Another violin style mandolin builder

[Don Grieser]

Anyone played a mandolin by this maker? Doesn't seem to be much info about him on the google.

https://guitars.com/inventory/mf9296...style-mandolin

[Jim Garber]

From a quick search it sounds like Vladimir Logashov is a violin maker who at one time worked at KC Strings and may still work there. I don’t see any mention of specific staff members on their website. There is a long tradition of violin makers trying their hand at mandolins.

[rcc56]

Gruhn is now carrying "violin style" mandolins by two different makers.
The Vladimir Logashov mandolins have just come in, and I haven't seen them yet.

I did see and play two of the Anton Krutz mandolins when the first ones came in about a year ago.
I remember that George asked me to try a couple of mandolins with my eyes closed, so I wouldn't know what I was playing.
One I promptly identified as an old mandolin, which turned out to be a late 20's F-5, which sounded like it was "supposed to."

The second was a mandolin with a much fuller voice than the old Gibson. It had good projection, plenty of power, and balanced response from the open G to the 15th fret G. I thought it to be a very good instrument. This was a Krutz mandolin. I would also say that these instruments are best suited for solo and small group use, rather than a big, hard-driving bluegrass band. That's because their trebles might be a little "thicker" than what some bluegrass players might prefer.

I recall that the only thing I saw about those two early Krutz mandolins that could have stood some improvement was that the final varnish coat could have been applied a bit more skillfully. Those two instruments have since been sold. I have not played a more recent Krutz.

I don't know whether or not Logashov or Campanella mandolins are similar in tone to Krutz mandolins.

These days, George Gruhn is quite selective about carrying new instruments by unknown makers. He won't carry new handmade instruments that are weak or crude.
I too will be interested in hearing about one of the new Logashov instruments.