We stumbled across this gorgeous A5 in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds and had to chide the Dekalb, Illinois builder, our friend Dale Ludewig for not giving us the heads-up to introduce it to the world. We coaxed him to take a few more shots and give us more.

"The mando is kind of exciting," he writes us. "I'm still learning and it seems that this is evidence. It's very light in weight, and plays like a dream. It's very responsive."

He also scooped us on another opportunity because of an unfortunate hardship case with a customer. "I shall soon have another one finished and for sale. I have a little breather in the schedule right now. The next one will will an F5, tortoise/w/b binding. Triple bound both front and side. Bound F holes. One of the most breathtaking pieces of quilt (one piece) for the back I've ever seen."

We'll keep you posted!

Meantime dig the following Merlot-burst (our description, not his)...

Dark cherry red/slight burst. 1 3/16" nut. 12" radiused fingerbd. Ebony board and overlay. Black overlay on back of headstock. Grover nickel tuners. Allen tailpiece. CA bridge. Red spruce top. Curly maple sides and neck. Moderately quilted back. IBI binding. Nitro finish. Standard fretwire. Plays easily with lots of volume and tone.

Price: $2600

Purchase information:
Ludewig A5 Mandolin - New
Read archive review:
Dale Ludewig Emory Lester A Model
Builder Website:
Ludewig Mandolins

Posted by Ted at August 19, 2012 6:52 AM