Octave Mandolin by Chuck DeHart

I built this octave mandolin upon request in 1992. The buyer was inspired by some pictures of Mando Uno, the little mandolins I built with bell, A-model shape and a drop top. The octave mandolin is longer and designed to pitch in at an octave above the mandolin. The buyer also desired violin corners instead of the bell shape. He recently shared with me: "Has held up great! Tuned as a mandola CGDA for many a year now with no problems, neck as straight as when it was born. Gives it a lovely "high guitar" sound as one might predict that sounds great for Celtic and classical/Renaissance styles."

Thanks and Enjoy, Chuck. (Email me here)

Octave mandolin with drop top. See side view for how the top is slanted downward from bridge to tail. This adds a tension over the floating bridge. It prevents the top from collapsing inwards. Spruce top, curly hard maple back, and sides, rosewood fingerboard, pickguard and bridge, coco bolo bindings. DNA Flower inlay on faceplate. Purfling strips around oval soundhole. Old photo.

Some other links at the Hollow Road Guitar Shop, Chuck's Instrument Website:

The sides and back of the octave mandolin are made from curly hard maple. Bound with coco bolo and maple/walnut purflings. Five-piece neck featuring bookmatched curly hard maple, mahogany and rosewood. Neck reinforced with two pieces of epoxy graphite rod.

Inside ocatave mandolin. Note all sitka spruce bracing, tentelones, linings, soundhole support. Note modified Spanish footer type neck - carved from a block laminated to the neck. Neck unfinished in this old photo. See vertical grain spruce especially in the back braces. Note center reinforcement strip on back.

Octave mandolin almost done. Check out the flowering inlay of the faceplate. Flower petals salvaged from mother-of-pearl buttons.

Chuck enjoying first strum.