Rantz Rhythmz

10/20/2015

The completed mock-up...

Here's a look at the neck block mock-up cut and placed in the rim tooling, and what it took to get it to that point! And, hey, I still have all my fingers

10/19/2015

The neck block...

The neck block of a mandolin is second in importance only to the top bracing design. This assembly will hold up to 160 pounds of pull against its structure

10/19/2015

This represents the first step of the design for my new mandolin, "The Thula," in honor of my grandmother, Thula LaFollette/Rantz!

The basic outline you see on this template is an iteration off of a 1922/1923 Lloyd Loar Gibson mandolin. "The Thula" will be a hybrid of this design, es

10/17/2015

Let the tooling begin!

The design parameters I'm using for "The Thula" mandolin necessitated a table saw caddy. The issue was that I needed a tool to allow for accurate cuts on

10/14/2015

Thanks to D'Addario for letting me try a new set of N6Alloy strings, on the house!

A while ago the D'Addario company put out a call to action on Facebook for testing a new set of acoustic guitars string, the N6Alloy. D'Addario is to be

10/12/2015

The next mandolin is underway! This will be a special project because the name of this instrument will be "The Thula." Thula was my grandmother's name on

05/01/2015

What does the nature of balanced sound in an "unplugged" environment mean?

When I hear the term "unplugged," I have to laugh. Almost every piece of acoustic music from the 1970's was unplugged! Then, Nirvana comes along in 1993 with th

04/25/2015

Here's a look at my dad (Mike Rantz) in 1940 (age 17) in Alaska as part of the crew that built the ALCAN Highway. Unfortunately the picture is blurry, he is, however, the one standing with only his skivvies on! Must have been summer... !

Being born in the Roaring 20's might have a touch of romance in it, except for the fact that a few years later America would find itself in another World War an

04/18/2015

Here's another little sample of the Ukulele's sound to an old favorite!

Sample sound of tenor ukulele custom built by Craig Rantz.

04/14/2015

Here's a little Bluegrass for you!

Sound sample of 'A' mandolin built by Craig Rantz. Song is I'll Fly Away, vocal by Craig Rantz.