New! Tone-Gard: The best thousand dollar improvement you can make to your mandolin for only $74! We don't usually feature an accessory so prominently, but these things really work. By keeping the back of your instrument off of your body, the Tone-Gard allows the back to vibrate and contribute to the instrument's resonance. You'll get more lows, more highs and more volume - all good things to have in a mandolin. And as a bonus, the Tone-Gard helps protect against the odd button scratch and keeps you from sticking to the mandolin when the pickin' gets hot and sweaty. Try this test at home (but close the curtains so your neighbors don't think you're a total loony): Face a wall about two or three feet away so you can hear the sound of your own instrument and chop a couple of chords with your mandolin held against your body, then chop them again while holding the instrument an inch or so away. You'll be amazed at the difference. Used by David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, Mike Marshall, Roland White, and many other great players. Black powdercoated lightweight steel "sunrise" frame with rubber and leather at contact points. Not recommended for soft varnish finishes. Fits most mandolins. Usually fits in the case while on the instrument. Models for Rigel and customs available. BuffaloBros. price: $74. PHOTO
Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.
New! Corrado Giacomel J-5 Natural: These superb tone monsters from the shop in Genoa, Italy are both unusual in appearance and outstanding in tonal quality and projection. And why not? After all, the mandolin got its start in Italy and every mandolin maker since the early days has paid homage to the land of pasta either by naming their instrument a "Florentine Style" (in honor of course of Florence, Italy), or faithfully copying the early designs of the bowl back or "tater bug" style. Giacomel was discovered, endorsed and played by David Grisman who has, perhaps more than anyone in history, promoted mandolin players, makers and mandolin music. The Giacomel is his (Grisman's) ultimate discovery. The sound is almost unbelievable. Certainly extremely impressive, especially when you realize that you're not playing a 1920s or 1930s vintage instrument with the benefit of years of age. The tone and volume are incredibly mature for a new instrument. The voice is throaty, the tonal range has a richness that belies its newness, and the highs have that bell like quality that makes your hair stand on end. Almost a contradiction to what one might expect. If you want to discuss the visual aspects, they are stunning. The body design is very Avante-garde, almost trapezoid shaped, with a stylish art deco influenced "hook" scroll. The gorgeous, hand-applied varnish finish allows the true beauty of the Fine grained European Spruce top as well as the incredibly flamed Maple back & sides to be easily admired. Perhaps the most perfect mandolin being offered Today. If you can't stop by to audition one in person, try to catch Tim O'Brien or Dawg in concert playing their Giacomel J-5s. A real treat for your ears. With hard case. $12,500 Stock#UMC29356 photo
Used Andersen F-5: A superb offering from Steve Andersen who is instantly recognizeable as the maker of the Emerald City archtop guitar he creates in his workshop in Seattle. The Florentine style mandolins he produces are no less treasured than his hallowed guitars. This example, the 100th that Mr. Andersen has produced, was so special to the maker that the peghead is amblazoned with the number 100 etched into a banner that appears just below the Andersen name. The physical beauty is astonishing, incredibly figured Quilted Maple for the back and sides and exquisite appointments as well. The tone is world class too, plenty of 'chop', lots of volume, and rich tone that is easily at home with classical interpretations. A beautiful, well rounded mandolin. With hard case. $9500 Stock#UMB29513 PHOTO BUY NOW
New! Capek F-5 Basic: Hand built, hand carved, master wood selection, yet devoid of frills players don't really want to pay extra for. Just pure, sweet tone, and professional playability. Rostislav Capek has researched the rest of the mandolin world to come up with this design created for the modern player. A very toneful instrument, much richer tonally than any other. With hard case. LIST: $3450 Our price: $2950 Stock#NMB28981*
New! Capek F-5 Old Era: Rostislav Capek studied violin making at one of the oldest established schools in Europe. His mandolins are gaining in popularity by leaps and bounds, being found in the hands of such players as Radim Zenkl. This Florentine style is called the Old Era because it's construction is based on instruments produced in the US during the "Golden Era" of the 20th Century. A European Spruce top with gorgeous flamed Maple back & sides, along with impeccable workmanship are the hallmarks of Capek mandolins. With hard case. LIST: $4950 BuffaloBros.price: $4450 Stock#NMB28984 photo
New! Capek A Mandola: A rich and warm sound is what you find in this gorgeous European Spruce and flame Maple mandola. Master maker Rostislav Capek makes all his instruments by hand, from start to finish. No assistants, no digitally driven machines, just old world craftsmanship, producing the finest tone you will find in mandolin family instruments. With gig bag. LIST: $3850 BuffaloBros. price: $3450 Stock#NMB28983 photo
New! Collings MT: Collings mandolins have established themselves as the benchmark for tone, playability, and quality. Thisis not hard to believe when you see and play an instrument such as this model MT. The MT is an A style instrument constructed of a carved Spruce top, and carved Maple back & sides. This particular example has a top bound in ivoroid which contrasts beautifully against the dark sunburst satin top finish. The Collings MT sets new standards for clarity and tonality in its price range. With hard case. LIST: $2450. BuffaloBros. price: $2205 Stock#NMB30890 photo
New! Collings MT: No one needs to tell you what great mandolins Collings makes. They are just spectacular sounding and always seem to play effortlessly. This fine sounding example has an ivoroid bound top and a high gloss finish. Definitely a step up from the basic model. With hard case. LIST: $2530 BuffaloBros. price: $2277 Stock#NMB30979 photo
New! Collings MT-2: This gorgeous A style from the folks at Collings is another superb example of what can be accomplished when traditional design, the finest materials and modern construction techniques all come together under the watchful eye of a highly skilled craftsman. A red spruce top, maple back and rim, radiused fingerboard and a beautiful gloss sunburst finish come together to make this a great playing and sounding mandolin. With hard case.LIST: $3500 BuffaloBros. price: $3150 Stock# NMB28835* photo
Used Collings MT-2 Black Top: This gorgeous study in black and white has a highly figured, one piece maple back and a straight grained red spruce top that is finished with gloss black lacquer. Its tone is heavenly and its fit, finish and setup are pure Collings. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price $2600 Stock#UMC22292 PHOTO
Used Collings MF: A Carved Adirondack Spruce top, carved Maple back & sides, all wrapped up in a satin finish Florentine style crusher. This has to be the best value for the dollar in a fine quality mandolin. An even better value due to having been previously owned, yet carefully maintained. With hard case. $3350 Stock#UMB18089 photo
New! Eastman MD515 Classic: This entry level F style mandolin from Eastman shows the same quality and attention to detail as their more expensive models. Built without binding on the back and peghead, this model has the same hand carved spruce and maple construction and the same loud, open sound that Eastman has become known for. With hard case (msrp: $1250) BuffaloBros. price $999 Stock#NMB28952* photo
Used Eastman 615 Classic: These hand carved Eastman Florentine style mandolins really do offer the most sound for the money. Especially this nicely maintained example which in addition to sounding great, also saves you money. (a worthwhile goal to pursue). With hardcore foam case $1000 Stock#UMB19867* photo
New! Eastman 814: (F style Oval Hole) Way cool oval hole F style mandolin. Eastman has got this one right. Based on the old Gibson F-4, this well made import from China is built with a carved Tibetan spruce top and figured Chinese Maple back and rim. It has a radiused Ebony fingerboard that is inlaid with blocks of Mother of Pearl. This one is finished in a Cremona sunburst finish. While this isn't your Grandfather's F-4, it is a seriously good sounding and playing mandolin for a fraction of the price. With hard case. LIST: $1950. Our price: $1560. Stock# NMB21339. photo
Just In! 1928 Gibson A: A well cared for, post Loar era, black topped A model mandolin from Gibson that has the highly desirable truss rod in the neck and the killer tone that only comes from 80+ year old wood. The devotees of the eight stringed wonders will surely gather 'round in amazement at the pure tones emanating from this beautiful sounding black faced A style. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price $2750 Stock# UMB30156 photo
1918 Gibson A: One of the most difficult things to do is to figure out the age of an older Gibson mandolin. The serial numbers were written in pencil on the label which over the years usually faded into obscurity. We have squinted our eyes, taken the instrument under a bright light and determined that in all likelyhood it was made in 1918. However, sharper and younger eyes than ours may prevail. One thing is certain, no other instrument on earth is the equal tonally of these revered oval hole, pumpkin topped treasures. With chipboard case. $1250 Stock#UMB30910 photo
1920 Gibson A-2 Sheraton Brown: A very nicely maintained 90 year old. So well kept that you'd think it might be a reissue. It ain't! It just looks that way. With original hard case. $1650 Stock#UMB29570 PHOTO
ca. 1916 Gibson A-2 Sheraton Brown: A terrific sounding, nice playing example of this vintage gem. The penciled in serial number on the label is totally invisible, so accurate dating is impossible. We have the word of the grandson of the original owner that it was purchase sometome during "the big war". The neck is good and straight with some pickwear near the soundhole due to grandad's aggressive playing style. With original hard case. $1500 Stock#UMB30715
ca. 1950’s Gibson A-50: This is the A style for Bluegrass players! Cool vintage Gibson sound and vibe. 10” wide body with maple back and rim and a spruce top. Two small repaired top cracks by the treble side f hole and a missing pickguard and tailpiece cover, otherwise in excellent original condition. With soft case. BuffaloBros. price $1250 Stock# UMB27711 photo
1917 Gibson F-4 Cherry Sunburst: As fine as they come. This Florentine style, oval soundhole Gibson has a rich tone that sets it apart from all other vintage mandolins. Well balanced, with overtones that enrich every note on the fretboard, the F-4 is a welcome instrument in classical, ragtime, old Timey, jazz or bluegrass ensemble. With original hard case. $6500 Stock#UMB23584 photo
1913 Gibson F-4: A wonderful sounding vintage 3 point Gibson with original black face and the highly desirable Handel inlaid tuners. Action, intonation, and playability are ideal. It has beautifully figured maple back and sides that have the original red sunburst finish. This instrument was in the same family from new until 2006, and comes with a news photo circa 1914 of the original owner posing with his mandolin orchestra while holding the instrument. Double flowerpot headstock! With original hard case. $4500 Stock#UMC30424 photo
New! Kentucky KM-140: Thanks to a recent upgrade from Kentucky, the newest KM-140 now has a solid carved Spruce top, whereas the older version was a Spruce laminate. Leave it to Kentucky to continuously improve an already great instrument. $CALL NMB30521, NMB30517*
Used Kentucky KM-150: A very nicely maintained example of the qualityavailble from Kentucky at an extremely reasonable price. With foam core hard case. $150 Stock#UMB30627*
New! Kentucky KM-160: The Kentucky mandolin line-up has been created to give the player excellent value at every price point. The KM-160 is one of our particular favorites. This A style is crafted from a Solid, carved Spruce top and solid carved figured Maple back & sides. From its snake styled peghead to its beautifully sunburst finished body, the KM-160 has the look, the feel, and plenty of tone. BuffaloBros. price: $249 Stock#NMB30699
New! Kentucky KM-630: This is the Kentucky Floentine model with the carved Spruce top and carved Maple back & sides that has the tone and chop that the Bluegrass players love at a price that everyone loves! $679 With Featherlite case. Stock#NMB30737, NMB30738* photo
New! Kentucky KM-805: This Artist series f-model mandolin is hand carved and graduated from the finest mountain spruce and northern maple for the best tonal characteristics. The KM-805 has a radiused rosewood fingerboard for comfortable easy play and the traditional “torch-style” peghead inlay for those who like a more simple vintage look. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price: $899 Stock#NMB28581*
Used Kentucky KM-1000: Wow! does this one sound good! Here's Kentucky's very popular "Loar era" import that is one of the best sounding versions of this almost $2000 mandolin that we have ever heard. Thanks to being carefully maintained and at the same time played in by a professional player from L.A. this one is a real bargain. We've always felt that kentucky offered great value for the money, and here is an even greater savings on one of their top models. With gig bag. $1000 Stock#UMB30970
Used Michael Kelly “Elegante”: (Exc) This excellent quality F style mandolin is the top of the Michael Kelly line. Assembled from all solid woods, it is made with choice spruce and maple and the top is carefully hand carved and voiced to give it a rich, woody tone. The maple neck is joined to the body with a traditional dovetail joint and the radiused ebony fingerboard and the top and back are bound with natural maple binding. With hard shell case $800 Stock# UMB20869* photo
Used Amada Mandola: Sweet sounding and very affordable mandola in the European style. Alpine Spruce top and deep bodied, so you know the tone is sweet and pure. With gig bag. $300 Stock#UMB6240 photo BUY NOW
Used Arlen F-5: It's quite likely that most players are unfamiliar with the Arlen name. The maker makes very few of these wonderful sounding hand made instruments and names them after members of his family. Thus, there is The Arlen (named after his wife), and another named for his his son (Grayson), and so on. But the entire family of instruments has one thing in common: tone! And plenty of it. The hand carved Spruce top and hand carved master grade Maple back & sides have been crafted to produce a superb tone, with lots of volume and great chop. A true Bluegrass mando-monster. With hard case. $2950 Stock#UMB9762 photo
ca. 1920s Beltone: It's kooky, it's crazy, and just unusual enough to be a highly sought after collector's piece. This all Mahogany mandolin with its built in 'resonator' is one of the most unusual looking pieces we have ever seen, but very similar to the Paramount guitars that were built for Paramount by C.F. Martin in the 20s. It plays very nicely too! If you're looking to round out a collection, or just love things with that 20s & 30s flair, this could be perfect for you. With gig bag $950 Stock#UMB26611 photo
ca. 1939 Epiphone Rivoli: In all the furor over the Gibson Florentine models with their rapidly escalating prices, some truly great instruments often get lost in the shuffle. Witness the Epiphone Rivoli, a fine sounding mandolin with plenty of tone for not only Bluegrass pickers, but also for the Ragtime enthusiast. Crisp and clear, and definitely well used, this one has a lot of notes to offer a waiting world. With chipboard case. $900 Stock#UMB30911 photo
ca. 1960s Harmony Monterey: For those who know of this ruggedly built 40 year old 'student' mandolin, they will be pleased to find it here in very nice condition, and every bit as playable as when it was new. The reddish 2 tone sunburst is still very evident as is the silk screened logo on the peghead. Step back in time and enjoy the best of the past. With chipboard case $200 Stock #UMB26476*
Used Jackson F Deluxe: Mandolins are becoming the violins of the new millenium. By that we mean that just like violins in the 15th Century, there are a great number of makers, most unheard of, who operate out of their small home workshops producing superior instruments made from hand select woods and using the "one-man, one instrument" approach to the craft. One of the best examples we have discovered is here in the Jackson F Deluxe. If you can stop staring at the beautiful fern inlay on the peghead, you can play it and discover the wonderful tones it produces. A real hand carved treasure. With hard case. $2500 Stock#UMB29183 photo
New! Larrivee A-33: Jean Larrivee has a lifelong pursuit for perfection. His mandolins, which he started building a few years back, have now evolved to a point where they are serious contenders for the favorite sounding instrument for the 8 string cognoscenti. Big sounding, with plenty of the old bark and bite that the Bluegrassers desire, yet sweet enough to please the classical player too. Meticulously crafted from Master Grade Flamed Maple for the neck and back & sides , and Master Grade Sitka Spruce for the top, this is one to consider for your next 'really, really good' mandolin. With hard case. (msrp: $2270) Stock#NMB30921
Just In! Used Ramsey F-5 (Exc.) Very nicely made Florentine style mandolin made by John Ramsey of Colorado Springs, Co.. The neck is made with some of the prettiest curly maple we’ve seen that is rivaled only by the gorgeous one piece, curly maple back. The headstock is inlayed with a traditional fern pattern and the whole instrument is finished in an attractive tobacco sunburst finish. This is a great player with a loud, round, woody tone. With hard case $3000. Stock# UMC16147
New! Red Line Traveler 1: Steve Smith of Cumberland Acoustics is dedicated to producing the most sound for the least money. Just like his resonator guitars, the Traveler series of mandolins sound really great, are easy to play, and don't cost a fortune. Based on the early 20th century Gibson Army-Navy models, this version has a Spruce top and Mahogany back & sides. The tone is sweet and fits easily into the Bluegrass or Celtic ensemble. $599 Stock#NMB30731
New! Red Line Traveler 2: Just like its Mahogany brother, the Red Line Traveler 2 is designed with great respect for the Gibson Army-Navy models of the early 1900s. The Traveler 2 has a Spruce top and Maple back & sides, giving it a little more chop than the Traveler 1. $599 Stock#NMB30734, NMB30733*
New! Rover RM-75: This is a terrific mandolin for either a player who wants to step up to their first good mandolin, or for an experienced player who hesitates to take their $10,000 instrument to a jam. Carved Spruce top and nicely figured Maple back & sides in the classic Florentine style. With gig bag. $575 Stock#NMB30909, NMB30736*, NMB30735*
ca. 1940s Strad-O-Lin A-Style: One thing is for certain. NOBODY knows for sure where Strad-O-Lin instruments were manufactured. Some say New York, starting in the 1920s. Others believe they were made by Kay in the late '30s & '40s. Still others (including us), think they were made by United of New Jersey. Strad-O-Lin was just a marketing brand name and instrument making was contracted with various makers including in the '60s, a Japanese firm. In our many years of dealing in vintage acoustic instruments, we have often admired the Strad-O-Lins, even to the point of owning a few personally. But the facts about this one are as follows: it was definitely an early war era instrument, it has various "Kay looking" features, and sounds great. The Spruce top is in the original natural finish, and the entire instrument appears to be original. Want to play a unique piece of Americana? How about a Strad-O-Lin? With chipboard case $350 Stock#UMB28956 photo
Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.
Looking for something special? We can't possibly list all we have so please ask!