F5 Mandolin Kit plus “How to Build a Carved-Top Mandolin” DVD

Make a fine F-style mandolin and save hours of work!
We create this kit in our own shop under the guidance of Don MacRostie, creator of renowned “Red Diamond” mandolins.

We use all top-quality woods and workmanship to make every kit a potential heirloom. There’s no plywood in this kit: curly maple is used for the sides and back, with an arched European spruce top.

Learn to build from a pro!
The assembly steps are presented in our DVD How to Build a Carved-Top Mandolin, which we recommend to everyone considering building our mandolin kit.

The most difficult work is already done.
The arched back and top are carved, and the sides are bent. The tail block and neck block are glued in place. The neck joint is dovetailed for correct alignment, and the neck is shaped and ready for sanding. Tuner holes are accurately drilled into the shaped peghead. The truss rod slot is cut to fit the truss rod provided. The fret slots have been cut into the fingerboard.

Everything’s ready for hand-building, and very few tools are needed. (A Dremel tool is the only power tool you’ll need to construct your mandolin.) The arched top and back are ready for sanding and assembly, or you can tap-tune the fine European spruce top until it’s just right.

You get top-quality pieces made to fit:

Dovetailed curly maple neck
Peghead veneer
29-slot ebony fingerboard
Assembled curly maple rim with dovetailed neck block
Carved European spruce top and curly maple back
Tone bars
Kerfed linings

The kit also includes white and black bindings, truss rod, string nut, fretwire, dot inlays and endpin — all the parts you need to get started.

When you’ve finished building the kit, choose the tuners, bridge and tailpiece that’s right for your instrument. (Sold separately.)

Mandolin tuners
Bridges
Tailpieces

Easy finishing options
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer is an economical way for the beginner to apply a finish without elaborate setup or equipment. Only a few cans are needed to completely finish your mandolin.

Will this video play on your equipment?
These DVDs are not “region-specific,” and are intended for worldwide use.