Recent Arrivals - Mandolin family

The AMW storefront received a facelift recently.
Stop on by and check out the new digs.

New Arrivals - NEW MANDOLINS
Collings	MT-2 MANDOLA	Just arrived Announced with prototype model shown at The NAMM Show this past January, Collings has perfected his highly anticpated mandola and has a small handful of these puppies ready to ship. We asked for the best of the first batch and Alex hand-picked the blonde one for us. We always have trouble resisting a blonde, so stop by and help us explore the deep CC GG DD AA world of mandola - Collings style. That's Charley Rappaport in his AMW studio applying the first licks.	SOLD
Collings	Mandola sunburst	Just arrived (NEW) Fresh from the 2010 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville. Yes, we slept outside of the convention center, entered early, and nabbed the NAMM Show mandola. She's all dark sunburst, nickel hardware, and pickguard. Everyone (everyone!) wanted to take her for a spin so she had to go back to Austin for a clean and buff, but she's all ours now. One of the highlights of the show - Collings has nailed it - coupled the dark mandola voice with modern playability. Everyone should have one. $4,250	SOLD
Collings	Mandola sunburst	Just arrived (NEW) Looks like the Collings mandolas will be coming more predictably now. Here is our third one, another beautiful dark sunburst, this one with gold hardware, and pickguard. As we've been saying: Everyone should have one! List price: $4,250	$3,825
Collings	MF5-V Custom Quilted maple Blonde - Varnish	Just arrived (NEW) From that same secret stash of crazy good quilted maple. This mandolin is an MF5-V custom in "blonde-worthy" quilted maple with perect Adirondack spruce top. We spec'd the wider (1 and 3/16") nut width. We also added Waverly tuners because this mandolin deserves them. It sounds as good as it looks.	RESERVED
Collings	MF5-O Custom Quilted maple Engelmann top	Just arrived (NEW) There is good and then there is crazy good. This mandolin is crazy good and woodya look at that wood? We asked Collings to find us the best quilted maple on the planet. They found it, then they built us a mandolin with it. We chose Engelmann spruce for the top as we think it often works best with the oval hole and is a particularly good match for this maple. The instrument is powerful, like a real F4 oughta be - with presence and low end out the wazoo. Seriously: It sounds even better than it looks. Take this to the office with you. We guarantee that no work will get done. Collings thought enough of it to get out the lights, hire the studio photographers, and feature it on their website HERE	SOLD
Collings	MF5-O V Varnish Engelmann top	Just arrived (NEW) Ever since old # 913 (above) arrived, we've been dreaming about pairing an F-4 style oval hole instrument with it. Well, that instrument has arrived. Just a tremendous sounding MF5-O with X-bracing and 1 and 3/16" nut width and appropriately serious appointments (varnish finish, fabulous back, ENGELMANN spruce top) and this one also features the honey-amber finish, nickel-silver Waverly tuners with ebony knobs, tortoise binding, and ebony tortoise bound pickguard. A perfect companion to the MF5 Deluxe V above. Check out the YouTube video of Jesse Cobb of the Infamous Stringdusters playing this very mandolin.	List Price: $11,400
Our Price: $10,260
Collings	MF Wide Nut	Just arrived (NEW) Another great sounding MF mandolin - this one in standard satin sunburst with the wider (1 and 3/16") nut width. Adirondack spruce, Collings, MF. All one needs, perhaps.	List Price: $4,550
Our Price: $4,095
Collings	MT2 mandolin Sunburst VARNISH	Just arrived and just killer (NEW) Another varnish MT2 with Adirondack spruce top, gold hardware and beautiful flame maple back. You can hear the varnish: GREAT snort, good LOUD mandolin. Ready for festival season! ON HOLD (BB)	List Price: $4,700
Our Price: $4,230
Collings	MT2 mandolin honey amber birdseye maple	Just arrived and just beautiful (NEW) We dolled this one up with tortoise bindings and a tortoise bound pickguard. But the real beauty of this instruement lies in the rare birdseye maple. Birdseye maple is hard, I mean hard. It makes for a bold and punchy mandolin with great projection. If you be wanting a loud mandolin that will not cowtow to no dang banjo - this be your mandolin. Just be careful where you point that thing!	List Price: $4,000
Our Price: $3,600
Collings	MT2O Oval Hole Amber Adirondack top	Just arrived (NEW) Nice volume and projection from this honey amber oval hold Collings. A very loud mandolin with deep punchy sound. Great for a loud Irish session or orchestra player. The oval hole instrument has the wider (1 and 3/16") nut width.	List Price: $3,950
Our Price: $3,555
Collings	MT gloss top ivoroid binding	Just arrived! (NEW) Collings MT mandolin - Our best seller - and clearly the best buy in a pro quality satin finish mandolin - the Collings MT model. Don't settle for less. This one with a gloss sunburst top with ivoroid binding added. Beautiful!!	List Price: $ 2,500
Our Price: $2,250
Collings	MT gloss top ivoroid binding	Just arrived! (NEW) Collings MT mandolin - Our best seller - and clearly the best buy in a pro quality satin finish mandolin - the Collings MT model. Don't settle for less. This one with a gloss sunburst top with ivoroid binding added. Includes deluxe case.	List Price: $ 2,550
Our Price: $2,295
Collings	MT-O gloss top ivoroid binding	Just arrived! (NEW) Collings MT-O mandolin - Another great example of the new oval hole Collings MT - This one with a particularly nice Engelmann top in high gloss sunburst with ivoroid binding added. Nice! Includes deluxe case.	List Price: $ 2,850
Our Price: $2,565
Collings	MT gloss top Honey Amber	Just arrived! (NEW) Collings MT mandolin - Our best seller - and clearly the best buy in a pro quality satin finish mandolin - the Collings MT model. Don't settle for less. This one in Honey AMber finish with tortoise binding and a gloss top and Elite tuners. Includes a deluxe case. # 1812	List Price: $ 2,450
Our Price: $2,205
Collings	MT gloss top Honey Amber WIDE NUT	Just arrived! (NEW) Collings MT mandolin - Our best seller - a particularly nice one built for display at the 2010 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville. Don't settle for less. Gloss top amber, tortoise binding, Elite tuners with black knobs, wider 1 and 3/16" nut width. FINE mandolin with BIG tone! Includes Collings deluxe case. # 2038	List Price: $ 2,650
Our Price: $2,385
Breedlove	Chris Hillman FF mandolin	Just arrived (NEW) After a few too many mamosas for breakfast, we almost tripped over this beauty at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville. After one course of Whiskey Before Breakfast on it, I had to ask "is this a BREEDLOVE?". Now I do not mean to sound critical as we have always carried and always liked Breedlove mandolins, and feel they have a unique voice that complements our other more "traditional" sounding mandolin lines. Well I am here to tell you, it wasn't the mamosas (or the Whiskey) this mandolin has bark and snort and throaty gurgle like the big boys. Imagine our surprise (or not) when we noticed the special label and were informed that this is the CHRIS HILLMAN Signature model prototype. Now that makes sense - a mandolin designed for and in cooperation with Chris Hillman would need to make the grade, and it does. We like that Breedlove uses the 1 and 3/16" nut, abalone fern inlay, Loar style bridge, and an abbreviated ebony pickguard on this model. We also like the exceptional flame maple on the back and the Adirondack spruce on top. And the dark sunburst is perfect. If you've been to AMW, you know we've got rooms full of killer mandolins. Welcome one more to the fold. #13288 The list price is $5,350. Our price is MUCH MUCH lower. INQUIRE	INQUIRE
Breedlove	Quartz FF sunburst Honey burst custom	NAMM Show mandolin (New) In Stock - custom instrument built for display at the NAMM Show. "FF" body shape with HIGHLY figured solid maple back and sides, carved solid spruce top with F-holes, ebony fingerboard, hook style scroll, ebony Loar style bridge and peghead overlay, nickel Gotoh tuners with black buttons, cast tailpiece. This custom model has a full body high gloss amber burst finish with black body binding. Very nice! Includes good quality case.	SOLD
Breedlove	Quartz FO sunburst Honey burst	(New) In Stock - New "FO" body shape with figured solid maple back and sides, carved solid spruce top with oval hole, ebony fingerboard, hook style scroll, ebony Loar style bridge and peghead overlay, nickel Gotoh tuners with black buttons, cast tailpiece. Has the warmer tubby sound of the oval hole - excellent for Irish, old-time, or Classical styles. Nice sound.	List Price: $2,099
Our Price: $1,579
Eastman	MD815-V Varnish	Just arrived (NEW) Our first varnish 815 and we have to say we are very impressed! Between the Kentucky KM-1000 and the Eastman MD815-V, there just has never been a better time to get a pro quality F model mandolin at an amazing price! This varnish Eastman is a real breakthrough in quality and price!	SOLD
Eastman	DGM1	(NEW) DAWG Collection Giacomel. Based on David Grisman's personal Giacomel J-5, this Eastman DG1 has a X-braced spruce top, flame maple back and sides, ebony tailpiece and adjustable bridge. Sort of a Picasso-looking mandolin with excellent projection and a unique singing versatile Jazz tone. Decidedly *not* your traditional bluegrass mandolin! Rectangular case. LIFETIME warranty.	List Price: $3,495
Our Price: $2,795
Kentucky	KM-1000-B Blackface	(NEW) Number twenty-one. Another black top. These have been consistently high quality, and this newest black faced one sounds very good, honest. GREAT mandolin for the price. Our discount price is now $1,599 - and our new price includes Golden Gate's new fiberglass flite case - a very nice quality case.	$1,379
Kentucky	KM-1000	(NEW) We've been carrying these for a year now, and selling them as fast as they arrive.This batch represents numbers twenty two through twenty-five for us. Several more Kentucky KM-1000. These have been consistently high quality. Our discount price is now $1,599 - but our price includes the new (much better quality) Golden Gate fiberglass flite case. These have been hard to get and hard to keep in stock. An older stock item, # 17 is pictured - Call early and we'll pick the best new one for you.	$1,379
National	RM-1 Resonator Mandolin Walnut/maple/brass Left Handed	(NEW) - A very popular model for us - and difficult to keep in stock. Often sold before they arrive - here's the chance for a Southpaw to join the party! Yes - a LEFT HANDED resonator mandolin from National. Cool!!!	$1,875
National	RM-1 Resonator Mandolin Walnut/maple/brass	(NEW) - A very popular model for us - and difficult to keep in stock. Often sold before they arrive - here's your chance to join the party! Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? National Walnut body Resonator Model with aged brass parts. Put some "turn it up" into your next Jug band gig. Too much fun!!	$1,875
Phoenix	Jazz	(NEW) Jazz model - dual pickup electric acoustic model. We mean it when we ccall this the "ulitimate" electric-acoustic mandolin. The McIntyre Feather pickup, tried and proven on other Phoenix models, provides the natural wood sound amplification that is one aspect of mandolin sound. A suspended magnetic pickup custom crafted by Kent Armstrong provides the electronic element that is an essential part of jazz. A 22-fret fingerboard is used to position the pickup where Kent Armstrong recommends. Voiced for flat-wound strings 011"/.016"/.022"/.034", delivered with Thomastik stark (heavy. $4,800 And Wow, What a great mandolin. Lively, woody, and punchy as can be acoustically...but just wait til we plug it in! Our price - $ 4,320	$4,320
Weber	Bitteroot F Cedar Top	(NEW) Warm tone with exceptional balance and light feel. A *fine* sounding mandolin, with a beautiful high gloss reddish ("scarlet fire")custom finish. Cedar really does add an interesting characteristic to the tone. If you haven't tried one....	$3,750
Recent Arrivals - PRE-OWNED MANDOLINS
Breedlove	Quartz FF sunburst	Just arrived! (USED) Sold here new last year for $1,800. Quartz series modern F style mandolin designed (and signed) by Kim Breedlove, with the brand new "FF" body shape, figured solid maple back and sides, hook style scroll, carved solid spruce top with F-holes, ebony fingerboard, ebony Loar style bridge and peghead overlay, nickel Gotoh tuners with black buttons, cast tailpiece. Good strong traditional (deeper, throatier) voicing on this model. Good bluegrass chop. Includes case.	SOLD
Brentrup	Brentrup Model 23V	JUST arrived (USED) We are excited to get to handle another very fine handcrafted mandolin from the workshop of Johann Brentrup. This will be a VARNISH F5 style Model 23-V made with flame maple and topped with Italian spruce. Nice neck, ivoroid binding, gold hardware, Schaller tuners, pearl truss rod cover, ebony pick guard, scooped extension, radiused fretboard. We find most Brentrups can to be set up with low action, as this one is, and they play like a dream. Standard TKL formed F style case.	$6,500
Cole	RCA5 Mandola	Just arrived (USED) Great sounding mandola from Ron Cole of Filer, Idaho. Well known for his F5 mandolins, the A style mandola has the roar of a vintage Gibson but has a refined modern snap and feel. None of that ropey sounding C string here. This thing growls and hits the mark spot on. Very fine and in near-mint condition. High quality throughout - Schaller tuners, Allen tailpiece, Loar style bridge, herring bone purfling, one-piece back! Plays easily really fills the room with sound. Includes a high quality Ameritage case. Clearly a fine instrument. ON CONSIGNMENT	$2,750
Collings	MF5-V mandolin Dark Amber Varnish	Just arrived and just spectacular (USED) Beautiful Amber Collings MF5-V. Great woods, this was a custom order, one of the earliest of the "dark" brown ambers, and it has darkened and mellowed a bit and opened up a lot. Very fine, near-mint condition. Just an *exceptionally* sweet mandolin with bell-like overtones. Plays easily and rewards the eye and ear. Includes the high end engraved tailpiece and the Waverly tuners. Clearly one of the nicest we have handled! ON CONSIGNMENT $ 9250	$9,250
Collings	Collings Nugget Tim O'Brien model	Just arrived (USED) In 2003, Bill Collings and Mike Kemnitzer of Nugget Mandolins began a collaboration that resulted in a total run of 35 mandolins based on the iconic Nugget #2 A model owned by one of our favorite musicians, Mr. Hot Rize himself, the venerable Tim O'Brien. This mandolin was #3 of the series and was purchased new from Mike Kenmitzer. It went back to Nugget for a custom pickguard and a new compensated bridge saddle at some point. The instrument has been owmed and played by a very fine musician and good friend of ours, who just happens to be the founder of the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra. It has some medium-light scratches (see the swirls on the headstock from string changes) and some fret wear and a few dings on the treble bout of the instrument. It is seven years old (2003) and has developed a marvelous throaty "Nugget" voice. We just cleaned it up and strung it with D'addario FT-74 flat wound strings and it seems to like them. It has a very fine one piece back (all Tim O'B models have gloss back tops and satin finish sides and back) and nickel Schaller tuners. These are extremely fine mandolins - it would be hard to find a better sounding A model mandolin at any price.	SOLD
Collings	MF5 mandolin Sunburst	Just arrived (USED) Exc. - A very early Collings MF5. Great woods, with very tight grain highly flamed "HARD" maple back. One of the earliest of the Collings F5s, and it has matured into a loud, powerful, and dark sounding mandolin. Has been played a lot and the first seven frets were well worn. It has just returned from Lou Stiver's mandolin shoip where it received seven new frets and a setup by the very talented Mr. Stiver. The condition is excellent "minus" based on some light discoloration on the tailpiece and some brush scratches on the treble side top. No serious dings. No worries. Looking for an *exceptionally* loud Bluegrass mandolin that can be heard over a banjo?. This mandolin has been owned by played by a very fine player who has made the move up to a Collings MF5 Deluxe Varnish. So welcome to the best of both worlds: He's done all the heavy lifting and opened this one up for you - and Lou has re-fretted it and made it play like new. What ask could you ask for? Oh yes - it comes with a Calton case! Note: The Calton case has been sold separately. The mandolin now has a lower price and comes with a standard Collings case. ON CONSIGNMENT	$5,750
Collings	MT Blackface	Just arrived (USED) A Collings MT "blackface" mandolin has come back home. It was traded, in a logical way we suppose, toward an OVAL hole Collings mando as our customer continues to explore his mandolin worlds. This mando has a gloss black top and tortoise binding. Looks almost new. Sounds great.	SOLD
Gibson	F-4	Just arrived! (USED) VG condition circa 1920 (SN 55664) F-4 - appears to be all original with nice condition pickguard and tailpiece cover. The tuners have been replaced with period inlaid tuners. The bridge has been replaced with an adjustable Loar style bridge. The case also appears to be original, with replacement handle. We've just had Lou Stiver replace all the frets with modern frets. Lou did the setup and pronounced it a very good one. Great warm tone, straight neck, nicely set up. ON CONSIGNMENT	$5,500
Gibson	A-4	(USED) VG condition 1918 A-4 (serial # 44999 FON # 11121) with great warm tone. Maroon-red sunburst with "The Gibson" logo and fleur di lis inlay in headstock. This would have been the top-of-the-line from Gibson in 1918. Original tuners (knobs intact) and tailpiece cover. Original bridge is in the case. Original case in pretty fine condition. Replacement (Loar style) adjustable bridge fitted and installed by Lou Stiver. One top crack (full length of the top) repaired (glued and cleated) by Lou Stiver. Nice straight neck, GREAT old woody tone, recent setup by Lou Stiver, $2,400.	$2,400
Pomeroy	F4 Custom	(USED) Used F-4 built in 2005. Beautiful one piece back. Sweet oval hole tone. Very nice - Priced to sell quickly with Modern case (very high quality).	$2,400
Used Weber mandolins
Weber	Bruce Weber Tenth Anniversary model	Just arrived (USED) Well...let me say this. We here at Acoustic Music Works have heard our share of good mandolins. We've fingered a few Nuggets, a Gilchrist or three, more good Collings and Stivers than we can count, a '23 Loar, a mess of vintage Gibsons, and a few Randy Woods, Smarts, and Red Diamonds. Well you get the picture. Charley Rappaport teaches here and keeps us honest where mandolin tone is concerned. In our time, we've handled a dozen or so very fine sounding modern mandolins that have borne the signature of Bruce D. Weber. Some were Flatiron Artists, some were Gibsons, and one or two were Webers. We have a mandolin here that simply rivals *any* mandolin we have ever handled for fit and finish, tone, and playability. We simply cannot say enough about this instrument: It is superb. Bruce Weber set out to build TEN of these mandolins to celebrate the Tenth Anniversay of his Weber Mandolin enterprise. So far he has built two of those ten. This is number two. The special features are many: the back, sides, and neck are of AAAAA grade flame Maple with a gorgeous one piece back. Thers is a crossed f- hole inlay in heel button to signify the 10-year anniversary. The peghead inlay is the “Bruce D. Weber” signature inlay with a small stylized Weber celtic knot. On peghead reverse, the words, “EST. 1997” and serial number “2/10” are inlayed. The nut width 1 1/8 Inches, of fossilized walrus ivory. The body is bound in more of the highly flamed maple with intricate ivory/black/pearl/black/ivory purfling. Even the f holes are bound in ivoroid! (this is just amazing to look at, really). The instrument is finished in a semi-gloss spirit varnish, the truss rod is dual-action adjustable, and it has the Brekke Traditional Bridge with fossilized walrus saddle. The tuners are also the finest available: Gold Waverly with Ebony pegs and it has a 22k Gold- Plated Weber tailpiece. The 10th anniversary mandolin comes with a custom Ameritage case with numbered plaque, and a Small Dog case cover. The mandolin is here on consignment. It is the most highly decorated mandolin we have ever seen, but please don't write it off as being overly fancy. It is a perfect blend of form and function: It has a sound that is half banjo-killing Bluegrass chopmeister and half refined Mandolin Orchestra F-5. Charley says: From Russian Rag to Rawhide, this mandolin drives the bus and hangs with the Big Boys. The back rumbles against the player's ribcage. It barks, it sings, it satisfies. If you collect mandolins, your collection is not complete without this. $19,750 We ship worldwide.	ON HOLD
Weber	Fern	Just arrived (USED) Bruce Weber's signature appears on some of the finest Flatiron and modern Gibsons we have ever heard. When Bruce sits down to build one of his own Fern models, he draws from a deep well of experience. This mandolin is super clean, with GREAT F-5 sound and *superb* fit and finish. A strong, loud mandolin with great bluegrass bottom end. Built in 2005, this Fern has the upgraded Weber "traditional" bridge, armrest and tailpiece. The list price on these when new is $6600 and this is in very fine condition. The instrument was sent back to Weber at one point to have the custom pickguard (value $300) added. This fine mandolin is on consignment and is priced to sell VERY quickly.	$4,450

Prices and availability subject to change - For information call the store at 412-422-0710 or send e-mail to:

info@acousticmusicworks.com

Acoustic Music Works, LLC
2142 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217