Mandolins
I am making two types of mandolin - flat-tops and arch-tops. The simple flat top mandolins are great sounding instruments that are minimally styled to keep costs low but built and set up to the highest standards. Other versions are available with more decorative tonewoods and detailing with hardware to a higher specification. The cant or bent-top style is based on the classical Italian mandolins and have a more mellow sound with a richer midrange.
The arch-top models have carved tops and backs with deep recurves and have a powerful sound and driven hard have tremendous projection for session playing.
The flat-tops are a bargain at £850; cant-top mandolin prices begin at £1500; fully carved mandolins begin at £1900. Prices vary according to choice of tonewood and tuners; all come with the unique hand cast bronze celtic harp tailpiece and a quality TGI extreme case.
The arch-top models have carved tops and backs with deep recurves and have a powerful sound and driven hard have tremendous projection for session playing.
The flat-tops are a bargain at £850; cant-top mandolin prices begin at £1500; fully carved mandolins begin at £1900. Prices vary according to choice of tonewood and tuners; all come with the unique hand cast bronze celtic harp tailpiece and a quality TGI extreme case.
Scroll down for instruments available now....
Vital statistics
Fretboard width at nut: 3omm
Fretboard width at 12th: 42mm
Fretboard radius: 12"
Scale length 350mm
Width of body at bout: 270mm
Max depth of body*: 70mm (45mm sides) *archtops
Length overall 650mm
Fretboard width at nut: 3omm
Fretboard width at 12th: 42mm
Fretboard radius: 12"
Scale length 350mm
Width of body at bout: 270mm
Max depth of body*: 70mm (45mm sides) *archtops
Length overall 650mm
Some design features...
The 'flat-top' celtic style mandolins
These have radiused european spruce tops and african mahogany back and sides. Necks are carbon reinforced mahogany with radiused rosewood fingerboards, medium frets and bone nut and bridge saddle. All have hand cast ‘celtic harp’ style bronze tailpieces and Gotoh M120 tuners. Necks joints are dovetailed into the body and angled back to give a larger string break angle over the bridge giving a really powerful sound compared to true 'flat-tops' - great for sessions.
These have radiused european spruce tops and african mahogany back and sides. Necks are carbon reinforced mahogany with radiused rosewood fingerboards, medium frets and bone nut and bridge saddle. All have hand cast ‘celtic harp’ style bronze tailpieces and Gotoh M120 tuners. Necks joints are dovetailed into the body and angled back to give a larger string break angle over the bridge giving a really powerful sound compared to true 'flat-tops' - great for sessions.
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The 'cant-top' style
The exam,ple below is a highly specified instrument with beautiful tonewoods and a slotted headstock. The top is AAA European spruce cant-top with selected figured walnut back and sides. Three-piece walnut/yew carbon reinforced neck. Has a radiused ebony fingerboard with paua shell markers and Jescar nickel-silver frets. Schaller GrandTune tuners. Bone nut and bridge. Hand cast ‘celtic harp’ style bronze tailpiece.
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The slotted headstock option
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Arch top celtic style mandolins
These have carved European spruce or red cedar tops with English yew or walnut backs. Necks are carbon reinforced mahogany or maple. Radiused ebony fingerboard with paua markers; Jescar EVO Gold frets. Schaller GrandTune tuners. Bone nut and bridge. Hand cast ‘celtic harp’ style bronze tailpiece. Powerful sound with tremendous projection!
These have carved European spruce or red cedar tops with English yew or walnut backs. Necks are carbon reinforced mahogany or maple. Radiused ebony fingerboard with paua markers; Jescar EVO Gold frets. Schaller GrandTune tuners. Bone nut and bridge. Hand cast ‘celtic harp’ style bronze tailpiece. Powerful sound with tremendous projection!
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Instruments for sale
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Simple flat-top celtic mandolin M29
Simple styling with quality tonewoods and great sound. Top European Spruce Back/Sides African mahogany with rosewood binding Neck African mahogany Fretboard Rosewood/medium nickel frets/abalone dots Tuners Gotoh MA40 Finish Tru-Oil £850 including quality soft case |
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Standard flat-top celtic mandolin M35
Quality tonewood and build with a great sound
Top European Spruce
Back/Sides African mahogany with rosewood binding
Neck African mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood/medium nickel frets/MOP dots
Tuners Gotoh MA120
Finish Satin nitrocellulose
£950 including quality soft case
Quality tonewood and build with a great sound
Top European Spruce
Back/Sides African mahogany with rosewood binding
Neck African mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood/medium nickel frets/MOP dots
Tuners Gotoh MA120
Finish Satin nitrocellulose
£950 including quality soft case
Standard flat-top celtic mandolin M36
Quality tonewood and build with a great sound
Top European Spruce
Back/Sides African mahogany with rosewood binding
Neck African mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood/medium nickel frets/MOP dots
Tuners Gotoh MA120
Finish Satin nitrocellulose
£950 including quality soft case
Quality tonewood and build with a great sound
Top European Spruce
Back/Sides African mahogany with rosewood binding
Neck African mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood/medium nickel frets/MOP dots
Tuners Gotoh MA120
Finish Satin nitrocellulose
£950 including quality soft case
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Deluxe flat-top celtic mandolin M38
Quality decorative tonewoods and detailing; slotted headstock; soundport… and great sound. Top Red cedar Back/Sides Wavy douglas fir/walnut Neck Walnut with slotted headstock and ebony faceplate Fretboard rosewood/medium nickel frets/MOP dots Tuners high quality Schaller GrandTunes Finish Gloss nitrocellulose £1250 including quality soft case |
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Cant-top celtic mandolin M24
Classic design in AAA alpine spruce, figured walnut with slotted headstock Top AAA alpine spruce Back/Sides Figured American walnut Neck Walnut with slotted headstock, ebony faceplate, burl veneer Fretboard bound ebony/medium nickel frets/abalone dots Tuners high quality Schaller GrandTunes Finish Gloss nitrocellulose SOLD |
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Archtop celtic mandolin M19
Arched top and back with deep carved recurve; powerful projection for session playing Top European Spruce Back/Sides English yew with rosewood binding Neck Mahogany, burl back veneer Fretboard Bound ebony/EVO gold frets/abalone markers Tuners High quality Schaller GrandTunes Finish Gloss nitro cellulose £2100 including quality soft case |
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Archtop celtic mandolin M21
Arched top and back with deep carved recurve; sweet tone from the cedar top Top Red cedar Back/Sides English yew with rosewood binding Neck Five piece figured sycamore/yew/rosewood, burl back veneer Fretboard Bound ziricote/EVO gold frets/abalone markers Tuners High quality Schaller GrandTunes Finish Gloss nitro cellulose £2100 including quality soft case |
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Archtop celtic mandolin M22
Arched top and back with deep carved recurve; powerful projection for session playing Top European Spruce Back/Sides English yew with rosewood binding Neck Three piece figured sycamore/rosewood/burl back veneer Fretboard Bound rosewood/EVO gold frets/abalone markers Tuners Gotoh MA40 Finish Gloss nitro cellulose £1900 including quality soft case |
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