InstrumentLIBRARY
Neapolitan Mandolin, a 3D-printed mandolin
Image: Zippitybamba via Thingiverse, CC BY 4.0
Strings · Mandolin

Neapolitan Mandolin

A full-scale bowl-back mandolin modelled on a wooden one; not a beginner project

Designed by Zippitybamba, published on Thingiverse

CC BY 4.0 Commercial use OK Build info 4/5

Licence verified on Thingiverse, 20 October 2026.

Get the files on Thingiverse ↗ Watch the video
Printer
300 × 300 mm or larger
Plastic
About 750 g; about 40 h printing (30 h for the bowl)
String tension
Over 40 kg (8 strings)
Designer's verdict
PLA isn't stiff enough; the neck bends
Difficulty
Hard
On Thingiverse
131 likes · 9 comments (as of 20 Oct 2026)

About the Neapolitan Mandolin

A full-scale Neapolitan (bowl-back) mandolin based on a wooden instrument's dimensions. The designer gives it a single sound hole, which is typical of Neapolitan mandolins. He's very clear about the risk. Eight strings at over 5 kg each put more than 40 kg on the instrument 'trying day and night to implode the device'. He makes no safety guarantee, and says it's not a beginner project. You need a printer that handles big overhangs well.

His final verdict is that PLA is the wrong plastic. Tuning up bent the neck toward the soundboard and left a big gap between the strings and frets, which a stiffer material might avoid. Print in the supplied orientation, with supports touching the bed only and 4 walls. Use 0.2 mm layers on the bowl so you can cut out the holes. The tight joints need a rasp and sandpaper. You'll also need tuning machines, loop-end mandolin strings and E6000 or superglue. The video, linked from the designer's page, shows it played.

Who it's for. Experienced makers with a large-format printer who are curious about bowl-back construction and happy to experiment with stiffer materials. Read the designer's warnings first; he's clear that he can't vouch for its strength.

What you'll need

Printed parts

  • Bowl
  • Neck, soundboard and other parts

Bought parts

  • Mandolin tuning machines
  • Loop-end mandolin strings
  • E6000 or superglue

Tools

  • Rasp and sandpaper

Build overview

Our own outline of the designer's tips on Thingiverse. Read his safety note before you start.

  1. Check your printer. You need at least 300 × 300 mm. The designer won't split the bowl for smaller printers.
  2. Print it strong. Keep the supplied orientation, use 4 walls, and add supports only where they touch the build plate. Choose a stiffer plastic than PLA if you can.
  3. Print the bowl at 0.2 mm. That lets you cut out the sound hole and the fretboard peg hole afterwards. Allow about 30 hours for the bowl alone.
  4. Fit the joints. They're tight on purpose; work them with a rasp and sandpaper until they go together.
  5. Glue up. Assemble with E6000 or superglue.
  6. String it carefully. Fit the tuning machines and loop-end mandolin strings and bring them up slowly. Watch for the neck bending toward the soundboard, which is what happened with the designer's PLA build.

Print settings

  • Printer: 300 × 300 mm or larger
  • Supports: Touching the build plate only
  • Bowl: 0.2 mm layers
  • Walls: 4
  • Material: Stiffer than PLA recommended

Video

Play video: 3D-printed mandolin (loads YouTube)
3D-printed mandolin, maxdaddyP (linked from the designer's page). Plays from youtube-nocookie.com after you click.

Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. Video thumbnails are © their creators.

Photos

Thingiverse doesn't let us fetch its gallery, so the photos stay on Thingiverse. See them on Thingiverse ↗

← Back to the Incomplete list