Duff A4.5 Mandolin

[Glassweb]

Some things in life are indeed worth waiting for... such is the case with my new arrival... this Paul Duff A4.5 mandolin. Modeled after and inspired by Mike Compton's F4.5, Paul really nailed it on this build. It is essentially an A4 mandolin on steroids! Constructed with a one-piece sugar maple back and sides and a three-piece sugar maple neck neck, it is a shockingly beautiful instrument. These images only capture a fraction of its beauty and quality. I will be changing to my preferred strings later on today and will report back on the sound.

Why do I have a feeling it's gonna sound great? Thank-you Paul!

[William Smith]

STUNNING INDEED! I want one, sure I don't need one but yeah, buddy that's some serious eye candy with that wood and finish! I think on mine I'd have to have the longer 5 scale neck, elevated board, and tone bars. Is your board elevated? Does it have tone bar bracing or the trad. transverse style? Oh so curious! I've never been lucky to play a Duff but Paul's builds are on my mind's eye list of luthiers I admire. Lets hear ALL the gory details-very KOOL! Enjoy!

[Glassweb]

This mandolin has the "usual" Gibson A4 build in that it has a transverse brace and a non-elevated board.

[Russ Jordan]

Congratulations—that’s a beauty right there!

[Don Grieser]

That sure is a beauty. Congrats! There's quite a few Duff mandos at Monroe Camp that I've played and enjoyed, but never an oval. Sweet!

[Glassweb]

Thanks y'all... how sweet it is! Now I have to learn how to play an oval hole mandolin again!

[Morgan Barnicoat]

Beautiful mandolin congrats! I saw this one on the Duff website and asked him to post a video but he had already shipped it to USA. I am a fan of Paul’s work but have never seen or heard one of his ovals. Would be awesome to check out a video or soundclip at some point if you are up for sharing - cheers

[pops1]

Ya boy a video of that beauty......can't wait.

[darylcrisp]

looks amazing, i love Duffs. like the other replies, i've never seen or heard a Duff oval.

is it a flat fretboard?
nut width?

[Jim Garber]

That is great! I am a big fan of modernized non hybrid ovals. I still love my Brentrup A4C and alternate with it’s near 99 year old twin my 24 A4. I look fwd to hearing this Duff.

[Glassweb]

looks amazing, i love Duffs. like the other replies, i've never seen or heard a Duff oval.

is it a flat fretboard?
nut width?

The board has a mild radius and the nut is 1 1/16th". Getting the setup and action dialed in... looking for "the sweet spot"...

[Jim Garber]

Glassweb: gorgeous finish and I am also a sucker for quilted maple. Also, I am curious… what are your preferred strings. Mine are D’Addario NBs.

[Glassweb]

Hi Jim... the finish is very much like a Gilchrist finish... and what Paul did with the woods in accentuating their beauty is just crazy beautiful.

I have gone with trusty old DA EJ74s on this new mandolin. Normally I use DA XS 11-40 on my Kimble 2-point, but they sounded a bit too lively for this oval-hole so I went with the strings that produce more of a fundamental and less complexity.

[lenf12]

...so I went with the strings that produce more of a fundamental and less complexity.

Imagine dialing back the output of a mandolin...hmmm . That F-4.5 is stunning. Play it in good health.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

2002 - Paul Duff H-5 Mandola w/ Virzi.

[joh]

Beautiful mandolin! I hope you will post a sound clip of it for us to all enjoy .

What in particular makes it an A4.5 instead of an A4? From what you describe, besides the radius fretboard, the construction sounds the same as an A4.

[joh]

Imagine dialing back the output of a mandolin...hmmm .

The reason many mandolins players play with a thicker pick is to remove the high end shrill that is inherit to mandolins. Mike Marshall often repeats this refrain - that he is constantly trying to darken the sound of the mandolin. So it does not seem unreasonable to me to balance a sonic quality via string choice either.

[sgarrity]

Absolutely stunning!!!

[Mark Seale]

Paul knocked it out of the park with this one for sure! On strings, I'd bet it would respond really well to either Nickel Bronze or Monels.

[Glassweb]

Paul knocked it out of the park with this one for sure! On strings, I'd bet it would respond really well to either Nickel Bronze or Monels.

Good call Mark... I bet the NBs would sound great...

[jimmy powells]

Beautiful and I like the fact that he does the Gibson rosette. Stunning piece of work.

[Timk]

Just got my 2-point from Paul. It was a great experience working with him on the build. Really nice guy and a beautiful looking and great sounding mandolin.

[Tiderider]

Congrats to both Glassweb and Timk, I hope to one day own one of Paul's beautiful mandolins.

[Carleton Page]

Absolutely perfect! I hope Pul keeps building the ovals!

[Geno]

That's a beautiful Duff! Is the sound hole shifted forward 1/4" like Compton's Gilchrist F4.5?

[Glassweb]

That's a beautiful Duff! Is the sound hole shifted forward 1/4" like Compton's Gilchrist F4.5?

I have no idea... I didn't request that so probably not.