Trillium Mandola

**David Surette** · May-18-2010, 9:52pm

Hey, I just got to preview a really wonderful Trillium mandola headed off to Andy Irvine. Claro Walnut with a Red Spruce top, bigger body (Bob offers two body sizes), CGDA tuning. It's a great instrument, with a nice full lower end and a really spectacular sparkle on the upper two strings. With the big body, it has a lot of the qualities of a cittern capoed at the fifth fret. If any of you are going out to Zoukfest, you can check it out in the able hands of Mr. Irvine! If you ask really politely, maybe he'll let you give it a tickle...

David

**steve V. johnson** · May-19-2010, 3:00pm

Hi David,

Thanks for mentioning this! The description is delicious. I didn't realize that Bob made mandolas, are they are regular part of his line or is this a one-off?

I love walnut and red spruce.

Thanks,

stv

**Greg Ashton** · May-19-2010, 7:07pm

John Doyle has a Trillium mandola. I'm pretty sure that I've seen a youtube video of him with it.

**sgarrity** · May-19-2010, 9:18pm

Look under the artist tab on his site. he's made several but they're not listed as a standard instrument. I think Doyle's is a 19-20" scale if I remember right.

**Goodin** · May-20-2010, 7:42am

Originally Posted by sgarrity

Look under the artist tab on his site. he's made several but they're not listed as a standard instrument. I think Doyle's is a 19-20" scale if I remember right.

Yep...and I believe he told me it had rosewood back/sides, spruce top. a nice sounding instrument. very crisp. of course it's john doyle we're talking about here...he can make anything sound good.

**mandomentch** · May-20-2010, 7:56am

I did make a 19" scale mandola for John Doyle a couple of years ago and he continues to use it both in the recording studio and on stage with Liz Carroll, Karen Casey, Joan Baez and numerous others. John's mandola has stood the test of time & touring and I now feel comfortable offering a similar mandola to anyone who might like one. Please get in touch with me "off the Cafe Forum" if you'd like more information.

I'll attempt to attach a photo or two of the instrument described by David Surette.

Take care,

Bob Abrams
Trillium Octave Mandolins
72 Case Rd.
Nottingham, NH 03290
(603) 679-3469
info@octavemandolin.com

**steve V. johnson** · May-23-2010, 12:24pm

Wonderful, Bob, thanks very much!

stv

**Avi Ziv** · May-27-2010, 1:09pm

Now that's beautiful! 19-20" is a great scale - I would love to try it sometime. I had an opportunity to spend about 5 months with a Trillium OM this past year (on loan to me) and have come to really appreciate the responsiveness, tone and playability of these instruments.

Thanks

**mandomentch** · May-27-2010, 4:49pm

May I share some photos of two more recent instruments?

Here is an octave mandolin with 22.5" scale, figured Claro Walnut back & sides, Sitka Spruce top and Mahogany neck.

Also attached is a photo of Seamus Egan with a "regular" carved-top mandolin, made for him earlier this year.

Take care,

Bob Abrams

**John McGann** · May-27-2010, 7:56pm

Beautiful work as always, Bob!

**sgarrity** · May-27-2010, 9:15pm

Absolutely beautiful, all of them!!

**Eddie Sheehy** · May-27-2010, 11:55pm

Drool! Slobber!

**steve V. johnson** · May-29-2010, 1:05am

Well said, Eddie!

stv

**Mandobar** · Dec-31-2011, 3:14pm

She's mine now.....

**sgarrity** · Dec-31-2011, 7:35pm

Congrats. I'd love to play one of those

**Mandobar** · Jun-27-2012, 10:29pm

Bob Abrams appeared at the Mandolin Festival in Corcord, NH this past March with this:

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Mango and redwood. It is absolutely amazing, and complements the walnut and adirondack one quite well.

**mandomentch** · Jun-28-2012, 8:38am

Thank you, Mary......you are, as always, very kind!

Here's another mandola in Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)......a wood new for me, but it and it's Mediterranean cousin (Cupressus sempervirens) have long been favored by flamenco guitar builders.