New Ruhland A-5 Mandolin – SOLD

$3,500.00

An exceptional high-end, handmade mandolin at an affordable price.

Out of stock

Description

New  •  SN#:38  •  Varnish finish
1-1/8″ width at nut  •  12″ radius f.b.

We’re excited to be a dealer for Matt Ruhland’s mandolins. In fact, we’ve been “all in” after meeting Matt and hearing the first one a few years ago. Rarely are new makers able to produce such mature sounding instruments but Matt has done it consistently time after time. This new Ruhland A-5 mandolin #38 is no exception. Matt’s refinement of traditional building methods and use of high grade materials puts him near the front of the line of mandolin makers in my opinion.

This is a spirit varnished, sunburst beauty. The back and sides are constructed from Western Big Leaf Maple with excellent bookmatched back. The neck is 2-piece figured Sugar Maple. The Maple figure is very beautiful with strong figure everywhere. The top is a special hard Sitka Spruce (or possibly a Lutz hybrid) from Ketchikan, AK, aged over 25 years. Matt says this special Sitka Spruce is harder and much more resonant than much of the Red Spruce that is available today.

Snakehead peghead has blackened back and Ebony veneer face with Ruhland logo in pearl inlay at top, pearl and abalone flowerpot in center, and truss rod cover near the nut. Ebony radiused fingerboard with gold EVO frets and pearl dot position markers. Large black side dots in binding on the bass side of the fingerboard. Fingerboard has a short extension but still has the double-cut end. Ebony abbreviated pickguard installed. Traditional two piece adjustable intonated bridge. Silver James tailpiece with Ruhland engraved in the cover. Ebony end pin. Nickel Rubner tuners with ivoroid buttons.

The entire mandolin is bound with multiple ivoroid bindings, with multiple lines seen at sides of peghead, sides of fingerboard, and top and back edges of body.
The sound is easy to describe – just picture in your mind your idea of a great sounding mandolin. This one sounds better than that and sounds like it should be priced higher.

Comes with excellent set-up and excellent hard case.

 

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