_art]

I honestly believe you will make the very best mandolin you can possibly make. As this mandolin passes down in your family, it will be a treasure I am certain. Excited to see the process!

[@1980bwc]

Im so excited about this build! Its bittersweet though. Its sad to think there will not be anymore new Rosa instruments being produced anymore. Not for the public at least. Good luck on this beauty Mr. Jerry!

[@Mattdabbs101]

It’s good to see that even a master craftsman uses Harbor Freight bar clamps.

[@jasonvandergriff7809]

and that HF buffer wheel too! I have that exact same buffer wheel that I bought at HF about a week ago. it works great!

[@mihovildanicic5305]

Some time ago, in some video of yours, I really liked a song you've put on, maybe it was "I'm blue all over again", that song is so catchy... And I'm a metalhead from Croatia... guess I know what I'm gonna be singing for next 10 days hahah

[@iainstewart371]

Lol, it got in my head too when I heard it on another of his vids. If you go to his website, you can download that song for $1.50 USD like I did.

[@TyinAlaska]

I love that little clover pattern on the center of the back.

[@ronbuckner8179]

My first time listening to you, and you're goal is honorable, as it should be. GLAD i FOUND YOU. It's been my experience that the burn-out you just had comes from the harmonics developed by the friction of the cut. I'm thinking that speaks highly for the potential sound this mandolin will generate, not a bad thing. watering the seal before glue is a good idea, as evaporation hits, it will draw the glue deeper

[@L2FlyMN]

It could be called the most challenging build of a lifetime. Any time your working with that beautiful grain, it’s the most difficult & challenging.

[@bobl2995]

Wow that grain looks amazing cant wait to see and hear this beauty 🇬🇧

[@mandojimmy]

I understood that Lloyd Loar DESIGNED these mandolins but was not a luthier himself. That's what the books say. However I love everything that Rosa does.

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

What a beautiful pice of wood. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@johnsee7269]

Beautiful/elegant back wood that kinda reminds me of some of the bubinga I've seen. Spectacular! The finest materials and master craftsmanship to the thousandths of an inch equals a final instrument that is as good as it gets! Fascinating to see something like this and to think what your instruments will be worth in say 50 years. Acoustic instruments are basically amplifiers... I predict that your amplifiers(+) will increase dramatically in value because one can HEAR the difference!

[@bigtills6271]

Aim high Jerry that's the way, I know it will be a exceptional build good luck.

[@kidney4curt]

This was amazing! Can't wait for the rest!

[@rontorrence]

Enjoying your video. My favorite instrument the Mandolin.

[@richardingraham6353]

That burning for tells of how hard the wood will be to work .

[@brianm744]

A master craftsman can be both humble and somewhat arrogant at the same time. They will be secure in their knowledge and experience. They will also acknowledge that "There's always a bigger fish." The breadth of knowledge this guy has, in just for the WOOD that he starts with, is amazing.

[@oysteivi]

I know it's a goal and not a claim, but if master builder Jerry Rosa ends up thinking it's the world's finest mandolin, I'm certainly not going to argue!

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

I'm with you on that one. I would think a hand plane might be a better option then sandpaper, but that's just me, or maybe us?

[@kevincozens6837]

The worlds finest mandolin ever built by a human? It's good to have goals. :) It is such a nice piece of quilted maple that it is worth saving as much as you can. You mentioned using it on the headstock or for the neck which would give it a nice look. I hope you use a very light (blonde) stain. You often use a sunburst style of staining but that woods deserves to be seen.

[@andrewhenderson6219]

Great Lesson . Look forward to the next .

[@rogerramjet6615]

When sanding out the burn marks it's worth using a vertical fence to stop side to side rocking.

[@TyinAlaska]

I was thinking the same.

[@snowdog90210]

I was thinking 5 seconds with a hand plane.

[@spudpud-T67]

A rounded edge does not glue well but Jerry is not too fussed.

[@bobnancymiller4931]

That's my goal whenever I'm building ! Kudos to you. I'm looking forward to see the process : -]

[@donniecoleman1324]

Jerry, fyi, a paint scraper makes short work of the excess glue on a glue joint. thanks . I just found your channel and I have been trying to watch all your videos. I would love to make and repair guitars. I work on and modify all my guitars.

[@markbecker8661]

That's some beautiful wood. I have an old Epiphone mandoline. Sounds really good but nothing like the one you're about to make. Thanks for sharing.

[@rrmerlin3402]

Jerry, Vince Strauss in Brooking Oregon of Pacific Coast Woods is a specialty wood supplier. He does all the milling and drying himself and after spending a lifetime in the business he simply is the best.

[@bluesingmusic3443]

So far so good. It's going to be stunning.

[@mrfatbobrider1969]

Fantastic band saw skills my freind absolutely perfectly executed, no waste for a flawless build of the worlds most beautiful Mandolin produced by Rosa String Works. Loving the content from New Zealand..

[@cryptohalloffame]

awesome find on the two toned woods! love learning stuff like that :-)

[@mr-x7689]

A thing i learnt a wile back, when it comes to wood gluing. Use a small amount of fine tabel salt on the glue. It makes so that the boards don't slide/moves too much during gluing. And the salt get's absorbed by the wood before the glue dries. Bacicly sand on ice mentality.

[@jenniferwhite6089]

true about that just the salt just leave the thickness of the gap of the salt split atom now lol

[@xti2020]

Fantastic. Power to your hands! The guitar build was amazing and I remember eagerly awaiting each episode. Looking forward to following this too.

[@tuneophilegym]

Gorgeous maple ! Can't wait to see and hear the finished instrument! Jimbo from Southeast Texas

[@cmsheth09]

Looking forward to this build

[@Ideasite]

Maybe it would be worth offsetting the centerline to tune both sides. The differences probably have to do with which side of the tree faced the sun. The rings might be wider on one side than the other. It would make sense physically to try to get the same pitch from both pieces to maximize the resonance of the mandolin. Doing that would make people think you screwed up, but it's just that sort of thing that turns into legend.

[@alanjacob8542]

Beautiful wood you got there Jerry!!!

[@kennethdrewyor1592]

Looking forward to this one Jerry!

[@gjb79ful]

Really looking forward to watching this journey of craftsmanship. Best of luck Jerry.

[@bigrickRC1144]

Yep, you are 100% correct.. that’s Big Leaf Maple alright.. beautiful wood, but fights the blades for cutting and carving.. especially carving. Probably came out of our more north/eastern forests here.. tends to be colder winters.. so tighter grain. Thus the reason it hates to be carved. Doesn’t seem to matter how sharp the blade is either.. my experiences have told me it a more a direction you carve issue.. once you find the right direction to carve, it gets a little easier.. still a pain in the arse.. but it’s quality wood for sure. I wonder if those came out of Randall Washington?

[@jeffgrier8488]

I have no doubt that this mandolin is going to be absolutely gorgeous!

[@carlosgaspar8447]

the difference in tone between the boards can be easily explained with quantum dynamics and spin left/right relative to the flow of sap.

[@sunswimgitman]

I feel privileged to have watched a number of your and Caleb's guitar repair videos, and now to embark on this series. Also, the word "perfect" don't bother me one bit!

[@tim9430]

# 27:00 I wonder if you should put the higher pitch board on the side where the treble strings are and the lower pitch board on the base side? It might resonate better with those frequencies.

[@user54389]

18:13 A wild Caleb appears!

[@joefrondbanzukiinstruments5079]

Get well soon Jerry, hope it’s nothing bad.

[@TheDoctorjones13]

This one will be interesting. Looking forward to all videos to come.

[@laurenshensbergen5207]

Can't wait for the next episode. Same Rosa-time, same Rosa-channel?

[@willemkossen]

Very excited about the series. Love your work. Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@thomastommy1192]

Awesome video thanks for sharing. I truly hope everything works out for you. And you do make the world's greatest mandolin. Good luck with it. Stay well and safe.

[@anthonykelly5]

this is going to be a pure GEM ,made by pure genius.

[@N5KDA]

Jerry, I remember how hard that type of maple was for you to carve. i hope this one is easier on your fingers. I can tell now, it's going to be beautiful! Well, I just saw Caleb in the background so it looks like you may be finished with this one already.

[@johnnieboi]

Really happy to see this Jerry as i thought your building days were over?...I saw a Lloyd Loar 1924 mandolin for sale a few days ago online at elderly instruments they only wanted $120,000 for it....

[@nancymilawski1048]

Wow. 😀😀

[@CMRWoodworks]

Good stuff. Really looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@zapa1pnt]

Jerry, I noticed the quilting on the "face out", you chose for the back creates a star formation, right in the middle. I hope you find a way to accentuate that, in the finish.

[@AndyKeppel]

I started my first set of F5s and was tracing out the soundboards, then came to the bevel on the edge of the quarter-sawn wedge and panicked..."Am I supposed to bend the pattern? Am I supposed to try to keep the marker straight upright? What am I supposed to do here?" Thankful that I can always just ask, "...how does Mr Rosa do it?" And find a start to finish tutorial. (38:39 in this case...)

[@RS-vf7jr]

Nice, love watching the process! Can't wait for the next installment.

[@spudpud-T67]

Pro tip. When sanding those glue edges, clamp the two boards together before sanding. Or you could use the two flat surfaces on your jointer to keep a stable and square edge. You can see you rocked and rolled the edge on the sand paper and thus reduced you chances of making them flat. Clamping the boards together helps widen the sanding surface and reduce the chance of rounding the all important edge.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Yeah I've been there done that

[@spudpud-T67]

@@RosaStringWorks Just not in the finest mandolin project.

[@Gladtobemom]

Such gorgeous wood! I can understand why you want to save every bit that you can.

[@watrgrl2]

That is exquisite quilted maple!

[@patprop74]

I am pretty sure you know more than i do, Just the same, when I need to joint highly figured wood, I tend to plain on the outside where I want my jointed edge to be, just to get a straight edge, then I bring it to the table saw, just to take a sliver off on the side I want to joint, if the wood isn't cupped of course, and a fresh shape blade is a must.

[@TheVectorious]

When you built your last guitar you said you were done building. I thought you meant any instrument. Not just guitars. I am so happy that you are building another instrument I can’t tell you!! God bless, my friend.

[@zapa1pnt]

He meant building on commission.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

In the words of Flounder from Animal House, "Oh boy, this gonna be great!"

[@paullanier8280]

Perfect work

[@josephjenkins4001]

Carving different pieces of spruce and maple to the same dimensions as a 1924 mandolin, almost 100 years later, in an attempt to replicate its sound, is a fool’s errand.

[@jeffwarren9791]

Hey Jerry,Jeff from p.e.i. canada here.just wanted to say hi and wish ya luck.not that you'll need it but but,Good luck anyways.

[@joshua43214]

Plants add cells in a spiral manner (remember, plant cells are not motile - they remain where they divided and do not move into place like animal cells). Like people, plants are "handed." Most plants are "right handed," this would explain why only one of your boards rang high on the "right" side (which is actually the left from the trees point of view.

[@markgandcompany]

Anxiously awaiting the next part. Great stuff Jerry !!!

[@jthepickle7]

I'm watching while making the world's finest pair of loafers ever built by a Human. With all my pieces cut and skyved, I begin the long hours of stitching.

[@giovannifranzetti6214]

Those two boards you choose sound a minor third apart, which intuitively suggest they would sing well together, maybe? makes sense especially if they are the same size.. looks like a fine choice

[@AcousticOne]

And I have taken the “click-bait”….honestly it is a catchy title! That quilted maple looks AMAZING!

[@moose607]

what was the tap tone like on the top when joined, did it balance out? Was the low tap on the bass side, high tap on the treble?

[@davidcerce]

Absolutely beautiful wood!! Incredible!

[@Hickeroar]

That wood is 🔥🔥🔥.

[@Finom1]

Where did you purchase that highly figured quilted maple? I have a rockingbird made out of Mahogany and the same maple top!!!