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.
A-Style
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.
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.
Here we’re looking at a Gibson Style A mandolin in overall good and largely original condition. The A-Style or ‘Teardrop’ body is built with a hand-carved, arched Spruce top paired with a carved, arched Mahogany back. The sides and neck are also Mahogany, with Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here is a very nice Collings MTO GT A Style mandolin from 2011. The GT simply means ‘Gloss Top’, with the rest of the instrument in a non-gloss satin finish. The Collings MTO is based on the classic Orville Gibson A Style ‘teardrop’ design dating back to the end of the 19th century. The A and F styles were radical departures from traditional mandolins and merged violin family construction concepts with the mandolin.
This instrument has sold
MORE →The Collings MT2 mandolin is a spectacular instrument – not overly decorated, and a simple design, but executed with great skill and top shelf materials. The Collings MT2 features a hand carved, arched, F-hole Adirondack Spruce top with bookmatched flame Maple for the sides, carved arched back, and neck. The bridge, head plate and bound fingerboard are all Ebony. The finish is a near perfect nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst. Collings has absolutely mastered the arts involved in lacquer finishing.
This instrument has sold
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