Celtic mandolins
I make 'celtic' style mandolins based on the Gibson 'A' style shape with a soundhole, and can have either flat or carved tops and backs. Each style has difference characteristics. Mandolins with carved backs and tops have tremendous clarity and projection and are hard to beat in noisy sessions!. Flat top mandolins tend to be more mellow with a resonant bottom-end. I prefer the so called 'bent top' design, reminiscent of classical bowl-back Italian instruments which gives a sharper string break angle over the bridge. This transmits more energy to the soundboard and improves volume and projection.
The choice of bridge and tailpiece also effects the sound - this topic is widely discussed on forums such as mandolin cafe, with no global consensus yet in sight! MIne use cast bronze tailpieces, they look great and I think improve string sustain. As for bridges - a solid non-adjustable bridge with a compensated bone saddle is hard to beat, but horses for courses, the adjustable bridges are very popular, but in by view, sacrifices some of the volume and sustain.
The choice of bridge and tailpiece also effects the sound - this topic is widely discussed on forums such as mandolin cafe, with no global consensus yet in sight! MIne use cast bronze tailpieces, they look great and I think improve string sustain. As for bridges - a solid non-adjustable bridge with a compensated bone saddle is hard to beat, but horses for courses, the adjustable bridges are very popular, but in by view, sacrifices some of the volume and sustain.
Bent-top mandolin in koa
Bracing pattern of bent-tops
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Carved top mandolin, spruce with yew back and sides
Fitting X-braces to carved top
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