This is my latest 4th generation flat top mandolin. This is the culmination of 12 years of work improving the sound of the flat top mandolin. It all started from the fact that it is possible to make amazing sounding flat top guitars, so it must be possible to make amazing sounding flat top mandolins, i.e. as good as or better than any carved top mandolin. I used the principles outlined in the Guitar design book by Australian Luthiers Trevor Gore and Gerard Gilet. Mandolins vibrate like guitars, and this mandolin is built like a classical guitar. Lightweight top, heavy back, and fan braced. The braces are reinforced with carbon fiber, without the carbon fiber it would not work. I have now made 7 4th generation mandolins, and this is the one I am most pleased with in terms of the looks and the sound. I have made an Ebony mandolin that is about the same level in sound, just different, but the eye candy is not so nice. Woods are the same as what was used in the Lyon and Healy mandolins. Red Spruce top, Birdseye Maple back and sides, mahogany neck. It has ebony bindings and the tailpiece cover is engraved ebony. It was deliberately made to look similar to a Lyon and Healy asymmetric 2 point, but with the long scale length. Strings are Thomastic. Schaller GrandTune machine heads. It certainly does sound as good as any of my oval hole carved top mandolins which is really quite remarkable.
Sound clips -
https://petercoombe.com/Sound/classi...-inchiquin.mp3
https://petercoombe.com/Sound/classi...ttop/begsi.mp3
https://petercoombe.com/Sound/classi.../home-rule.mp3
https://petercoombe.com/Sound/classi...er-fellows.mp3
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