New stock of instruments for sale!
Summer festivals 2026
The festival season is sadly drawing to a close but we'll still be at Swanage (September 11th-13th) and the 'Old-time' King Harvest Festival (September 25th - 27th)
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Shrewsbury folk festival - August bank holiday weekend? So whats the weather going to do then? (insert hysterical laughter emoji....). Despite all that it was a hectic weekend of meeting people at the stand and catching some great music. Big shout out to Ferocious Dog and the Celtic folk orchestra (insert wide eyes in amazement emoji) and great to have Sam Wood visit the stand again and try out the new mandola Also clips of James Fagan playing Quebecoise tune on a sessionmaster archtop and old friends Ben and Selam entertaining us all!
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Wickham festival was very sunny and very very very hot! Lovely time both at the stand and hearing some great music around the site... here's a quick tour of the stand and a clip of Sam Weeks enjoying the octave mandolin and the new mandola
The B&H range of instruments - made for sessions!
I primarily focus on making mandolin family instruments in the Celtic style which I play regularly in our band 'Bridestone' and at local sessions
Celtic style mandolins Flat top or archtop constructions with various tone woods. Tremendous projection and tone.
Celtic style mandolas Flat top constructions featuring western red cedar tops and native timbers for backs and sides..
Celtic octave mandolins Big sounding instruments with carved arched tops and carved or flat backs. Soundport on top bout as standard. These have a 21" scale which is easier for both tune playing and accompaniment.
Guitar octave mandolins A new design instrument with a 23" scale, large bout and a top with V bracing giving a massive mid and bottom end tone. The optional arm bevel makes this very comfortable to hold and play.
All new instruments have an internal soundboard pickup fitted as standard.
See here for more information...
I usually have a small stock of instruments for sale - see the 'instruments for sale' tab for details, but get in touch as there are always more in the pipeline!
Celtic style mandolas Flat top constructions featuring western red cedar tops and native timbers for backs and sides..
Celtic octave mandolins Big sounding instruments with carved arched tops and carved or flat backs. Soundport on top bout as standard. These have a 21" scale which is easier for both tune playing and accompaniment.
Guitar octave mandolins A new design instrument with a 23" scale, large bout and a top with V bracing giving a massive mid and bottom end tone. The optional arm bevel makes this very comfortable to hold and play.
All new instruments have an internal soundboard pickup fitted as standard.
See here for more information...
I usually have a small stock of instruments for sale - see the 'instruments for sale' tab for details, but get in touch as there are always more in the pipeline!
Commissioning a custom instrument
I mainly make mandolins, mandolas, and octave mandolins and bouzoukis which all have great tone, playability and attention to detail at a reasonable cost.
I can also be persueded to make guitars, citterns, weissenborns and ukuleles so do get in touch to discuss a commission to build an instrument to your specification and budget...
I mainly make mandolins, mandolas, and octave mandolins and bouzoukis which all have great tone, playability and attention to detail at a reasonable cost.
I can also be persueded to make guitars, citterns, weissenborns and ukuleles so do get in touch to discuss a commission to build an instrument to your specification and budget...
Set-ups and repairs
I am an experienced player of electric and acoustic instruments who can accurately set up your instrument for best playability and tone. Unfortunately I do not undertake restorations of antique instruments (e.g. bowl-back mandolins) but might be able to put you in touch with luthiers who could help.
find out more here
find out more here
Latest testimonials...
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July 2026 from Will Foster "I am fortunate enough to have owned and played some decent instruments over the years. However, nothing prepared me for how wonderful my new Dave Mattey mandola would be. Dave spent a lot of effort trying to ensure this mandola would look and sound great - the combination of woods, the various design elements - and in my opinion, of course, he succeeded.
I now have a beautiful looking instrument with a wonderful tone - sweet, yet also capable of great power. The high end sparkles, the lower strings ring out (and Dave tells me they will sound even better, over time). The action makes it a joy to play. I don't think I have ever played a more responsive instrument. Now I need to go back and play my new mandola. " 
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...and the sound of our instruments played by a few well known faces who came to the trade stand...Mike McGoldrickTim EadyKieran Szifris (Katherine Tickell)Rupert and Niles from Often Heard
Simon Cattermole (Courtiers)
Jock McLelland (The men from county hell)
Daygan Robinson (Dragonsfly)
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From Ian Dennis March 2025 I’ve been playing mandolin for about 4 years now, mostly on an instrument on generous extended loan. In summer 2025 I decided it was time to upgrade and to buy my own Celtic mandolin. Dave’s flat top model was perfect for my needs. Beautiful tone, powerful sound and incredible sustain (around 9 seconds on the bottom strings). The wider neck makes chord playing much easier. All at a very reasonable price. My mandolin playing has come on in leaps and bounds since the purchase. Our friend and tutor, mandolin maestro Simon Mayor, has graced the instrument twice – including at a recent workshop – and was very appreciative, as were the other players.
I entrusted my Mike Vanden mandolin to B&H Mandolins for fret dressing, fretboard cleaning and set up. They have performed an excellent job on my best Mando and it sounds superb. Thanks to Dave for his excellent and speedy workmanship. EJM Edwards July 2024
Dave has done some superb work on 3 of my instruments, including my much-loved old Martin D-18 (he restored a sticky and claggy finish to a level I wouldn’t have thought possible.) I’ve also been impressed by the quality of the instruments he has built and may well ask him to make one for me some day!
MOT for a Gordon Smith Tele and American Schecter nicely executed. I definitely recommend Dave's services.
I was having trouble with a new octave mandolin that hadn't been set up correctly in the shop. I emailed Dave and he responded really quickly and we set up an appointment for me to take it by. He was able to set it up properly for me and answered all my questions while he was at it!
Dave is super friendly and gave my Martin acoustic some much needed TLC. It now plays like the first day I purchased it. I would highly recommend Him for any guitar work. His own build guitars also look superb! Will absolutely use again.
After waiting 8 years for a Viola Braguesa I found the right maker. Dave said he’d not heard of them but that didn’t stop him. Within a few days he’d sorted the details. I was initially nervous but friends who bought hand made instruments by him were in no doubt. It took him only a month & the result was a bright clear sound with easy action on the finger board. The design classic, with some Mattey original touches. His care & attention to detail exceptional. He experimented with different tunings & was able to advise on the best tuning for sessions. It sounds like a ringing small 12 string guitar but with ten strings. Mr Mattey is a master. March 2023
I took a rather beaten up Martin to Dave and asked him to repair damage to the soundboard and carry out a partial refret. The end result is way better than I was hoping for. The improvement to the soundboard is incredible (see the pics) and with the partial refret and set up, the guitar is playing beautifully. Great craftsmanship for a very reasonable price and a lovely chap to chat with to boot! March 2023
Two jobs: First, a complete overhaul and new Lindy Fralin pick-ups fitted to my 1980s Fender Telecaster. Second, a restoration and deep-clean of my 40-year-old Ovation Adamas. Both beautifully done. The Adamas is like a new guitar once more. And the Tele plays wonderfully and sounds fantastic. Great work, thank you! Highly recommended. January 2023
I first met Dave from B&H Mandolins on his stand at Wickham Festival 2022 when I stopped to admire the beautiful instruments that he had made. We discussed some 'issues' with my mandolin (not B&H). I followed up our chat and recently had Dave make the changes that he had suggested. I am delighted with the work done and the service and advice that I received. Dave is a really nice guy, he is interesting, willingly shares his knowledge and experience, and his work is of a very high standard. I am very glad to have met him., January 2023
Dave has done some superb work on 3 of my instruments, including my much-loved old Martin D-18 (he restored a sticky and claggy finish to a level I wouldn’t have thought possible.) I’ve also been impressed by the quality of the instruments he has built and may well ask him to make one for me some day!
MOT for a Gordon Smith Tele and American Schecter nicely executed. I definitely recommend Dave's services.
I was having trouble with a new octave mandolin that hadn't been set up correctly in the shop. I emailed Dave and he responded really quickly and we set up an appointment for me to take it by. He was able to set it up properly for me and answered all my questions while he was at it!
Dave is super friendly and gave my Martin acoustic some much needed TLC. It now plays like the first day I purchased it. I would highly recommend Him for any guitar work. His own build guitars also look superb! Will absolutely use again.
After waiting 8 years for a Viola Braguesa I found the right maker. Dave said he’d not heard of them but that didn’t stop him. Within a few days he’d sorted the details. I was initially nervous but friends who bought hand made instruments by him were in no doubt. It took him only a month & the result was a bright clear sound with easy action on the finger board. The design classic, with some Mattey original touches. His care & attention to detail exceptional. He experimented with different tunings & was able to advise on the best tuning for sessions. It sounds like a ringing small 12 string guitar but with ten strings. Mr Mattey is a master. March 2023
I took a rather beaten up Martin to Dave and asked him to repair damage to the soundboard and carry out a partial refret. The end result is way better than I was hoping for. The improvement to the soundboard is incredible (see the pics) and with the partial refret and set up, the guitar is playing beautifully. Great craftsmanship for a very reasonable price and a lovely chap to chat with to boot! March 2023
Two jobs: First, a complete overhaul and new Lindy Fralin pick-ups fitted to my 1980s Fender Telecaster. Second, a restoration and deep-clean of my 40-year-old Ovation Adamas. Both beautifully done. The Adamas is like a new guitar once more. And the Tele plays wonderfully and sounds fantastic. Great work, thank you! Highly recommended. January 2023
I first met Dave from B&H Mandolins on his stand at Wickham Festival 2022 when I stopped to admire the beautiful instruments that he had made. We discussed some 'issues' with my mandolin (not B&H). I followed up our chat and recently had Dave make the changes that he had suggested. I am delighted with the work done and the service and advice that I received. Dave is a really nice guy, he is interesting, willingly shares his knowledge and experience, and his work is of a very high standard. I am very glad to have met him., January 2023
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