I just went to visit with Mr. Arnold Cross in Smyrna, TN (about 15 miles south of Nashville). I bought one of his mandolins last summer and love it more today than the day I picked it/fell in love with it at his shop. I have not found another mandolin that I would prefer or feel would beat it (and being near Nashville and a number of respected guitar shops, I have played quite a few high end mandolins. But I am probably partial to mine just because).
He puts a lot of hard work and time into his mandolins (as I am sure most builders do). This time I played 4 of his mandolins. I still love mine but may be buying another of his in the future when I am able. I can't say enough good about him and his mandolins.
The main point of this post was to post some pictures, for anyone that may like to see, of two of the mandolins I played in his shop today and one in progress. There was one glossy finish mandolin that I played but forgot to take a picture of and another early one that he keeps as his personal mandolin. All played extremely well and have their own personalities and characteristics.
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