F5 Mandolin Kit

Product Description

The Arches F5 Mandolin Kit represents the finest materials and highest level of machining available on the market today. With patience and dedication this kit will yield a professional level F5 mandolin – crafted with one’s own hands.

Each F5 mandolin kit is built using well seasoned solid woods specifically suited for musical instrument construction. These parts are precision machined, formed, and assembled to ensure the greatest chances of success for beginning to advanced builders with limited tooling and space.  This F5 mandolin kit can be constructed anywhere, and with only hand tools.

The top and back plates are crafted from the highest quality solid woods (figured maple and spruce). The scroll and scroll binding channels are 95% complete. The plates are carved inside and out, leaving enough thickness for hand graduation. F-holes are pre-cut in the top plate.

F5 Mandolin Top – Scroll Detail

F5 Mandolin Back Plate

F5 Mandolin Top – Carpathian Spruce

F5 Mandolin Back Plate – Scroll Detail

The rims are formed using a precision bending machine and assembled with hide glue. Point protectors are added and roughly shaped. The rims are then leveled flat on both sides to exact tolerances. Lastly, an innovative joint is machined that ensures an exact alignment of the neck and body. A custom rim jig is included in each kit that maintains the shape of the rim through early construction phases. No other jigs are needed for this kit.

F5 Mandolin Rim in Rim Jig – Point Detail

Neck Joint Detail – F5 Mandolin – Female

F5 Mandolin Rim in Rim Jig

The neck is created using nearly a dozen machining steps. The end result leaves just enough wood for customization and an innovative neck joint that is strong and very easy to assemble. This neck joint ensures a perfect neck set with no complicated jigs or measurements. The headstock is pre-shaped, veneered, binding channels cut, and tuner holes bored.

Neck Joint Detail – F5 Mandolin – Male

Neck Joint Detail – F5 Mandolin – Top

F5 Mandolin Neck – Top view

F5 Mandolin Neck – Headstock

The remaining necessities are included – binding, kerfed lining, trussrod, etc. See below for a full component list.

Hardware optional add-ons are available.

We’ve started the construction manual.  We will be updating and adding to it regularly.  See it by clicking here -> Mandolin Construction Manual

Please use the product enquiry tab above if you have questions.

Sincerely, Chris Baird

Owner, Arches Musical Instrument Co.

An example of a finished Arches F5

This F5 Mandolin Kit Contains:

1 – F5 Back Plate, pre-carved, one or two piece, solid, figured soft maple

1 – F5 Top Plate, pre-carved, two piece, solid, Carpathian Spruce

1 – F5 Fingerboard Extension, figured soft maple

4 – Kerfed mandolin linings

2 – Tone bar stock – Carpathian Spruce

1 – 3/16” Dowel (locating pins)

1 – F5 Neck, pre-carved, figured soft maple, ebony headstock with pre-cut binding channel, dovetailed

1 – Bone nut blank for Mandolin

1 – Truss rod, Two-way

1 – .040” Ivoriod fingerboard binding

1 – .090” Ivoroid/black/ivoroid headstock binding

2 – .090” Ivoroid/black/ivoroid body binding

2 – Pre-radiused fret bar stock, Banjo Sized

1 – F5 Ebony Fingerboard, pre-shaped, radiused (12”), slotted (29 frets), with dot holes.

6 – Pearl fingerboard dots

1 – Truss rod cover, Ebony

1 – Black side dot stock

1 – Pre-assembled rim, figured soft maple, mahogany, ivoriod appointments, dovetailed

1 – Rim jig

1 – Ebony endpin

Available hardware add-on options:

1 – Economy Ebony Bridge – GoldenGate/Saga

1 – Stamped nickel tailpiece – GoldenGate/Saga

1 – Grover Deluxe F5 tuners with bushings and screws

1 – Set phosphor bronze strings  (.011,.016,.026,.040)

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