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 powder coated 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: $79 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! 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: Rich and warm tone 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: The Collings MT is a delight for players who want the tone and playability of a Collings, yet might be a little tight on the budget. A carved Englemann spruce top featuring tone bar bracing, with carved Maple back & sides, all finished in a Satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The neck is Maple too. This is one of those instruments that sounds great, but when you take it home and play it, it just keeps getting better. With hard case. LIST: $2400 BuffaloBros. price: $2160 Stock#NMB32348, NMB32386*
New! Collings MT-2: Superb sounding A style from Bill Collings and Co. Hand selected carved Adirondack Spruce top with highly figured carved Maple back & sides. All finished off in a high gloss lacquer. As beautiful to see as it is to hear. With hard case (msrp: $3500) BuffaloBros. price: $3150 Stock#NMB28835 photo
Used Collings MT-2 Black: A tremendously impressive instrument from every aspect. If you've got your black tux and you're headed off to play at a posh gig, this high gloss jet black topped mandolin will fit right in. And if you're looking for a superb sounding instrument that has some aged tone built in, look no furhter. This is a real beauty and should warm the heart and soul of any player lucky enough to obtain the finest. With hard case. Sorry no trades. $2650 UMC22292 photo
Used Collings MT-2 O Black: Here's the latest and greatest from Bill Collings. His outstanding A style mandolin with an oval sound hole. Just perfect for those times when your Bluegrass instincts relax and you long for some sweet old timey, ragtime, or Celtic tunes. This one is rich and pure with plenty of volume too. An excellent choice for the player who likes to play a variety of styles. With hard case. $2850 Stock#UMC32504 photo
Used Eastman MD614: Wonderful sounding and easily affordable Florentine style mandolin with carved Spruce top and carved Maple back & sides, oval sound hole, and easy playing neck. An excellent value. With hard case. $1000 Stock#UMB19097
New! Eastman MD814: 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 solid Adirondack spruce top and highly figured 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 MD915: Is it true that Blondes Have more Fun? One way to find out is to obtain this beautiful natural blonde MD915 and find out for yourself. The MD915 is hand carved from Mastergrade quality Adirondack Spruce for the top and AAA grade highly figured flame Maple for the back & sides. Finished in a high gloss nitro-cellulose lacquer that really allows the beauty of the wood to show through. The tone comes right on through too. Rich tonality with plenty of projection and that great Bluegrass chop that all those folks cannot do without. (msrp: $2850) With hard case. $CALL Stock#NMB32411
New! Eastman DGM-1: Perhaps the best of the recent Eastman creations derived from the vast collection of David Grisman's instrument. David Grisman, more than anyone else has consistently promoted mandolin music, players and instruments as well. While on a tour of Europe, he discovered the instruments of Corrado Giacomel and began importing and selling them direct to the very elite of mandolin players in the U.S. The Eastman, which we hesitate to call a replica, is a faithful rendition of not only the unique Avant- Garde visual design, but also pays homage to the exquisite tone as well. With hard case. $CALL Stock#NMB32437 photo
New! Eastman DGM-2: The Eastman folks did a very smart thing recently. They collaborated with world class mandolinist and collector David Grisman to produce a line of instruments based on several of the more unusual items in Sir Grisman's collection. This is one of those fabulous results. Based on the unusually shaped Bacon mandolins of the 1920s, this fine sounding instrument features a hand carved Adirondack (red) Spruce top with parallel bracing and hand carved AAA grade highly flamed Maple back and sides. Completed in a beautiful violin finish, the instrument not only looks beautiful but sounds terrific as well. The chop is well defined and strong, and yet, solo notes have a beautiful tone and clarity as well. the neck has a 13 7/8" scale length with a non-radiused Ebony fretboard. The instrument is bound in ivoroid with a nitro-cellulose finish that's hand rubbed to a high gloss. With hard case. (msrp: $2695) $CALL Stock#NMB32409
New! Eastman MDC805 SB: Here's an instrument that defies the theory of "they don't make 'em like they used to". In the era when what we now call vintage instruments were new, the main feature as opposed to modern instruments was that the tops and backs of mandolin family instruments were hand carved. This is too! Hand carved solid Spruce for the top and hand carved highly flamed Maple for the back & sides. The tone is simply amazing! You might consider a veteran instrument to hang in your room and admire for its antiquity, but you'd probably rather play this one! With hard case. (msrp: $2395) Stock#NMB32639
1921 Gibson A Jr. : These all Mahogany, truss rod-less A styles were intended by Gibson to be their entry level student model. And indeed they were in the early 20th Century. But in these days, the A Jr. proves to be a wonderful instrument, proudly taking its lace in the pantheon of fine mandolins. This particular example benefits from upgraded tuning machines and is otherwise original and perfect. With orig. hard case. $1150 Stock#UMB31353 photo
1901 Gibson A: A real vintage treasure. From the label inside featuring Orville Gibson's countenance, to the decorative tailpiece, this is a really desirable early Gibson mandolin. We received it from the great grandson of the original owner who purchased it new in 1901 (according to the family) so he could join the Cleveland Mandolin Orchestra. The carved Spruce face shows evidence of past repairs, but the tone is certainly still there. A real prize just waiting for some lucky player or collector to appreciate it. With hard case. $1250 Stock#UMB31400 photo
1916 Gibson A: At a recent Bluegrass festival, some one walked into our booth and said, "You fellers shore seem to got too many o' them there Gibson mandolins ain't ya?" Not only almost single handedly destroying the English language, but also incorrect from our standpoint in that you can never have too many of these vintage Gibson A style instruments. If you've heard one, you know that their rich, mellow tone cannot be duplicated anywhere else. In addition, who doesn't like having a choice? With hard case. $1500 Stock#UMB31760
ca. 1914 Gibson A2: Thanks to the abundance of Mandolin Orchestras in the early part of the 20th Century ("Every one a Gibsonite" proclaimed the advertisements of the day), the world will never exhaust its supply of vintager Gibson mandolins, specifically the A2 in the Sheraton Brown finish. The Gibson company made them in prodigious numbers and crafted them so well that many have survived to this day. This well cared for beauty has that wonderfully rich tone that the old timey players and the Celtic players just can't get enough of. With hard case. $1400 Stock#UMB32500 photo
1928 Gibson A2: 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 likelihood 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
Used Gibson A-5L: Gibson, perhaps more than any other manufacturer of musical instruments, has always been at the top of the heap when it comes to mandolins. Every player we've meet has, has had, or will have a Gibson Mandolin. Their quality is well known, the playability is always great, and a Gibson will always return to you what you paid in performance. Based on the original design of Gibson's legendary designer Lloyd Loar, The A-5L brings forth all of the tone that this designed brought to the mandolin world in the mid 1920s. Carved Spruce top with Maple back & sides, this is a truly legendary design incorporating all the advantages of modern craftsmanship. With hard oblong case. $2450 Stock#UMC31826 photo
1920 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. Until 1924 the F-4 was the top of the Gibson line and every mandolin orchestra contained several of them. 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. $5500 Stock#UMB23584 photo
1918 Gibson F-4 Cherry Sunburst: Another fine example of this Florentine style, oval soundhole Gibson. This one shows signs of use with several repaired top cracks and some pick wear on the top finish, but it also delivers that warm vintage tone you expect from instruments that have been regularly played instead of squirreled away in the back of the closet through the years. This mandolin is a great player - well balanced, with warm overtones, a crisp treble delivery, and quick, easy action. The F-4 is a welcome instrument in classical, ragtime, old timey, jazz or bluegrass ensemble. With original pick guard and original hard case. $5500 Stock#UMB28196 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 NMB32324*, NMB32327, NMB32328
New! Kentucky KM-150: New for you! Until recently, this instrument was known as the model KM-150S, with the 'S' meaning that it had a solid wood carved Spruce top. The good folks at Kentucky have recently decided to give all you players an even better deal by upgrading the non-solid model 150 to a carved, solid Spruce top. Even better!!!! BuffaloBros.price: $249 Stock#NMB32099*, NMB32100, NMB32101, NMB32102
New! Kentucky KM-161: With a Solid, hand-carved and graduated spruce top, Solid, hand-carved flamed maple back and sides, Nitro-cellulose finish, and bone nut and saddle, the Kentucky KM-161 is a major player in the world of Bluegrass mandolns. The terrific price makes it the hands down favorite too. BuffaloBros. price: $CALL Stock#NMB32252
New! Kentucky KM-380: Volume, response, and tone are the hallmarks of the Kentucky KM-380. Solid carved spruce top with traditional high-gloss nitro-cellulose sunburst finish, and solid carved highly flamed maple back and sides with the
traditional snakehead peghead shape. Teriific sounding, terrific looking! None better. BuffaloBros. price: $339.99 Stock#NMB32253
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*
Just In! 2005 Breedlove Spirit OF: This well cared for mandolin from the folks at Breedlove will not disappoint. In addition to Breedloves’ standard maple and spruce body and radiused ebony fingerboard, the Spirit has black binding top and back and a built in Shertler designed pickup. This well made oval hole mando has a sweet, warm tone and sounds great plugged or unplugged. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price $1450 Stock# UMB19575 photo
New! Breedlove Quartz OF: Here's a beautifully simple design: the A style mandolin with the f holes. A little more bark than the oval hole version. Presented here in a natural finish that shows off the beautiful grain of the Maple back & sides. With hard case. $1099 Stock#NMB31536 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
1981 Flatiron 2M: Hey Celtophiles! Look over here! This is the classic "flatiron" design that Gibson first brought out during WWI as the Army-Navy model. Just a simple flat top and back with a neck attached. However, players soon realized that there was somnething other than penuruiousness to this simple design. The mid-range and top end could produce ringing clear tones as fast as the pick could travel over the strings. What a great instrument for those slipjigs and reels! Along came the Flatiron folks, who by the way, named their company in honor of this series of mandolins, and they began to make their own version. Instead of using Mahogany that was otherwise destined for floor planking or the furnace, they used fine grained Sitka Spruce for the tops, and Northern Michigan Maple for the back & sides. The result is an even more impressive sound that's perfect to propel the dancers onto the floor at the next Caeli. With original chipboard case. $650 Stock#UMC31827 photo
Used Fylde Touchstone Mandola: Although we don't see a lot of Roger Bucknall's instruments here, Fylde is a well respected name in the UK and throughout most of Europe. Players seeking the true tone and timbre of a European style mandola would be well served to look here. The playability is unquestionably easy, thanks to the shorter scale. Whereas the tone can only be described as rich and mellow while at the same time having enough projection to carry over the other instruments, even in a large ensemble. An instrument well worthy of your attention. With gig bag. $1000 Stock#UMB15853 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*
New! Larrivee A-33: Jean Larrivee has been involved in 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. BuffaloBros. price: $1999. Stock#NMB30921 photo
New! Larrivee A-33V: This is a spectacular "latest generation" of Larrivee mandolins. Further enhanced tonally by Jean Larrivee's constant desire to improve his instruments, and also because this is a varnish finished mandolin. Devotees of all things mando will quickly recognize the sonic advantages of varnish over lacquer and will also realize that over years, the difference in tonal quality will widen. Get in on the ground floor with this one, and reap the tonal rewards as the years go by. With hard case. $2400 Stock#NMB31746 photo
New! Loar LM-600 VS: The name Lloyd Loar is synonymous with superb mandolin building. As an acoustic engineer employed by Gibson in the 1920s, the instruments with his signature now command prices approaching a quarter of a million dollars. Today, many luthiers have tried to emulate the Loar tone with varying degrees of success. This version is perhaps the best value in a Loar style instrument. Created by the legendary Greg Rich, and made overseas, the same carved Spruce top and carved Maple back & sides of the original Loar instruments are evident here, at a far more affordable price. With hard case. $749 Stock#NMB30851*, NMB32240
1919 Martin Style C: From the same collection as the 1919 Style B Martin , comes this Style C. The style C was inded quiea a bit fancier than its less expensive brother. The style C features inset engraved tuning machines, superb Brazilian Rosewood back & sides, and multi-colored marquetry around the top border. With original hard case. $3000 Stock#UMB31109 photo
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. With gig bag. $699 Stock#NMC32244*
New! red Line Traveler 2: Another of the terrific sounding Cumberland Acoustics flat top and back mandolins, here with a Spruce top and curly Maple back & sides. With gig bag. $699 Stock#NMC32243
New! Red Line Traveler 3: The imminently affordable, wonderfully crisp sounding Celtic style mandolin from Cumberland Acoustics. This lovely creation features a Spruce top with Cherrywood back & sides. With gig bag. $699 Stock#NMC32242*
JUST IN!! Used Regal Mandola: Well known in traditional Irish music circles ~ you can find the mandola in hands of great players such as Brian McDonaugh and Andy Irvine. With four double courses of strings tuned in fifths (to the same pitches as a viola) ~ it is a fifth lower than a mandolin. The name mandola simply means "little mandolin" but you'll be sure to love this Regal as it offers a lot of sound! With chipboard case. $800 Stock #UMB31976 photo
Used Rover RM-75: Huey Lewis said, "sometimes, bad is bad." But we say, "sometimes cheap is good". This budget priced Florentine style mandolin has a Spruce top and Maple back & sides, plays real easily, and has that hand carved tone. You'll look a long time to find its tonal equal. Especially for the price. With gig bag. $400 Stock#UMB32082*, UMB30909 with hard case $500.
2007 Weber Yellowstone: The Yellowstone continues to be the workhorse of the Weber Mandolin line. Hand crafted in Montana, the Yellowstone features a hand Graduated and Tuned Solid Sprucetop with scalloped tone bars and a hand carved and graduated flame Maple back & sides. The tone is extremely rich and warm, which is why this immaculately maintained Florentine styled mandolin should find its place in music of any style the player chooses. With hard case. $2650 Stock#UMB32257 PHOTO
Used Weber Hyalite: This F hole version of Weber’s classic Celtic A style mandolin offers the same sweet tone as the oval hole version but with a bit more focus and projection. It has a flat ebony fingerboard, a cast tailpiece and Weber’s own “Brekke” bridge that let’s you adjust the string height under full tension. This well played example has an especially rich, warm tone With hard case. BuffaloBros. Price $850. Stock# UMC9052
1920s Weymann Mando-Lute: When we first began acquiring vintage instruments, we would find a veritable plethora of these "tweener" mandolins. At the present time, they have become much more difficult to obtain. It seems as though every eight string picker is hiding one in his or her collection. The instrument is larger than a mandolin, but smaller than a mandola and can be tuned to either pitch. A Spruce top combined with a radically tapered Birch back & sides makes this a truly unique and desirable member of the mandolin family. With original hard case. $650 Stock#UMB31982 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!