Beast!
Price: $5,999.95
Exceptional A-5, built by Matt Ruhland out of Portland, Oregon. Oddly, our first Ruhland mandolin. Missed out on a couple in trade, but I’ve heard many good reports and have been anticipating having one in the shop. This example, s/n 91, has all the goodies, including a one piece top and back, first class appointments and a beasty voice. The top is from Ketchikan, AK, and shows about 400 years of growth rings.
One piece Sitka Spruce top, highly figured one piece Red Maple back, Red Maple sides & neck in a handsome cremona sunburst varnish finish, 3-ply bindings throughout, flat Ebony fretboard, 1-1/8″ nut width, parallel tone bars, engraved James tailpiece and Rubner tuning gears with black buttons. Abbreviated Ebony pickguard and Flowerpot headstock inlay.
This is a consignment instrument and the owner claims that she has a “strong, assertive” voice. I’ll buy that and add that she also has a warm, aged tone with excellent balance and projection. Bold bluegrass chop and big volume. An absolute beast.
Shows a slight clip-on tuner shadow on the back of the headstock and the bare beginnings of fretwear, otherwise mint condition. Showroom clean. Excellent set-up.
Includes a white Superior case. Trades gladly considered on this fine American made mandolin.
