Here is a wonderful photo essay on how to build a mandola instrument from scratch. Yair Stern is a talented Canadian luthier who builds mandolas, among other instruments, including mandolins, octave mandolins and guitars. Mr. Stern has agreed to share photos taken from a recent mandola build to show the work that goes into building one of these instruments.

As a proud owner of one of these fine instruments, I asked Mr. Stern why he chose to build mandolas. He said:

“…the mandola is quite special to me; it’s the first instrument I’ve ever built and my favourite to play.

Unlike violins, whose design was “standardized” by giants like Guarneri and Stradivari in the 17th century. The mandolin family is free of any conventions…there’s more than one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes, not to mention the different possible designs.”

For more information about Yair’s instruments, visit his website at: https://www.ystern.ca/

What is a mandola? 

The US mandola sometimes called the tenor mandola in the UK, is tuned a fifth lower than the mandolin, has four double courses of strings tuned in unison and is typically about 16.5 inches (42 cm) in length. The mandola is an alto voice similar to the viola in the string section and is usually tuned the same way: CGDA.

The mandola is played with a pick and approached with the same technique as its little brother, the mandolin. You will hear the mandola in folk music, mainly Italian, traditional Celtic, and classical music. The Italian composer Carlos Munier (1858-1911) and Giocomo Sartori (1860-1946) were regular contributors to the classical mandola repertoire.

To learn more about the Mandola read my blog post, Intro to Mandola, for more information.

For treble clef mandola music, check out: The Celtic Mandola Book (Treble Clef)

For alto clef mandola music, check out: The Celtic Mandola Book (Alto Clef)

How to Build a Mandola 

Okay, let’s have a look at Yair’s process of building a mandola from lumber to finish. Not everything is documented in the photos, including some of the jigs and the process and tools used, which are the builder’s secret. The pictures are numbered, and Yair has made a few brief comments describing the photos. 

Neck Carving – the lumber (Maple)

First cut and glued:

Rough cutting, truss rod channel, and shaping of the neck:

Carving by hand and sanding of the neck:

Shellac layer on the neck (for sealing the wood):

Make sure to check out my Tips for Flatpicking to help improve your mandola technique.  Play blues mandolin?  Check out this post here.  

Head and tail block:

Back and headstock: 

The lumber is split and forms one book-match piece:

The making of the headstock:

The Mandola Top:

The lumber (Red western cedar)

The lumber is split and forms one book match piece:

Drawing, gluing support pieces for the sound holes, cutting the holes using a scroll saw, gluing and carving the braces. The top has a light arch.

For more information about Yair’s instruments, visit his website at: https://www.ystern.ca/

Sides + top assembly: Maple

The lumber is split into two matching pieces, using heat and humidity; these pieces are bent to fit the mould.

The blocks and kerfings are glued to the sides:

The top is glued:

Binding + assembly:

Two pieces of Black Walnut are bent to fit the channel and glued to the body.

The neck and back are assembled and receive the first layer of shellac.

Fretboard + bridge + nut + armrest: 

The piece is cut, slotted, and the inlay channel is routed:

The piece is radiused:

The maple inlay is glued, and a layer of shellac is applied:

The frets and markers are installed:

The bridge, nut and armrest are cut and carved:

Final assembly, finish and fixing of the machines and tailpiece: 

The fretboard is glued, the instrument is sanded, and many layers of shellac are applied using the French polish technique:

The tailpiece is attached:

The machines:

The Finished Mandola Project:

The instrument then will undergo a “setup” (adjusting the neck relief, bridge height and frets).

Time to Try the Mandola? 

If you haven’t tried a mandola or are a mandolin player and want to add another instrument to your collection, I recommend trying it out. Not that the mandolin needs replacing, but the mandola is a nice alternative often overlooked in today’s settings. It blends well with guitars and other string instruments and adds a bit more depth and range without the high pitch of the mandolin. Spread the word and give the mandola a little love!   

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