My most recent non-autoharp build is this eight string octave mandolin that I made for myself. The octave mandolin is commonly tuned to GDAE, one octave lower than its smaller cousins. With a longer 22-3/4 inch scale and eight strings, it lends a wonderful mellow voice to the Celtic music I love to play.

Being quite different from autoharps, banjos, and dulcimers, this instrument was a real “skill builder” for me. It’s actually the second one I have built. The first one was a successful practice build with simpler features and a few small mistakes that I wanted to improve upon with this one. I relied heavily upon the very detailed plans and instructions sold by West Virginian luthier Don Kawalek. Mr. Kawalek sells finished instruments, octave mandolin kits, and conducts workshops that have helped hundreds of folks build their own mandolins. His scale drawings, bracing patterns, and jig plans were a useful resource for planning my own scratch built mandolins.

The teardrop shaped body is made of book matched ribbon mahogany. The five piece neck  of African mahogany, ebony, and birdseye maple is reinforced with a two-way adjustable truss rod. The fingerboard, peghead overlay, and heel cap are made of ebony and inlaid with mother of pearl. White/black/white purfling, black fiber binding, a herringbone back strip, and a laser cut rosette trim the body.