Willer Custom Instruments

This instrument is also part of the sonic sitka project. One aspect of the project that has appealled to many participants is building an instrument for themselves that allows them to explore possibilities. The mandocello is has been a chance to build something out of the ordinary.

The bear claw is well book-matched and the cocobolo binding provides a strong contrast.

The headstock follows the same shape and styling as the mandola and mandolin.

The bass response is deep and commanding. Mandocellos are tuned starting with the C below a low E of a guitar. The bass strings are huge at .075 inch diameter.

The following is a family of mandolins. The big sister mondocello is shown with her smaller matching sisters.

Here are the mando sisters by themselves.

Sonic Sitka Mandocello Specifications:
• Top: Bear Claw figured Sitka Spruce (Sonic Sitka Project)
• Back and sides: Curly Maple
• Neck: Two Piece Curly Maple
• Purfling: BWBW Purfling with Cocobolo Binding
• Fingerboard: Gabon Ebony 12″ radius with Cocobolo Binding
• Bridge: Gabon Ebony
• Nut Width: 1 5/8″
• String Spacing: 2″
• Scale: 24 3/4″
• Body Length: 20″
• Lower Bout: 15 1/2″
• Upper Bout: 11 1/4 with Venetian Cutaway

The Sonic sitka project is the brain child of Denis Merrill of www.darlingguitars.com. It brings together builders from across the nation to build instruments using top tonewood of bear claw figured Sitka Spruce that has been milled from a single log. The premise is to measure the sonic properties of the individual instruments over the lifetime of the instrument to understand how the tone of instruments age.

One question that might be answered by such a study is did “vintage” instruments sound great when they were new? Or did the tone of those instruments age to sound great?

The headstock detail is shown below. The front of the headstock is ebony bound in paua abalone to match the body and the back of the headstock includes a very tradition volute.

The ebony is a striking contrast to the retro-reflectance of the quilted mahogany.

Quilted mahogany was choosen to be paired with the sitka top. Together, they couple for a well balance rich tone. Paua Abalone was added for a splash of color.

Sonic Sitka Grand Concert – Cutaway Specifications
• Top: Bear Claw figured Sitka Spruce (Sonic Sitka Project)
• Back and sides: Quilted Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Purfling: Paua Abalone with Ebony Binding
• Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony 16″ radius with Ebony Binding
• Bridge: Gabon Ebony
• Nut Width: 1 11/16″
• String Spacing: 2 1/8″
• Scale: 25.4″
• Body Length: 20″
• Lower Bout: 15 1/2″
• Upper Bout: 11 1/4 with Venetian cutaway