At left is my short scale 20.5 inch koa and spruce octave mandolin.
Longer scales are better suited for bouzouki tunings.

As a standard mandolin player, I think it's best to use the short scale
when switching to an octave mandolin. Longer scales can be difficult
in standard mandolin fingerings.

The same pickup options available for my guitars are also available on these mandolins.

Koa/Redwood Bouzouki This mandolin has koa back and sides, a curly redwood top with X-bracing. The neck is laminated mahogany and bloodwood. Bindings are bloodwood and maple. This is the second bouzouki I built for friend Ralston Bowles. The first burned in a hotel room fire in L.A. where Ralston was attending the Folk Alliance Convention. Here is Ralston Bowles, a great singer/songwriter with his first octave mandolin. Click the picture to visit his website, and find out about his great new CD called "Carwreck Conversations". Here's a shot of the peghead and fingerboard. They feature a flaming inlay, a Phoenix rising from the flames. The inlay idea was Ralstons'. The actual inlay work was done by Lew Fowler- Ralstons' father in law! Good job, Lew!

Brooks Williams Cherry/Spruce Sunburst Mandolin

This was built for Brooks Williams. It's a cherry/spruce top and features a cherry sunburst, similar to his guitar. It turned out great, with an inlaid dragon. I was very happy to make an instrument for such a first-class performer, and first-class guy, too!

Options

These instruments are available in short, medium or long scale. They can be built with cedar, spruce or redwood tops and many different back and side woods, imported and domestic. Ball-end strings are standard, but an optional tailpiece will accept loop-end strings if preferred. Just ask me if you have something custom in mind, and we'll work together on it.