Excellent conversion from Archtop Guitar to Octave Mandolin. Made in 1935, possibly by Kay, for Armstrong brand. Solid wood construction, with Mahogany Back, sides and neck, and a Spruce top.

     Elaborate marquetry purflings around top edge. Peghead does show 2 of the original plugged 6-string holes, but not glaringly obvious at a glance. Neck was professionally shaved down a bit for the 8-str Octave Mandolin string configuration. Original pickguard is really cool multi-laminate plastic. The conversion work was done here in Missoula by George Weisel, and I have to say it is a great job!

    These octave mandolins that have archtop bodies are preferred by many players for having more presence, as well as facilitating ease of  playing due to positioning of left and right hands. Price reduced...

   

     Exc(+) condition. Beautiful highly figured Maple back, sides and neck. Italian Spruce top. Black top. Varnish finish. This is a great mandolin with very nice 'fit and finish'. Hans Brentrup's sense of understated elegance and style is very apparent in this instrument.

     Ebony radiused fingerboard with small dot inlays. Ebony peghead overlay with tasteful abalone flourish and solid pearl truss-rod cover. Multiple Tortoise/white bindings on top and back of body, fingerboard and peghead. Ebony 'bi-level' pickguard with matching multiple tortoise bindings. Ebony 2-pc bridge. Ebony end pin and Ebony strap button professionally installed in side of neck heel. Nickel Schaller tuners. Silver engraved tailpiece.

     As we've stated above, this is a fine mandolin. It not only looks great, but feels great to hold and play, and the sound is very nice - expressive and strong while still having a lyrical beauty.  

     Exc(-) condition. This is a very important instrument. Steve Gilchrist built a pair of these 'Model 2' mandolins with extended necks - one for Andy Statman and one for David Grisman. This one we have was owned and used by Andy Statman.

     Handsome Cremona brown back and sides, with Black top. Ivoroid bindings on top, back and fingerboard. Ivoroid rosette with wooden herringbone. Inside of oval soundhole bound with ivoroid. Ebony flat fingerboard. Ebony peghead overlay and Ebony adjustable bridge. Tortoise pickguard with side-mount hardware. Rounded Vee neck profile, with Rosewod stringer down back of neck. Blackened back of headstock. Nickel Gotoh tuners with ivoroid buttons. Nickel tailpiece.

     There are some noticeable repaired cracks in the Maple side, up between waist and neck joint in bass side. Bill Collings repaired the cracks and they have been seen and "ok'd" by Mr Gilchrist.

     This particular mandolin is number "400" from Mr Gilchrist. It was used for a time by Bill Collings to help him design his own line of oval hole mandolins.

     The tone and playability are great.

     Near Mint condition. NO wear, no dings, no fret dents. Beautiful all the way around...

     Tastefully appointed: Excellent woods, appointments, varnish and color... Engelmann Spruce top, Very nice figured Maple 1-pc back, sides and neck (all from the same set of wood as the Model 5C Mandola we are also selling). Varnish finish. Ebony radiused fingerboard with extension scalloped. Ebony peghead overlay and bridge. Black chrome hardware. "Reversed" black/white/black bindings. X-bracing.

 

Beautiful F-5 from the highly experienced Japanese mandolin maker, Takeshi Iwamoto. Beautiful figured Maple back, sides and neck. Spruce top. Ebony radiused fingerboard, with traditional extension scalloped. Flowerpot inlay in peghead, dot inlays in fingerboard.

     Excellent original condition. Very nice 2-pt mandolin. No sign of playing wear, one ding in the finish on side of Spruce top edge.

     Beautiful 1-pc highly figured Maple back. Figured Maple sides and neck. Ebony radiused fingerboard. European Spruce top. Nice darker sunburst. Gold Grover tuners with Ebony buttons. Ebony and metal tailpiece with easy string access. Fossil Ivory nut. Original Maple base, Ebony top bridge.

     This mandolin plays great. Set-up currently with fresh set of light gauge Thomastik flatwound strings.
    

     Exc(+) original condition. Not much sign of prior ownership - only a few "touch marks" on the top. NO fret wear, no bangs or pickwear. The S-100 is pretty close to their newer "G-110", except the S-100 has plain Maple. It isn't noted on the label, but I think this is a "DeLuxe" version. It has gold hardware, and the spruce top appears to be either Englemann or Adirondack Red Spruce (hard to tell with the sunburst color). Ebony radiused fingerboard, scalloped at extension. Ebony bridge. Comes with factory installed piezo pickup and strap buttons. Gold Schaller tuners, gold 1-pc tailpiece and strap button.

The new Rover RM-75 is a pretty respectable F-style mandolin. Made with solid Maple and solid Spruce, they actually deliver a sound with a good attack and good depth. Our local teachers recommend these as good starter mandolins.

• Hand-carved solid spruce top with maple back and sides
• Traditional nitro-cellulose sunburst finish
• Multi-ply binding on top, back and headstock
• Hand-carved solid flamed maple back and sides
• Maple neck with adjustable truss rod
• Bound rosewood fretboard with dot inlays and scooped extension over body
• Dovetail neck joint
• Abalone peghead logo inlay
• Adjustable compensated stained rosewood bridge
• Nickel-plated hardware
• Shop adjusted by House of Fine Instruments

     Exc(-) condition. 1 1/8" width at nut. NO fret wear. Some hand wear through finish on back of neck. No bangs or dents or stray pick wear. We've known the previous 3 owners of this instrument and all have enjoyed it without abusing it.

     Very nice one-piece figured Maple back, with nice figure in the Maple sides and neck, as well. Select Spruce top. Radiused Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Gold Schaller tuners with solid pearl buttons. Price one-piece gold tailpiece. Multiple ivoroid/blk/ivo bindings on top, back, fingerboard and peghead. Traditional fingerboard extension scalloped away for ease of playing in the "sweet spot". Multiple bound tortoise pickguard. Pearl truss-rod cover. Elaborate floral inlay in peghead, below "Smith Creek" logo.

     This mandolin has a very good sound. It is very full and woody sounding. The set-up is good.

Excellent condition. Mahogany back, sides and neck. Everything is very clean on this mandolin. Appears to be the original frets! No wear anywhere, although there are a few random marks on the top between bridge and tailpiece. Top is slightly uneven, like most of these models. Original bridge has new ebony professionally grafted to underside and is recently re-fit to the top. Tuners work well. This old Vega plays well and sounds very good.