Carving and timbers

I do not make standard flat topped instruments. My instruments all have hand carved soundboards, and now all have hand carved backs as well.

I like to use Australian timbers where possible — King Billy pine for tops, Tasmanian blackwood and tiger myrtle for back and sides and necks, gidgee for fretboards. These timbers are in short supply as their natural habitats are threatened and past uses have been extravagent. With very rare timber, such as King Billy pine, only repurposed timbers from salvaged pieces are now available. Of course these conservation problems are not restricted to Australian timbers.

Here is a short story about salvaging some King Billy pine.

Even though musical instruments use a small volume of wood, and I build them to last a very long time, I only use ethical suppliers and I talk to them about where timbers are sourced and how the land is managed.

I volunteer my time on conservation properties for about one month every year with Indigenous communities, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Bush Heritage Australia.

Mandolin detailI also use American and European timbers. For example, I recently aquired some quilted maple from a South Australian guitar builder who sadly is no longer with us.

Here I am cutting out some red spruce for a soundboard:

Cutting soundboard shape with bandsaw

The workshop



workshop

The workshop when I was setting it up a few years ago. I made the bench top from part of a salvaged bowling alley laneway. Astute observers will note the presence of a chainsaw—not commonly used in mandolin making!

kangaroo and joey

My workshop assistant has a joey! ;)

Customer comments

" I am absolutely LOVING the Mandola. At the moment I am dedicating the Mandola to playing Bach. Thanks again for making me this sublime instrument, it is inspirational". IB January 2022

"I've been playing with it (octave mandolin) since it arrived. I have to say, the pictures and recordings don't do it justice, this is a very beautiful piece and I greatly admire the craftsmanship. Thank you for everything! The instrument also keeps tune very well compared to the instruments I've played in the past. " DP December 2021

"I do love the colour of the Mandola and it feels very much of the earth. I feel very privileged to play such a beautiful instrument. It certainly rings well, like a bell sometimes. I have been playing mainly Playford tunes all afternoon —it is just wonderful. Thank you for being the maker"
Kevin Morris April 2021

"It was wonderful meeting you today, seeing your workshop and the beautiful instruments you have built. I played through all my music as soon as we got back home today. I am very happy with the mandolin. Everything sounds so much better on this new mandolin. I sound better so that’s great incentive to keep practising."
S, November 2020

"I've been playing mandolin for 35+ years and have a collection of quality instruments. This hand crafted mandolin by Andrew Tatnell features meticulously selected timbers (King William pine soundboard, Tassie Sassafras back, sides and neck. King Billy pine head veneer, ringed gidgee fretboard and mulga bridge) delivering a strong woody tone. The sustain is outstanding and quality of sound is rich with perfect harmonics. So impressed with the superb craftsmanship and playability. A truly unique addition to my collection that I'll play often."
Martin, November 2019

My fair mandolin

Many years ago, I bought a 1920s(?) Italian made Silvestri mandolin from a music store in Launceston. It had been traded in on a banjo so I became the new owner of a canted top instrument with a great tone.

silvestri mandolin

This is me and my Silvestri, just a few years ago!

As well as learning as many celtic tunes as possible, I spent many hours of my youth intoxicated by the tone and the versatility of a mandolin. It could also have been the home brewed rhubarb wine of unknown alcoholic content ;)