Can I take on a particularly challenging project like an F-style mandolin or archtop guitar as my first instrument?
A. We have had reports from many newcomers to both lutherie and woodworking of successful archtop guitars and F-style mandolins as their very first woodworking or lutherie project. They also report that these instruments were far from perfect, but they were happy with the results, and often encouraged by their success to make another, better one. If you’re also interested in building other, more simple instruments like a flat-top guitar or an A-style mandolin, it does make more sense to start with one of those, then “graduate” to a more challenging instrument. But if all you really want to build is an F-style mandolin from the Siminoff book, you go right ahead.
