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R.L. Givens Mandolins In Stock

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View Detail	c.1977 R.L. Givens F-5 Mandolin 'Sold'

	#148 Exc(-) condition. 1 1/16" neck width at nut. Fern inlay in peghead. Some random pick marks on mandolin. Headstock scroll was professionally repaired. Flat Ebony fingerboard with dot inlays and full traditional fingerboard extension. Original Gotoh tuners, original handmade Givens Ebony bridge, and original tailpiece. These "Fern" F-5's from Bob Givens tend to exhibit a satisfying "hardness" of sound that is often called the "old Gibson" sound. It has good response and good depth of tone. In short, this is a very good mandolin. w/ OHC

View Detail	1991 R.L. Givens A-3 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional original condition. Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce top. Sheraton Brown stain under nitro-cellulose lacquer. This mandolin is a really fine example of Bob Givens' later work. Working with no CnC technology, Mr Givens made perfect cut time after time, using only his own handmade jigs. All of the workmanship is great, and the materials are great. 1 1/8" width of fingerboard at nut. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with original frets. Original nut, Ebony bridge, nickel Schaller tuners, and nickel 2-pc tailpiece. Neck has rounded Vee profile. w/ OHC

View Detail	1989 R.L. Givens A-3 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Excellent original condition. Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce top. Sheraton Brown stain under nitro-cellulose lacquer. This mandolin is a really fine example of Bob Givens' later work. Working with no CnC technology, Mr Givens made perfect cut time after time, using only his own handmade jigs. All of the workmanship is great, and the materials are great. 1 1/8" width of fingerboard at nut. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with original frets. Original nut, Ebony bridge, nickel Schaller tuners, and nickel 2-pc tailpiece. Neck has rounded Vee profile. Great sound and great playability. All the subtleties in the tone. Fine attack with excellent depth of tone and very much fills the area with melodic and lyric tonal beauty when playing... w/ OHC

View Detail	1990 R.L. Givens A-3 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(-) condition. This is a very nice sounding A-3 from Bob Givens. Beautiful Cremona brown stain finish. Englemann Spruce top, hard Maple back, sides and neck. Repair and touch-up at treble f-hole (f-hole "wing" was cracked, then repaired with cleats, then cosmetically touched up). Typical of Givens A-models, this instrument delivers a lot of sound, with good power and projection. The chop is good and solid, but the lyrical beauty and presence of any part of it exceeds most mandolins. In short, it is a very good mandolin. Some hand wear through finish on back of neck. This mandolin has a fresh attention to frets and set-up, and is "ready to go". w/ OHC

View Detail	1988 R.L. Givens A-3 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(-) condition. Width of fingerboard at nut is 1 1/32". This is a nice example A-3 from Robert L. Givens. Handmade in his shop, it exhibits many great characteristics. It is made from good Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce cut by Bob Givens, himself. Ebony radiused fingerboard with dot inlays and original frets in good shape. Original handmade Givens Ebony bridge, and also the original tailpiece and Schaller tuners. The color is "Sheraton Brown". The top has several small nicks and dings in finish - probably from shipping at some point with a loosened tailpiece cover touching the top of mandolin in transit. The top shows some slight settling, but has been inspected and is stable. One repaired top crack at f-hole that was professionally done with good cosmetic touch-up. The tone and playability are great. You would have to pay lots more today for a new mandolin with this level of tone... Chad Fadely at our store ranks it "among the best". w/ OHC.

View Detail	R.L. Givens A-4 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Excellent condition. This mandolin has been kept in the case for quite a few years, so it is in nice condition. It only shows slight normal signs of prior playing. Nicely figured Maple back, sides and neck. Select Englemann Spruce top. Radiused fingerboard. Original 2-pc tailpiece replaced with newer nickel Allen 1-pc cast tailpiece. Nickel Schaller tuners. This mandolin is a GREAT sounding mandolin, and plays like a dream.

View Detail	c.1980's R.L. Givens A-5 Mandolin 'Sold'

	#266 Exc(+) condition. From the mid-70's thru mid-80's these A-5's were Givens' top of the line A-model mandolin. Very mature tone with a full voice. Power, depth, chop, nuance... this mandolin has a lot going for it. 1 3/16" fingerboard width at nut. Flat fingerboard. "Vee" neck profile. Strap button installed on neck heel. Frets, bridge, tailpiece and tuners are all in fine playing condition. w/ HC

View Detail	1978 R.L. Givens A-5 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Excellent condition. 1 3/16" width of fingerboard at nut. Flat Ebony fingerboard. This mandolin is in great shape, with only a little finish checking and some nicks in the finish. It is set-up to play and sounds great. w/ newer Hard Case

View Detail	1992 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional original condition. 1 1/8" width at nut. Bold figured Maple back, sides and neck. Englemann spruce top. Handsome red-gold sunburst color. Handcut engraved Torch in Ebony peghead veneer, handcut engraved snowflakes in radiused Ebony fingerboard. Frets appear to be original small traditional frets. Gold plated original hardware, original Bob Givens Ebony 2-pc bridge. Condition, playability and sound will meet your highest expectations. These mandolins are simply gorgeous, and soundwise are equal or better to even Nugget and Gilchrist A models. w/ OHC

View Detail	1992 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional original condition. There is only a few very light 'touch marks' here and there, almost no sign of fret wear. All original parts. This is an extremely nice example of some of the finest handwork by the celebrated master luthier, Robert L Givens. Truly a handmade work of art, these mandolins were all handbuilt in Givens' workshop in North Idaho, using NO CnC technology. Every part was made by Givens, using handbuilt jigs and forms. The workmanship is impeccable. Dramatically figured Maple back, sides and neck. Englemann Spruce top (hand-harvested by Bob Givens). Ebony radiused fingerboard. Ebony adjustable bridge. Gold Schaller tuners and gold 2-pc tailpiece. Fully multiple bound, with ivoroid outer bindings. Peghead has the elaborate engraved pearl and abalone Givens "Torch" inlaid in peghead, and the hand-cut and hand-engraved "snowflakes" inlaid as position dots in fingerboard. The overall "look" is great. The color is beautiful and vivid, without being garish. The set-up is great, playability is great. 1 1/8" width at nut. These A-models from Givens from 1986 to 1992 are regarded by many players to be better than many A-models from makers today that cost $10,000 to $15,000. If you play one that has good set-up, you'll hear it, too. There is all of the depth and balance, but also a sparkling lyrical quality in these later Givens A's that many experienced players know well. This particular instrument is from the private collection of Greg Boyd, and is being offered for sale because the "House of Fine Instruments" needs a new roof. w/ OHC

View Detail	1991 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(+) condition. Here is a fine example of a Givens A-6 from the personal collection of Greg Boyd. Typical brilliant Flamed Maple, set off by the beautiful sunburst color. Select grade Englemann spruce top, from tree felled by Bob Givens. Everything is original and in fine condition: Gold hardware, Nut, Handmade Ebony Bridge, Small vintage style frets. Typical of the nice A-6 models from Givens, this mandolin shows off the elaborate hand-cut, hand-inlaid, and hand-engraved Torch inlaid in peghead, as well as the hand-cut snowflakes inlaid in the radiused Ebony fingerboard. These mandolins are obviously great investments, as everyone who plays or hears them agree that they are producing tones that meet or surpasses those of mandolins selling for $14,000 to $15,000...! Listen to the soundbite and you'll hear why we are always so keen on the mandolins from R.L. Givens. These soundbites were recorded with strings that are 3-to-5 years old, and still the great sound of the mandolin is clearly heard - the attack, the depth, and the expressive highs. w/ OHC

View Detail	1991 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Excellent condition. Very high grade Figured Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce top. Ebony fingerboard and bridge and peghead overlay. Multiple Ivoroid bindings on body, fingerboard and peghead. Gold hardware. Woderfully full melodic tone with a great bluegrass chop. w/ Eastman Fiberglass Case

View Detail	1990 R.L. Givens A-6 Exceptional Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional original condition. Here is a very nice mandolin offered up from Greg Boyd's private collection. It seems the need for a newer motorcycle is overpowering the need to keep his collection intact. Excellent in every way, this mandolin exemplifies the reason Bob Givens will be noted in history as one of the great mandolin builders. Very high grade Figured Maple back, sides and neck, with Englemann Spruce top. Ebony fingerboard and bridge and peghead overlay. Multiple Ivoroid bindings on body, fingerboard and peghead. There was no CnC machinery in Givens' shop, only the jigs made by hand by Givens, who even designed and built his own pantograph carvers for rough-carving the tops and backs instead of buying ready made machines to do the work. Take a close look at the elaborate Torch inlaid in the peghead and the Snowflakes in the fingerboard... These are all designed, handcut and hand engraved by Bob Givens. Even the Englemann Spruce was usually hand-harvested by Bob Givens or Liz Sedler. Givens made a lot of "F" mandolins, as well as his numerous "A" models, but among the afficianados the A's are known for putting out an exceptionally great tone, as well as being finely built. The A-6 and some few A-6 Customs (along with his F-5's, of course), represent the epitome of his 30 years building mandolins. This mandolin shows off the vivid red-gold sunburst Givens is known for, and has a truly wonderful voice. The sound has a very expressive lyrical quality as well as being powerful. w/ OHC

View Detail	1990 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(+) condition. 1 1/8" width at nut. Highly figured Maple back, sides and neck. Englemann Spruce top. Beautiful red-gold sunburst enhances the woods. This mandolin shows off all of the great appointments of the R.L. Givens A-6 models: Handcut engraved Torch in Ebony peghead veneer, handcut engraved snowflakes in radiused Ebony fingerboard, Multiple ivoroid with black line bindings on body, fingerboard and peghead. Frets show only moderate wear, but do not need any attention - playability is great. Original Givens Ebony 2-pc bridge. Original gold plated Schaller tuners and gold plated tailpiece. How do I begin to describe the tone of these great mandolins? They always have the "perfect" attack followed by a very mature depth and lots of expression and nuance, and a very lyrical quality to the highs. Many people rank these A models from Bob Givens as equal or exceeding Nugget or Gilchrist A's. w/ OHC

View Detail	1986 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc (+) condition. An early example of Bob Givens' top A-model mandolin. This mandolin shows all the desirable aspects of the famous A-6 mandolins. Multiple ivoroid bindings on body and fingerboard. Peghead bound with ivoroid. Hand-cut, hand-engraved elaborate torch inlaid in peghead. Hand cut snowflake inlays in fingerboard. Original gold plated Gotoh tuners and tailpiece. Original bridge and nut. Beautiful coloration of sunburst really sets off the highly flamed Maple back, sides and neck, as well as the Englemann Spruce top. The sound is, of course, excellent, and shows the maturity and tonal depth and expression that Givens' A's are famous for. Call us for more information. w/ OHC

View Detail	c1986 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(+) condition. Really nice and original, with original frets, nut, tailpiece, tuners and bridge. The beautiful finish is in great shape, but mandolin has a few small touch-marks around the top and a few light rub marks in center of back. 1" width at nut (for comparison, Bill Monroe's Loar is 15/16" width at nut). Maple back, sides and neck. Englemann Spruce top. Radiused Ebony fingerboard and Ebony bridge, Ebony peghead overlay. Gold tuners and tailpiece. Multiple ivoroid bindings on top and back of body, along fingerboard, and around peghead. Givens' signature inlays - Elaborate handcut "torch" inlaid in peghead, and beautiful handcut "snowflakes" inlaid in fingerboard. This mandolin is great. Hardly any appreciable wear... and the sound is very powerful and gorgeous. It is priced lower than later model A-6's because it doesn't have as dramatically figured Maple as later ones have and it doesn't have an adjustable truss-rod, like the models from 1992 have. But - this one has all the tonal color and power that most players recognize. w/ HC

View Detail	1992 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(-) with Refinished Top. This mandolin doesn't show much wear anywhere, but had the top refinished in black. Back of neck has had finish removed for smoother hand movement. Peghead has two significant marks in finish at top edge. A few light marks on back. Gold strap button professionally installed on neck heel. These A-6 mandolins that were handmade by Robert L Givens are the epitome of his 30 years of mandolin making. Most Givens afficianados consider these to be ranked at highest levels for tonal expression, beauty and projection. 1 1/16" width at nut. Radiused Ebony fingerboard with handcut, engraved "snowflake" inlays of pearl and abalone. Ebony peghead veneer has elaborate hand-cut, hand-engraved torch inlay of pearl and abalone. Ebony adjustable bridge. Gold 'James' tailpiece. Gold Schaller tuners. Multiple ivoroid bindings on top, back, peghead and on side of fingerboard. Ebony pickguard professionally installed. Very highly figured maple back, sides and neck. Maple back shows extra "fishbone" pattern inside the heavy flame figure. This mandolin is a joy to play. It is no different than the "unrefinished" examples that sell for $6800 to $7500, except that we've priced it to reflect the re-finished top. This is one that goes head to head with mandolins at the highest levels of the craft. Beautiful sound for recording, beautiful sound that "eats up a microphone" when on stage. w/ HC

View Detail	1991 R.L. Givens A-6 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exc(-) condition. Exceptionally strong figure in the Maple back, sides and neck. Englemann Spruce top. Beautiful Red-Gold sunburst color really shows off the woods. Hand-cut hand-engraved torch inlaid in peghead. Fingerboard has been professionally milled, and the original snowflake fingerboard inlays have been replaced with solid dot inlays. Original 2-piece tailpiece replaced with Weber universal cast gold plated tailpiece. Original Schaller tuners. Bridge is a 2-piece ebony close copy to the original Givens bridge. This mandolin sounds mighty fine.

View Detail	1992 R.L. Givens A-6 Custom Anniversary "30 Years" Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional condition, exceptional tone. This is the Givens A-6 that was rated so highly on the "Mandolin Tasting" recordings from WinterGrass festival in Feb 2003, played by John Reischman. In fact, the following morning after the recordings, John Reischman stopped by our booth at the festival that year to tell us that, after recording over 60 instruments at the 'tasting', that there were only two that were "great" - THIS Givens A-6 and his own Loar F-5. The only modification done to this mandolin is to have the fingerboard extension scalloped. It is in great shape and truly will go head-to-head with any other mandolin for sound. Bob Givens had intended to make 10 of these blonde top "Anniversary" A-6 mandolins, to help celebrate his 30 years of hand building mandolins. Unfortunately he died rather suddenly and at much too young an age. Only 6 were completed. Photos soon... w/ OHC

View Detail	c.1980 R.L. Givens F-5 Mandolin 'Sold'

	Exceptional Condition. Typical "Fern" F-5 from Bob Givens that was treated very well in its life. Flat fingerboard. This mandolin is really an exceptionally good instrument. Just back from set-up and adjusting and it plays like a dream and sounds just like it should cost $20,000... But it doesn't cost nearly that much. Here is a great example of Bob Givens' work that delivers great tone for only w/ OHC

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