F-5 Koa w/ Sitka Spruce Top

Hand rubbed varnish finish

F-5 Koa w/ Sitka Spruce Top

This is one of my latest F-5 mandolins. Although I normally tend to build pretty traditional mandolins, I found this beautiful piece of Koa on a recent trip to Hawaii and knew it would make an incredible mandolin. The top is a great piece of Sitka and I knew the combination of the two would lend toward a great sounding instrument. The entire mandolin is triple bound 1/2in white, blach, white 1/2 ivoroid binding. This is the first of my instruments to have the hand engraved James tailpiece. This turned out to be a very special mandolin and there are definately more Koa and exotic wood insturments in the near future.

  • Curly Koa back sides and neck

  • Sitka spruce top

  • 24 fret 12" radiused fingerboard

  • Adjustable truss rod

  • Pearl truss rod cover

  • Triple bound neck, sides and body

  • Steve Smith bridge

  • Hand engraved James tailpiece

  • Mother of pearl Elkhorn logo and traditional flowerpot

  • Fossilized ivory nut

  • Gold Waverly tuners

  • Hand rubbed spirit varnish finish