228 RSW Humongous Mandolin Neck Reduced

This homemade mandolin is decent except for the neck and peghead. They are both enormous. You will see how I cut them down to size. At least the size that fits the fretboard.
Support this channel at: / rosastringworks
Visit my website at: www.rosastring...

[@49mrbassman]

My definition of "a little bit of work" is the hour I'm just going finish this bit off before calling it a night and not finishing it until about 3am, or until the missus gets up and wants to know if Im actually coming to bed. Great video and an excellent job you've done on it, yep, well done Jerry.

[@seanmccormick3270]

This mandolin was built by James Docy, who lived in St. Petersburg, FL. I bought one of his mandolins back many years ago, that had a cedar top, curly maple back and zebra wood for sides. From what I understand, he was not a musician, and came up with his own type of bracing. For a starter mandolin, they have a pretty decent sound. He passed away back in 2003, and was well into his 90's

[@WhiteDragon689]

Sounds like the old guy just picked up a hobby until God picked him... RIP. Well into 90s is a life well lived.

[@Since-UniqueOriginalPersonaliz]

Hiya Sean!! I just wrote a post too about Docy!! Good to see your name. I trust you guys are all well.

[@stephencampbell2735]

Well it was certainly beautiful and with a great sound!

[@Since-UniqueOriginalPersonaliz]

I knew Docy... several of my friends and I bought his mandolins. We heard there was a local guy selling them VERY inexpensively. There were a few different models, but the choices were limited! He was a very nice elderly guy, and meeting him was part of the experience. At least two of those friends still have their Docys. It's very cool that you truly like the sound. Docy would be very proud! Steve G, St. Petersburg, Florida.

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

Well at least if a fight broke out at the local bluegrass hoedown , you could use it as a Billy club . It's far better than any attempt I might have done . Mine would probably be mistaken for a boat oar , and sounded like a box of rocks , lol . Thankfully , I'm sticking to plumbing and playing guitar for my own entertainment, as no one else seems to enjoy it :)

[@scapmans1079]

There is some seriously beautiful quilting on this wood!

[@shaneharrison4775]

Awesome trim up on the homemade madoline

[@garycooper4526]

Personally I love the look of that Mandolin. Good Job on working the neck down.

[@richardmead9225]

$595 is the price quoted from the "string shack" for this mandolin. A comment I found: James Docy The late Mr. Docy, of St. Petersburg, Florida, may well have been the most prolific small-shop mandolin builder. At 86 years of age, he had produced over 3,000 mandolins. They're not fancy but they get the job done.

[@Since-UniqueOriginalPersonaliz]

At least 15 yrs ago, four of my friends and I went to Docy's house here in St. Pete. We each left with a mandolin. We got them in the order he brought them out of his shop! Mine was $75.

[@billsterling6485]

Once again Jerry enjoyed the video and once again thank you for the entertainment love it

[@robertrosenfield405]

Very fun episode!

[@DavidMFChapman]

Well, it was good that it wasn’t a train wreck to fix up. You did a great job improving that mandolin. Given that you were stuck with the wide fingerboard, I feel the V neck was the right way to go. The customer should be pleased.

[@geraldguyette470]

Nice work on that neck. Pity they won't let you play a tune though, you just started rocking out. Oh so good!!!

[@audiotechlabs4650]

It is hard to add a comment that has something different to say when all of the others have already said what I would say! Your followers know a bunch and say it! You deserve praise for your work. Excellent mod on this mando! It proves a homemade, handmade instrument can sound great, especially in the hands of the master! Thanxz

[@bobkins270]

Wow! Enjoyed the video. You took it from the Hulk to Tiny Time. Excellent!

[@alansturgess1324]

Another great upload, Jerry. Thanks. Personally I much preferred the plain look of the instrument without binding or bling - but I've always been attracted to guitars like that anyway. I LOVED your analogy of writing and putting it down and then returning to it later only to be surprised (or disappointed?) by something you had written and then needed to make changes. I'm currently doing exactly that with nearly 30 years-worth of poetry that I wrote as a teacher for use with and by pupils. I know EXACTLY what you meant by that comment! Excellent job on this mandolin. I always enjoy the openness and honesty of your films. Very mean of the owner if they never actually contacted you to say thanks.

[@MrDparker69]

Yet another great job. You teased us at the end by starting to sing Runaway, which sounded flipping great by the way 👍

[@Jojobizzare80]

James Docy Made some really good mandolins

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

Your staining was perfect match,well done

[@johnthomas2255]

great repair Jerry, nothing seems to deter you, that was a super repair, I enjoy your videos & thanks for putting them on.

[@boydbc]

The sound of that mandolin was surprisingly good. The neck would have been fun to try before you rasped it down to a reasonable size. I like zero frets on some instruments, but I'm not sure how I feel about them on a mandolin. Good video as usual!

[@EmbelekoBand]

Had a pretty nice sound. Great job Jerry.

[@Shadow_Warri0r]

I really enjoy your videos jerry... I'm not a builder I'm a musician and watching your has given me a whole new appreciation for the mastery of a lutheier I play jazz ukulele

[@robertbarnum2395]

Really nice job Jerry!!!!

[@Gnaus76]

The deer antler matched the wood much better :)

[@movingforward6099]

Usually after working on a mandolin neck and taking off the finish you say " thats slicker then snot on a door knob" . About half way through the vid i was thinking i know what he's gonna say when he's done. I was wrong,maybe next time. another great vid!! Cheers !

[@perihelion7798]

Aside from using a Louisville Slugger for a neck, I really like this mandolin. I find the neck on most mandolins very narrow for me, and I have pretty smallish hands, so I do like a thinner neck, as that became, eventually.

[@MrAlan0151]

Excellent job yet again Jerry.

[@wheezyjefferson9136]

I really like the look of this one. Great work Jerry!

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

I like the combo of the Woods used,and it sounds nice,

[@keninnis1]

As per usual,you did a great job making this mandolin a lot more playable...You never give up on things...that`s what I like about your approach to repairs...Well done..Keep the videos a coming.

[@AxelShelleyMusic]

Only subscribed recently, but i can't get enough of these videos!

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Great fix Jerry it always good to have extra parts!Cheers

[@billstoner5559]

I kept thinking as you were removing wood that the builder might have used a metal bar for a trust rod, say .5 by .125 inch bar or more, and you were going to run into it. But you still had a half inch to go even if there was something in there. Thankfully, didn’t happen. Great job, great video, as always, Jerry.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Turned out nice and sounds good too! Nice work Jerry!

[@andrewreynolds2647]

Great job Jerry as per your usual, had a lot of fun watching this as always. peace and love from bonny scotland.

[@LarryDeSilva64]

wow that neck was humongous before. really great job Jerry and a lot of work. Thanks for sharing

[@KMactheFarmer]

sounds right on...new nut and thinning made a big difference... A/B test proves it..great work

[@KMactheFarmer]

punchier, more attack to eardrums

[@RandySchartiger]

I can see in the video that neck looked huge! I used to sit with a piece of glass profiling necks lol a rasp is the way to go but I can vouch for glass cutting is slow but works. nice work Jerry.

[@Colhogan06]

I will have to say, when you were giving us the information at the beginning of the video I really liked the way you presented the information. Very "matter of fact". Which really came off real well. You definitely sound like you know your craft extremely well. Which of course we all know you do, but for some reason I specifically liked this video! Sometimes the audience needs it straight. Great job as always!! I have to agree with the guy who said he would have liked to hear you sing runaway. I know the KZbin police will demonetize the video but it sounded pretty good. It would have been real interesting if you would have gotten to the falsetto part "I wah,wah,wah, wah wonder- why. Why, why, why, why, why she runaway".......and so on. That would have really been something!!! :)

[@stevecooper3487]

I think the theme to Lost in Space sounds a lot like runaway! LOL

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

Great job,can't wait to see the rest of the Custom Guitar videos

[@thomastommy1192]

You did a great job with that Mandolin. I was thinking who would of bought a mandolin that big. Then I thought. Heck I would of bought it for the right price, lol.. They must of made that for The Jolly Green Giant. It was big. But you made it look and sound good. Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Have a Blessed Week Jerry.

[@stevenedwards4470]

"needs a little work" in the physical realm is the reverse of "my eyes were bigger than my stomach" at the buffet. The collateral fallout can be vast

[@RosaStringWorks]

Yep

[@SteveAaron]

Just wanted to tell you that I’ve been following you for a while. I really appreciate your work. You are a very nice guy and it’s always pleasing to see you work and hear you talk. I’ve only seen classical luthiers close to were I live work on my instruments. Daniel Friedrich and others over here in Paris. Thank you for sharing your work and passion. 😉

[@wildtimbrown]

Wow, I can actually relate to what you are doing for a change! I used to work on African djembe hand drums and have a nice collection of rasps and old wood handled Stanley surform tools. A farrier I used to see got me a really nice aluminum rasp handle. I also have golf balls on some of them too :-)

[@scottman-cl4jm]

Jerry, Awesome work as usual.. Thanj yiu Sir & God Bless

[@1980bwc]

That little dude is odd lookin! Lol. That near flat top completely changes the looks of it. Good job though Mr. Jerry.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Always a thumbs up! Sure sucks they will kill the $ over singing a tune... I was really getting into your intro!

[@nautn]

Good job, Jerry. Oh what tease at the end 😞

[@banjomanToddTaylor]

Great work! Jerry and great picking love it keep up the great work my friend.

[@HBSuccess]

Hey Jerry -had another thought...if you run low on deer antler again, Randy Schartiger has a whole bunch of it hanging on the wall behind his bench. Still attached to the deer heads tho' LOL

[@RosaStringWorks]

Well I have about 14 or 15 of them on the wall myself. I haven't been that hard up yet. LOL

[@darrellblanchard2362]

I was surprised by the sound. It looks like there is not much break angle over the nut. Cool to read in the comments a little history of the maker.

[@stephengent9974]

Great work as ever

[@81kentboy]

You do great repair work Jerry but it was buzzing like crazy near the end

[@RosaStringWorks]

It wasn't buzzing on my end. My guess is it was over driving the microphone.

[@81kentboy]

Rosa String Works perhaps your right but none the less really sweet repair

[@shartne]

Well I think it had a great sound and Im sure it played 10x better than it did before it got there. I wonder why the guy didnt write you back about what he thought about it?? Sounded pretty good to me. You know what they say no news is good news. The way you make the action I bet he loved it.

[@wayneshirey6999]

Way to trim the fat. I've decided we need to update an old adage: "Those who can do; those who cannot teach." Change that to "Those who can do; those who cannot watch those who can on KZbin." At least that's the case for me. :) Thanks for the videos.

[@rodparker4514]

Well done .Im always scared of hitting the truss rod .

[@limpindug]

Enjoyed this video thanks. A little bit of work is a wee bit more than no work. 😂

[@billberry7444]

Hey, did I just hear a rock tune at the end? :)

[@awabbievet]

Just as I was getting into the song you had to stop. Dern KZbin rules. Anyway, great video and the neck looks a heck of a lot better too. I hope the owner is pleased.

[@dennismason3740]

I'm walkin' in the rain...what? Oh..."tussa lappadamore and I feel no pain..." - no copyright on those words. "And I blunder..I bla-bla-bla-bla blunder - pie...aye aye aye aye aye she gave it all away...and I wonder, what I will say-ah-ayy to my little gumbahday, my little gumbahday...". Ya oughta hear my falsetto. Great vid. I'm glad the post fit. I cry a lot when I mess up and destroy, for example, an entire bridge. I've been calling it StewMac and it's actually StewMax. Duh.

[@budandbean1]

Hi Dennis, I just wanted to let you know that it’s “StewMac”, for Stewart-MacDonald, and they have a club called “StewMax” where you get discounts, free shipping, and other benefits for joining. (It costs $38 a year)

[@dennismason3740]

Thanks. When I saw the StewMax of my first StewMac package I was a bit confused. Good day and be well.

[@budandbean1]

Thank you,

[@waynebrown1609]

agen awesome results. at the end i really thought you were playing the original theme song from " lost in space "

[@RosaStringWorks]

The way I play it could be anything.

[@GarnettM]

Better sound forsure .

[@MrPotatochips4]

"A little bit of work" is what I'm known best for :D

[@jeffbrooks7246]

Masterful.

[@jamesrobinson9494]

good work

[@1980bwc]

The builder got confused when making that neck. He thought he was making it for a 50's Les Paul. Lol

[@bleikrsound6127]

The Mando LOOKS good, probably the sell point - but making it optimal for play is a duty for accomplished luthiers. Suggestion : Nut slot too tight - use 400G paper and tighten string until paper can be moved - with paper between string and slot work it back and forth. The minimal paper size will open up the slot, and at the angle the string prefers to sit in the slot. Can also be used to eliminate 'sitar' whang when open string is played.

[@zapa1pnt]

Jerry, to my eye, the top of that mandolin seems thicker than it should be. It looks like about 3/16" rather than 1/8". Am I seeing that correctly? And, as always, really nice work on the corrections.

[@BobPegram]

I officially give up trying to critique how your work sounds! I must be most sensitive to over driving the mic! This one sounded pretty darn good both before and after all your work. It just can't over drive the mic like louder mandolins can.

[@keithhicks1750]

Hi Jerry. I’ve watched lots of you videos and know that you always use leather dye. Is there a reason you don’t use wood dye. Keep up the good work.

[@RosaStringWorks]

Force of habit I guess

[@stirlingarcher2141]

Nice job, I've given a thumbs up! :-)

[@sgnt9337]

I enjoy working with rasps and wood files. Nice job on that neck, you almost could have used a draw knife to get started! You have quite an assortment of rasps. The wood looks like it carves/shapes nicely (was the neck made with maple?).

[@RosaStringWorks]

Yes it was maple. Thanks for taking a look.

[@dscdrkel5546]

DRAW KNIFE DOES NOT WORK TO GOOD ON CURLY MAPLE**EVEN SCRAPERS HAS A PROBLEM WITH HARD AND SOFT WOOD*** BLOCK SANDING TO LEVEL WORKS BEST.** DR KEL

[@Music10161]

Nice Volute now

[@WhiteDragon689]

Ah Master Jedi Jerry... Why wouldn't the tuning keys fit? If they don't you'll use the force to make them fit!

[@clawhammer704]

Wonder if a stiffness rod is under the finger board since I see no truss rod.

[@georgetempest9627]

That was a real nut job, just one of those things :oD

[@LukiF]

Maybe I just missed it but now the neck is bare wood or did you used some kind of oil or wax? Anyway nice job :-)

[@RosaStringWorks]

It's just bare wood. Just like a violin neck.

[@steby123]

Hooray for little zip lock bags hey?!?

[@mandolinic]

Just out of interest, how much work would it be to narrow down the fretboard? Is it easier simply to start again with a new fretboard? Or is that the point where you junk the mandolin and buy a better one?

[@rrrosecarbinela]

I am watching this video with great interest... I have a Puerto Rican ‘cuatro’ - a 10 string instrument that is played like a guitar minus the low e string - but the neck is waaaaaaaay too wide. I don’t have a caliper, but the measuring tape reads 2 and 3/8ths inch. My classical guitar’s neck is only 2 inches wide. The neck joint looks like it’s had something done to it, but it’s not a structural issue as far as I can tell. There is no truss rod that I can see. The head can’t be changed, it and its hardware are built for 10 strings. The bridge on this thing is huge, too... they took a 12- string bridge and plugged up one hole at each end. Do you think this is something that can be corrected? I’m more interested in how well it plays than how pretty it looks.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I'm sure it could be fixed. You could narrow the fretboard and the whole bit but that's a lot more work.

[@rrrosecarbinela]

I will e- mail you with photos and measurements. Then we can both make a good decision as to how to proceed. Thank you.

[@SteveAaron]

I don’t play the mandolin, but I personally like beefy necks. Like the one on my 1952 Tele, or a ‘58 Gibson LP neck. It’s really a matter of taste. If the owner wants it smaller, then sure, do it. From the video the size would probably have been right for me. But definitely not the square “shoulders” on it. BTW, why did you choose not to finish the neck at all? Not even some shellac to protect it a bit?? Was is a request??

[@RosaStringWorks]

Unfinished necks are fairly common violins have unfinished necks lots of mandolins have unfinished necks, even guitars. Your hand does not stick to the finish it slides really easy on bare wood. So it's quite common. Thanks for watching.

[@mmccoy577]

Good job!

[@LegsON]

ROSA! So it's TRUE that the more break angle at the saddle is NOT always BETTER?! It's true that optimal break angle is ~45 degress?! How does it work? Why isn't "the more pressure the better"???

[@RosaStringWorks]

More pressure is generally better. But everything can be overdone. I was referring to the height more than angle and I was referring to height more than pressure. Once you get the strings so high, the instrument will start to sound like you're playing in a barrel and it doesn't matter what it's on. It can be guitar mandolin violin anything.

[@LegsON]

Oh I see... like saddle filters the vibrations of the string too much. Nice point. :) Is it possible to take the fretboard off of a 300-500$ guitar? I think its manufacturers might be using epoxy on it.

[@jennhill8708]

Is the wood a tiger maple? I know so little about woods....

[@RosaStringWorks]

Tiger Maple and or curly Maple basically the same thing. The maples used in instruments are hard Maples versus soft Maples. Hard Maples are generally the broad leaf maples soft Maples are Maples like silver leaf maples which have skinnier Leafs

[@HBSuccess]

Jerry - howcum the customer didn't send you either the stain he used or the formula for mixing the stain he used? It looks good- but could have been "factory" if you had used the same thing he did. Not a critique- I'm just curious.

[@RosaStringWorks]

The customer and the Builder were two different people.

[@pdppanelman5889]

Interesting how your type of Mandolin has evolved from the classical European one.

[@simchadelft8373]

Rod Smallwood a

[@acmullane]

Lloyd loar instigated a revolution of stradivarian proportions

[@robozstarrr8930]

Very Noice....appears no finish on the neck ( or did I miss something ). Would think just bare wood alone would absorb sweat/dirt, get gritty... customer not want?

[@robozstarrr8930]

Okey-Dokey . . . . . guess i should wash more often! m_m

[@ponchlove2393]

Jer,is this mandolin with lg. Neck for sale??..let me know,thanks

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

Shame I like runaway! - ATB

[@acmullane]

I hope yt doesn't Dean Martin-ise yer video

[@saoirsepaddy]

Jerry Question for ya :) What is the reason on doing a Zero Fret ?

[@RosaStringWorks]

Well my short answer is laziness. It's just an easy way to guarantee the height of the action at the first fret.

[@HBSuccess]

scott ford On a guitar at least the main thing is that supposedly you get exactly the same timbre of the strings "open" as you do fretted. Some instruments do sound a little different fretted against a metal fret than they do with the string touching only a non-metallic nut. My response to that thinking is "true- but who cares/so what?". Even w open cowboy chords you almost always have a mix of open and fretted strings, so the tonal difference is at most miniscule. Plus like Jerry said - laziness. It is easier to build a zero fret than a proper nut. There are a handful of quality zero-fret instruments out there but most are junk so it has a bad rap as a cheap way to build a fretted neck.

[@saoirsepaddy]

Thanks Jerry :)

[@We_Seek_Truth]

You should've gotten the right color and size ferrells. They should all be the same size. You cut corners.

[@utubehound69]

Why didn't they put that flamed maple on the front side?

[@RosaStringWorks]

The top has to be a softwood like Spruce Redwood or Western Cedars. The back is always a hardwood like maple Rosewood or mahogany.

[@dassouki]

did they make it thick because there is no Truss rod installed?

[@RosaStringWorks]

No just poor workmanship in my opinion.

[@dassouki]

What kind of fluid did you use to dilute the paint? and why Leather paint?

[@RosaStringWorks]

It's just leather dye and I thinned it with alcohol.

[@larryguffey42]

good job I would like it to be mine....lg

[@amascia8327]

👍🏼🤠

[@1980bwc]

Its a shame to not put atleast a little bit of color back on the back of the neck. All that heavy flame is hidden without it.

[@kentmunro7693]

I agree , is there a reason for not staining the neck ? Always enjoy these videos way up in Canada...

[@nicolaheyesheyes4632]

I it's nicola can you tell me how much our your mandolin I am left handed in UK money thank you

[@RosaStringWorks]

My mandolin start at 6000. I will tell you that they will soon be going up probably to around 7,000. I am sure I could build a left-handed model if that's what you want.