Trinity College mandolins are designed for traditional Celtic music, though they are used in a wide variety of other styles, too. The traditionally styled body of the TM-325 Octave Mandolin is complimented by an elegant snakehead peghead with the new Celtic-inspired cross. Its rich, mellow tone and great projection will surprise you!
Mandolins
Built from 1904 to 1934, the Gibson F2 Oval Hole mandolin featured the stylized ‘F’ body with scrollwork, but also an oval sound hole rather than F-holes. Oval sound holes seem to provide a bit more sound to the player, while F-hole models tend to project their sound outwards, further. It’s always fascinating to see an instrument like this Gibson F2 Oval Hole mandolin that dates to 1915, now over a century old and still in good playing condition. It is in largely original condition, though the original faux-tortoise pickguard is missing. The case is a newer lightweight model by Gator.
Here we have the Fin Mc 8 F-style mandolin from Fintan McEnroe, working in Toronto but originally from Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Ireland. The ‘8’ in the name refers to the mandolin’s serial number and production sequence; the Fin Mc 9 mandolin is also available.
The Fin Mc 8 is a traditional F-Style mandolin, with a carved Sitka Spruce top and Curly Maple for the sides, neck and carved back. The fingerboard and bridge are Ebony and the neck contains an adjustable truss rod. The body has double layer binding, and the inlays are a combination of Mother of Pearl and Abalone. The finish is a hand-rubbed lacquer sunburst.
The Eastman MD605 represents great value in a quality A-Style mandolin, built with solid woods and wrapped in a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Introduced in 1905 and based on Orville Gibson’s patent merging violin family techniques with guitar and mandolin construction, the A-Style mandolin has a distinctive teardrop shape and a carved top and back, with either F holes or an oval hole; the F hole provides somewhat more top end. Compared to the F style often seen in bluegrass bands, the A Style body shape has more pronounced midrange and fundamental, and a less percussive attack.
The Collings MT2 A Style is one of the finest production mandolins available, using top shelf materials and very high level build quality. Built using traditional mixtures of a Red (Adirondack) Spruce top, Eastern Flame Maple back, sides and neck, with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge, the Collings MT2 A Style is wrapped in an impeccable nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Collings does some of the best finishing around. The body of this example is bound with faux-tortoise plastic – Ivoroid is used on some versions – with black/white side and top purfling.
Eastman El Rey ER-M Mandolin is very cool instrument that shares DNA with the Eastman archtop El Rey models, creating a contemporary looking electric mandolin. The Eastman El Rey ER-M features a solid one piece mahogany sides and back with a solid maple top. The mahogany provides enhanced mid range warmth and the maple top has a focused note fundamental with clear top end snap. The two f holes provide a bit of traditional mandolin looks but the single cutaway and lower bout design really give it that jazz box feel.
Here we have a lovely Weber Bitterroot F14 O Oval hole, F Style mandolin in classic finish, built in Bend, Oregon during 2002 and signed by Bruce Weber. Built using a mix of traditional and modern techniques, this Weber Bitterroot F14 O Oval Hole F Style Mandolin features an X-braced Sitka Spruce top, Flame Maple for the sides, back, and neck, and Ebony for the non-radiused fingerboard. The original bridge has been replaced with a Brekke Bridge.
The Collings MT A Style mandolin is the entry point for Collings mandolins, and its lack of decoration doesn’t hide the quality of the instrument or the care with which it was built. The A Style mandolin appeared in the closing days of the 19th century as part of Orville Gibson’s revolutionary introduction of violin making principles to mandolin construction. The results were such a dramatic improvement that the centuries old European bowl-back design almost died out in short order.
The Seagull S8 Mandolin is based on the Seagull Merlin dulcimer body, and is one of the most innovative mandolins we’ve seen for a while. It’s not based on either the traditional European flat-top bowl-back designs or the Gibson violin influenced designs. Instead, the Seagull S8 is built from a three-piece maple block in a neck-through chambered design, with a flat spruce top (with longitudinal bracing) and rosewood fingerboard.
The Eastman MDC805 Mandocello is a wonderful, rich sounding instrument that works well as a solo, ensemble or accompaniment instrument in a wide range of styles and genres, from Celtic to Classical, Latin and back again. The Mandocello had been in existence for some centuries in Europe, beginning with flat back and then bowl back. However, in 1905 Orville Gibson’s company began producing mandolin family instruments, including Mandocello models that drew from his blending of violin and guitar concepts.
Here is a rare and wonderful instrument – a Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin, built during 1985. John Monteleone is one of the world’s finest builders of arched top guitars and mandolins. This mandolin was built at Monteleone’s shop in Bayshore, New York. Though it draws from the Lloyd Loar era F-5, the Monteleone Grand Artist mandolin is not a copy, but a re-imagining of the design. It is more in line with what John D’Angelico would produce, showing Art Deco influences. And unlike the F-5, the scroll is hollow, rather than a carved block.
Here is a lovely, brand new Weber Bitterroot F14-F F-style mandolin in Faded Amber Burst, built recently at the Weber shop in Bend, Oregon. Bruce Weber and others from the Flatiron Mandolin Company decided not to move to Nashville after Gibson’s purchase of the company, and in 1997 founded Sound to Earth, Ltd. and began building Weber mandolins and related instruments.
Here’s a very rare treat – a Gibson F5 Master Model mandolin, built at the Nashville custom shop, signed by Charles Derrington and dated September 26, 2003. Orville Gibson revolutionized the instrument building worlds at the end of the 19th century, brining Violin concepts and construction methods to both mandolins and guitars. This was the beginning of all the arched-top guitars and mandolins that are now common to us. In 1919, Lloyd Loar joined Gibson, and before he left in 1924 produced significant designs including the F5 mandolin. The instruments Loar worked on are among the most sought after.
The National RM1-E A-style mandolin hearkens back to the early days of Resophonic instruments, when the concept was being applied wherever more volume was needed.Here we have the Maple-Walnut version, which isn’t just a great ice cream flavour. Walnut was used as an instrument wood for centuries, and brings a slight mellowness to the tone.
The Collings MT2 V Mandolin is fully appointed A-model, built with an Adirondack Red Spruce top and premium figured Maple back and sides and finished with a hand-rubbed varnish. This mandolin has a tone that is rich in low mids and very smooth in the treble range.
The Eastman MD815-V F-Style F-Hole Mandolin is one of the most recognisable mandolin designs, based on the groundbreaking work of Orville Gibson in the late part of the 19th century, blending traditional mandolin and violin construction principles. The F-Style mandolin has become one of the benchmark instruments for country, bluegrass, celtic, and traditional music forms. And, if you take a listen to Chris Thile, they can do Bach to the full potential of the player. Closely related to the Eastman MD814-V model, the F soundhole and its enhanced treble attack tilts the Eastman MD815-V towards Bluegrass and Country repertoires, compared to the F-holes on the MD815/V.
Just In – a brand new Collings MT2 A-Style mandolin in natural finish, with Adirondack Spruce top and Eastern Flame Maple sides, back and neck.
The Godin A8 mandolin mixes traditional tone woods with modern design concepts and electronics. The two-chamber body is routed from a solid block of mahogany and capped with a solid spruce top. The top is voiced with a unique combination of X and fan bracing that produces exceptional sound and projection even when played acoustically.
The Collings MT2 Mandolin is nearly the top of the heap for A-Style mandolins. Featuring a carved Red Spruce top and premium grade maple for the sides, carved back, sides and neck with ebony for the fingerboard, headplate and bridge, and rounded off with faux tortoise binding, the Collings MT2 mandolin is an extremely attractive, exceptionally good sounding, and great playing instrument.
How could you improve on the already beautiful Collings MTO, well add a gloss top of course! The beautiful sunburst and wood sets on the Collings MTO GT mandolin really provide a visual impact to go along with the impeccable craftsmanship and wonderful sound on this mandolin!!
The National Electric Resonator Mandolin has the distinct, sweet yet cutting tone of other National instruments, and even without the pickup, this is LOUD!
The MD515 was the mandolin that re-shaped the entire mandolin market in my opinion. a couple of years ago it was unthinkable that an all solid wood, true hand carved & graduated f-style mandolin could be offered in the under $1100.00 price point.
After the success of Eastman’s line of handcarved, solid mandolins it was only a matter of time before the master luthiers brought their skills to bear on other members of the mandolin family. The Eastman mandocello utilizes all the best features of a great Eastman archtop guitar. By accenting the lower fundamentals with ringing archtop overtones they have produced an instrument that matches and perhaps surpasses any mandocello in the market today!
Eastman Strings was founded in 1992, yet it is already an integral part of the long and glorious history of one of the most fascinating musical traditions the world has known. Through our violin and bow making activities, we at Eastman Strings are attached to a tradition nearly 500 years old, and we strive to maintain a level of artistic and commercial achievement worthy of our predecessors.
The “Blacktop” finish has a rich history in the mandolin world, dating back to the very early 1900’s. Bill Collings occasionally builds one of his popular Collings Custom MT Blackface Mandolin model with upgraded gloss black top finish and adds grained ivoroid top binding to set the whole thing off. What a great look!
We have just taken delivery of another Collings MF5 f-style mandolin from Bill Collings’ Austin Texas workshop. At last count, we had over 40 mandolins in stock. There is always one that stands out above the rest; always one that just has that warm throaty midrange bark; that sparkling presence; that low end chunk; that power. This is the one. THE ONE! The numero uno!!!!!