My standard mandolin woods include figured eastern or bigleaf maple, and Engelmann spruce or Adirondack red spruce. I use only quality materials, and I reject any woods that do not meet my strict standards. I carefully store all woods in my climate-controlled shop to ensure long-term stability. I use hot hide glue for most joints, and I use traditional construction techniques, including compound dovetailed neck joints. Beginning in 2007, I am using 1/2" by 1/4" carbon fiber neck reinforcement bars instead of traditional truss rods, unless the customer requests otherwise. The carbon fiber stiffens the neck more than a truss rod does, and is considerably lighter. Feel free to ask me more about this.

My instruments feature hand-stained sunbursts and French-polished varnish. The finishing process is quite time consuming but results in an extremely thin, durable film that is acoustically responsive. Over time it shrinks and highlights the beauty of the grain, resulting in an elegance unobtainable with lacquer. 

 A benefit of buying an instrument from a small shop is exceptional customer service. One of my favorite parts of my work is collaborating with customers to bring their dream instruments to life. I am extremely flexible because I build on a small scale, and I'm always open to discussing alternative body styles, colors, binding schemes, etc. I regularly email photos of the construction process to customers.

I guarantee the construction and materials of my work for the lifetime of the original owner. I offer a two-week trial period with a money-back guarantee.