I'm no expert, but I have a feeling that going from making a mandolin to a mandola is nowhere near as difficult as going from making acoustic to electric. If that's true, then the prototype would be easier and making mandolas as an option would be pretty efficient. And who knows, Bill might spur more interest in the mandola by offering one. I know I prefer the bass of a mnandola to that of a mandola, and it's a pretty cool solo instrument. My sense is it'll sell enough to make it worth while. I know I can't wait to hear the first one off the line.

I meant 'bass of a mandola to that of a mandolin'.

Now, just suppose you were going to have one built.
Would you have it be birdseye maple or flame? Natural varnish of course.

Oh shit. Decisions...

varnish for sure. beyond that, I'd need a few months to obsess over it.

I made a decision once. It was a mistake.

you guys gonna help me or what?
If not I'll go with birdseye to match my mandolin.
Just wondered if ya'll thought there was a difference between eyes and flame and quilt.

Beal, although I can't think of one good reason for you to not go ahead and match your mando's birdseye--I, too, love birdseye and once had matching Sumis (an f- and an oval hole Dawgs)--I'd suggest that there's no particular advantage over flame, there.

Quilted, on the other hand, over which most of us have drooled at one time or another, while stunning to the eye, is said by many luthiers with whom I've spoken to be softer than the other woods mentioned and not the best choice for sonic reasons.

As much as I love varnish, I'm thinking that the MT matte finish for an instrument that for many of us wouldn't get the playing time our guitars and mandos do (or ought to) might be just the ticket.

Beal, since you asked...here's my 2cents. Varnish...absolutely. While birdseye is cool, IMHO nothing beats a perfectly bookmatched flame back with that tiger stripe look on the rims!

Beal, I am certainly not any kind of an expert, but I don't think that birdseye has any sonic differences than flame or quilt. That being said, pick whatever floats your boat. Flame is the 'be all-end all' for many mando players, but I do understand anyone's facination with birdseye.It sure seems rarer than any of the other maples too. I never see it at the woodstores up here. One thing I DO know though, is that it is SUPER hard to work with any tools. From power tools, all the way to sandpaper. And even when the axe is finished, you can still always see lacquer distortions in the finished wood. It's just the nature of the beast. Beal, I would love to see some pics of the one you have!...KK...

OK, thanks guys.
Varnish it is because they can and I think I'll go with the birdseye to match the other. I do love the perfectly matched flame but b'eye seems much more rare. Thanks for the comment on the quilt, that's what I was looking for.
Tortise binding I'm thinking
I'll get some pics one of these days and send you one KK.

Beal, the reason I say varnish is that Bill says it really makes a serious difference on a small instrument like a mando. I've heard the nitro mandos and they sound awesome as well, but if you can swing it, I'll bet the varnish is worth it. Mando on!

sparky

the mandolin I have, #290 is natural in varnish. I also briefly had a flame in lacquer and #290 was better than the lacq.