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! Collings MF5: What can we say? These F style mandolins from Bill Collings are among the best being made today ... period. With its Red maple back and rim and Adirondack spruce top, the Collings F has the tone of the Gods and volume that will keep a whole herd of banjo players complaining that they can’t hear themselves. Obsessive workmanship and a gorgeous tobacco sunburst finish make this mando look and feel as good as it sounds. With hard case. List: $8000 BuffaloBros. price: $7200 Stock#NMB26387 photo
New! Collings MF5: sunburst with pickguard: With hard case LIST: $8150 BuffaloBros. price $7335 Stock#NMB26451 photo
Used Collings MF5 (Exc) A super clean version of what is sure to become the next generation's highly prized collectable. If Bill were still around, he'd play a Collings. You can count on it! With hard case BuffaloBros. price $6500 stock# UMB22437 photo
New! Collings MF Gloss Top: Yet another wonder from Bill Collings. This less expensive version of the MF-5 has a carved Spruce top, carved Maple back and rim, unbound Ebony fingerboard (radiused) and a satin (back and sides) tobacco sunburst finish. The high-gloss finished top is bound with custom ivoroid binding and it is built with the meticulous care that we have come to expect from the folks at Collings. Rich “woody” tone! With hard case. LIST: $4650. BuffaloBros. price: $4185. Stock# NMB24827. photo
New! Collings MF Gloss Top: With hard case. LIST: $4650. BuffaloBros. price: $4185. Stock# NMB24879*.
New! Collings MF Gloss Top: With hard case. LIST: $4650. BuffaloBros. price: $4185. Stock# NMB25629. photo
New! Collings MF Gloss Top: With hard case. LIST: $4650. BuffaloBros. price: $4185. Stock# NMB26766 photo
New! Collings MF: Glossy sunburst top with ivoroid binding. L.R. Baggs pickup installed by Collings as a gift to the new owner of this fine instrument. Very special!!! LIST: $4650+ BuffaloBros. price: $4185 Stock#NGB26736*
New! Collings MF Yet another wonder from Bill Collings. This less expensive version of the MF-5 has a carved spruce top, carved maple back and rim, unbound ebony fingerboard (radiused) and a satin tobacco sunburst finish. The top is bound with custom ivoroid binding and it is built with the meticulous care that we have come to expect from the folks at Collings. Rich “woody” tone! With hard case List $4400 BuffaloBros. price $3960. Stock# NMB26699* photo
New! Collings MT2v Blonde! With hard shell case List $4700 BuffaloBros. price $4230 Stock# NMB26769 photo
Demo! Collings MT2 1 3/16" nut, Engleman spruce top and a one piece maple back! Our loss is your gain. Some thoughtless customer left this fine mando with a ding on the top so we are offering it at a reduced price. With hard case. List $3650 BuffaloBros. price $2950 Stock# NMB26768 photo
New! Collings MT Gloss Top: This A-style mandolin from Collings is for all you players with Champagne taste and a Beer budget. It has a carved Spruce top and curly Maple back and rim. This custom version has a gloss finished top and is bound with ivoroid instead of the standard tortoise. The back and rim are finished in a tasteful matte sunburst. The MT has the same radiused ebony fingerboard as the more expensive MT-2 but without the binding. It even has a one of those nifty cast tailpieces like the one on the Collings F model. Meticulously built with great sound and playability for a reasonable price. With hard case. LIST: $2450. BuffaloBros. price: $2205. Stock# NMB25544* photo
Just In! New! Collings MT Matte sunburst finish with impeccable Collings craftsmanship and killer tone. With hard case. List $2250 BuffaloBros. price $2025 Stock# NMB27541 photo
New! Eastman MD914: This gorgeous oval hole, Florentine blonde from Eastman is made with a Tibetan Spruce top and super-flamed Maple back and rim all hand-carved by skilled craftsmen in their shop in Beijing. This particular example was on display at the recent NAMM show and not only does it have a radiused fingerboard but the fingerboard is inlaid with very handsome “V” cut block inlays of mother of pearl and abalone. The body is bound with flame Maple and black purfling and the headstock is overlaid with Rosewood on both front and back. This is a very pretty mandolin with a warm traditional tone. With hard case. LIST: $2850. Our price $2280. Stock# NMB21338. 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
New! Eastman 615 Sunburst: These all solid wood, carved top mandolins from Eastman are amazing! Built with a tight grained Spruce top and highly figured Maple back and rim, this well made F-style mando sounds, plays, and looks like instruments that are twice its price. It is made in Beijing, China by the Eastman String Co. who have been building Violin family instruments since 1992. Their workshops are organized in the European tradition using mostly hand tools and highly skilled craftsmen. Whether you are an amateur player looking for a reasonably priced instrument or a professional looking for something to take on the road, this fine F-style mandolin from Eastman is an excellent choice. With hard case. LIST: $1550. Our price: $1240. Stock# NMB22441.photo
Used Eastman 615 Classic (exc) Very nicely maintained example of the best buy in a Florentine style mandolin available Today. Hand carved Spruce top and carved Maple back & sides. The Eastman mandolins, play great, sound wonderful and don't cost the proverbial body appendages that others might. A very exceptional value in a well made instrument. With hard case $1000 stock#UMB25082*
Used Eastman 615 Classic (exc) One very classic Florentine style form Eastman. Carved Spruce top, carved Maple back & sides. Great tone and easy action. With Eastman hard case $1000 Stock#UMB27087*
New! Eastman FF Classic Mandola: The Eastman folks have triumphed again! Lending their considerable experience in crafting stringed instruments to the Florentine Mandola, they have created a wonderful sounding 'cousin' to the mandolin. With hand carved Spruce top and flamed Maple back & sides, all in a gorgeous classic Cremona finish.From the very first notes, it is obvious what their years of violin making can produce. Absolutely gorgeous, lush tone. With hard case LIST: $1995 Our Price $1599 Stock#NMB26054 photo
Used Eastman 804: (exc) With Eastman hard case $850 Stock#UMB24318 photo
New! Eastman MDC 805SB Mando Cello: When that old mando-madness takes hold of you and you still want more, what can you do? Pick up the mandocello, that's what! The mandocello was extremely popular in the days of the mandolin orchestra, it's rich, sonorous tones contributed to the overall lushness of the arrangements. Now, with mandolin orchestras having faded into the shadows, the Celtic bands have come to the front proudly brandishing their mandocello for all to hear. Even great traditional artists such as Tim O'brien use a mandocello quite often. This wonderful guitar shaped (actually viola d'Gamba shaped) instrument is extremely rich sounding and not very richly priced. Besides, wasn't it that famous arranger Bill Cosby who said, "There's always room for (mando) cello!" With hard case BuffaloBros. price $1899 Stock#NMB27013 photo
New! Gibson F-5G Custom: These are custom F-5G’s with carefully carved Adirondack spruce tops and Maple backs and rims. They have bound Ebony fingerboards, a tasteful flower pot inlay in the headstock and a lovely custom “flame-burst” finish. Classic Gibson tone bar construction and Adirondack tops give these fine mandolins lots of volume and the bark of a junkyard dog. Since we are not an authorized Gibson dealer, we don’t know if Gibson will honor their warranty but at these prices, does it really matter? With hard case. LIST: $9250.BuffaloBros. price: price: $3999. Stock#NMB19375* photo
New! Gibson F-5G Custom: With hard case LIST: $9250 BuffaloBros. price: $3999. Stock#NMB19379
1910 Gibson A-1 (VG+) Great old pumpkin top Gibson A model with a handsome picture of Orville Gibson himself on the label. With original tuners and tailpiece and a nice flat fingerboard. Excellent tone and vibe. With hard case. Our price $1000 Stock# UMB21278 photo
1918 Gibson A-2 (VG+) This Sheraton Brown beauty has a repaired top crack but is in otherwise fine condition with a nice straight neck and killer vintage tone. With chipboard case. Our price $1650 Stock# UMB26643 photo
Just In! 1920 Gibson A: (Exc-) Nice clean crack free Gibson A model. Appears original except for missing tailpiece cover. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price $1500 Stock# UMB27712 photo
1934 Gibson MB-1 Mandolin Banjo: (EXC-) This is the ultimate jug band instrument (loud and obnoxious) ! Set up with a new skin head and ready to play with good action and great tone this old Gibson mando-banjo has a 10-1/2” Maple rim and Maple resonator. It is in excellent condition with a repaired crack in the neck heel. With original hard case. $1000. Stock# UBB20148. PHOTO
1911 Gibson MB-4 Mandolin Banjo: (VG++) w/ orig. hard case Stock#UMB26414 photo
New! Kentucky KM-150S: A real bargain in the mando-world. A solid carved Spruce top, and all the playability and quality you know from Kentucky at a humbler-than-thou BuffaloBros. price $225 Stock#NMB27156
New! Kentucky KM-150S: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NMB27354*
New! Kentucky KM-150S: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NMB27356
New! Kentucky KM-150S: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NMB27357
New! Kentucky KM-150S: BuffaloBros. price: $225 Stock#NMB27358
New! Kentucky KM-505: This is the lastest in the newly redesigned Kentucky A series mandolins. Terrific tonality and plenty of bite and bark! From Bluegrass to Jazz and back, a great value in a fine instrument. With hard case $525 Stock#NMB26739*
Just In! New! Kentucky KM-505: With Featherweight case List $660 BuffaloBros. price $525 Stock# NMB27695
NEW! Kentucky KM-630F Factory error! You win! Usually, this fine example of a Kentucky mandolin features a solid, hand carved Spruce top with laminate Maple back & sides. This time however, a limited number left the Kentucky factory with solid carved Maple back & sides! And we are offering them here at the same price as the laminate version! Ain't we cool? LIST: $795 $CALL Stock#NMB25527*
New! Kentucky KM-805 What an incredible new Florentine style mandolin from the Kentucky folks! One could almost overlook how great it plays, or even how it looks, and concentrate on the fantastic sound. Excellent, powerful chop, sweet highs and great tonality. Or, you could ignore all of the above and just marvel at how Kentucky can turn out such a wonderful mandolin at such an unbelievably great price! With hard case BuffaloBros. price: $899 Stock#NMB25819* photo
MORE TO COME!
Used Michael Kelly F-style Blonde (Exc) This natural blonde beauty was a 1999 NAMM Show prototype. The highly flamed maple back and sides are tastefully offset with ivory colored binding with bwbw fine line perfling on both top and back. The non-radiused rosewood fingerboard has the traditional extension and pearl dot inlays. There’s also a pearl dot inlaid in the scroll of the natural finished spruce top. Elegantly appointed with gold hardware and a cast Allen tailpiece. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price: $1000 Stock#UMB26143. photo
New! Michael Kelly Legacy-0: For the Celtic or Old Time player with a strong case of “scroll envy” and a limited budget, this F style oval hole mando from Michael Kelly is just the thing. A Maple back and rim, a tone bar braced carved Spruce top, an abalone rosette and block abalone inlays in a radiused Rosewood fingerboard make this great sounding mandolin an excellent value indeed. Case extra. LIST: $1065. BuffaloBros. price: $745. Stock# NMB17221. PHOTO
Used Weber Gallatin: Beautiful example of one of the most affordable Florentine styled mandolins made in the USA. This blonde (natural) finish instrument in your hands, is going to produce with utmost clarity, every not you can imagine. A carved Spruce top and Maple back & sides in a high gloss finish. That's what makes it great. With hard case $1500 Stock#UMB6233*
Used Weber Alder 1 Mandola (Exc.) Here’s one for all you Celt-a-holics out there. This well made flat top, A style mandola is the perfect thing for that Irish session. Tuned a 5th below a standard mandolin, the mandola fills in nicely just below a fiddle. The Alder 1 has a satin finished spruce top and maple back and rim and is bound with black binding. With hard case $1000 Stock# UMB9623 PHOTO
ca. 1920s Beltone (exc-) 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
New! Breedlove Quartz OF Hand built in Bend Oregon, the Breedlove Quartz OF represents a great value in an American made mandolin. This A style beauty has a figured maple back and rim and a carved spruce top. The neck measures 1 3/16” at the nut and the ebony fingerboard is gently radiused making the OF very comfortable to play. With f holes and tone bar bracing, this mando has a rich sound with plenty of projection. With hard case. List $1469 BuffaloBros. price $999 Stock# NMB27257
Just In! Used Breedlove Quartz 00 (Exc+) This lovely matte finished blonde has highly flamed maple for its back and rim and a hand carved spruce top. Its maple neck is clad with a radiused ebony fingerboard and this mandos’ X braced, oval hole design gives it a warm open sound. With hard case Our price $899 Stock# UMB27158 photo
Just In! New! Breedlove Quartz 00 Sunburst With hard case List $1669 BuffaloBros. price $1149 Stock# NMB27447
ca. 1920 Ditson A style: (exc-) In the early part of the 20th Century, Oliver Ditson and Company, a fairly large sheet music concern in Boston, Mass. decided to go into the musical instrument business. Not having the facilities, nor the manpower to start up a factory to produce instruments, they contracted with C.F. Martin, Regal, Bay State and other manufacturers to make instruments under the Ditson brand. This one is a sweet sounding flat back A style of Spruce and Rosewood with the Ditson label pasted over a Sammo Mfg. label. The sound is sweet and pure and should please any passing Celtophile or folksinger. Very nice indeed. With chipboard case $700 Stock#UMB26747
1982 Flatiron 1N: (exc-) The mandolin that gave Flatiron it's name. It does resemble a Spruce top, Maple back & sides frying pan. Based somewhat on the original 1914-1917 Gibson Army-Navy model, this is absolutely the best way to get maximum tone for minimum cash in a US made vintage instrument. With chipboard case $600 Stock#UMB27210*
1960s Harmony Monterey (VG+) 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*
Mix F5: One of the fantastic new creations by Peter Mix (of Rigel fame). A carbon fibre instrument in the Florentine style that holds the record for road-worthiness. A really fine, and unique sound, too! With hard case Stock#NMC27056 PHOTO
Mix A5: High quality mandolin design and advanced technology combine to bring to the mandolin world the latest and greatest in portable, sturdy, excellent sounding mandolins by renowned luthier Peter Mix. Check it out! With hard case Stock#NMC27055 PHOTO
Just In! New! National RM-1 Resophonic Mandolin: This thing is WAY COOL! The long awaited resonator mandolin from the folks up in San Luis Obispo is finally here. It’s modeled after a very rare pre-war wood bodied reso-mando but incorporates such modern touches as a very cool Art Deco cast tailpiece, a slim a-style body, and a 14 inch scale length easy playing radiused ebony fingerboard. And did I mention that this thing is loud? It has incredible dynamic range. Did you evey find yourself playing an acoustic gig where you had to play over a din of diners or that bluegrass banjo player next to you and wished for a louder mandolin. Well folks, here it is. It has a sweet woody tone but it can also project and sound like fine wood mandolin played over a quality PA system. Its just too cool! Walnut back and sides with a tobacco burst finished flamed maple top and antiqued brass plated cover plate (hub cap) and hardware. With hard case. List price $2099. BuffaloBros. price $1679 (Hearing protection sold separately) Stock# NMB27843
1931 National Triolian: (VG) We are certain that Mr. Frank Vento loved his National Triolian mandolin. He was so proud of it in fact, that he painted his name on the back of the headstock and part of the neck. Also on the case. This is the ultimate signature model. Hand painted! Even if you are not the famed Mr. Vento, you can enjoy the sound of this instrument. Even if you're more than a mile away! The National all-metal body mandolin can be heard for miles in all directions. Definitely not for those who like to practice late at night and live in a quiet apartment. New cone and tailpiece With chipboard case. REDUCED! $1200. Stock# UMB16397. photo
Used Old Wave A Style (Exc) Bill Bussman builds these exceptional mandolins in his adobe brick shop in Caballo, New Mexico. Built with flame maple for back and rim and Engleman spruce for the top, this well made F hole A model has a warm voice with good chop and volume. This particular example has a custom gloss black finish on its top and a rich reddish brown stain on its back, neck and sides giving it a decidedly vintage look and vibe. With hard case $1700 Stock# UMC25435 photo
New! Rigel A+ Deluxe Custom: Built by Pete Langdell and friends in his shop in Cambridge, Vermont, the A+ is a successful departure from traditional mandolin construction. While made with Spruce and Maple like most modern mandolins, the A+ has radiused sides and a circular top that is set into the sides with a nearly invisible joint. The tops and backs are carefully tuned and the A+ has a very warm and woody tone with excellent projection. This custom version features a highly figured Maple back, block Mother of Pearl inlay in the radiused Ebony fingerboard, binding on the fingerboard and headstock and Ivoroid buttons on the gold Grover tuners. Like the standard A+ Deluxe, this custom version has an excellent built pickup and is ready to plug in to an amp or PA. With rectangular tweed hard case. LIST: $2850. Our price: $2150. Stock# NMB21764*. photo
Used Rigel A+ Duluxe (Exc) Wih hard case. BuffaloBros. price $1799 Stock# UMB10572*
New! Rover RM-75: Nicely priced import Florentine styled mandolin. Very pretty traditional sunburst finish over Spruce top and Maple back & sides. Absolutely the most playability you can get at this extremely affordable price. With hard case $599 Stock#NMB27361
New! Rover RM-75: With hard case $599 Stock#NMB27362*
New! Rover RM-75: With hard case $599 Stock#NMB27363
New! Stonebridge MA-23 SF A-style European master builder Frantisek Furch’s A-style mandolin features highly flamed maple back and sides and a hand carved spruce top with ivory colored binding top and back and multi-line purfling on top. The bound ebony fretboard has a 1-3/16 inch nut, abalony position marker dots and a scooped extension. The “snakehead” style ebony peghead has multi-line side purfling, MOP logo and tastfull abalony leaf inlays, and gold tuners. As with all Stonebridge, the tone is wonderfully open and responsive. With hard case. List $2095 Our price $1449 Stock#NMB24780 photo
Trinity College Octave Mandolin This short scale octave mando (20 3/8”) is built with a solid spruce top and solid maple back and rim. The mahogany neck is topped with a flat rosewood fingerboard and the peghead is inlaid with an attractive Celtic design in mother of pearl and abalone. Perfect for the Irish session at your local pub. With hard case. List $699 BuffaloBros. price $500 Stock# NMB27162
Trinity College Octave Mandolin With hard case. List $699 BuffaloBros. price $500 Stock# NMB27163*
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!