Builder News

BEND, OR — Weber Mandolins is producing mandolins once again under the leadership of new owners Ryan and Michelle Fish after a pause in manufacturing announced late last year by Two Old Hippies President and CEO Tom Bedell.

Familiar names in ...

MARSHALL, MICH. — Northfield Mandolins has released an informational page for their new Airloom Tūra & Tūra DLX carbon fiber cases that have been spotted accompanying select Northfield mandolins for sale from their retail partners.

NOTE: the pricing listed on the Northfield web site, currently listed as starting at $650, is a special introductory pricing. A case cover is in the plans with an expected availability date late 2022.

Specs, Features

Structural Design ...

NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Chisels Are Calling, a film about John Monteleone is set for its initial viewing August 2, 2022 as part of the Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, Mass. and will be followed by Julian Lage performance.

The film, on Street Singer Productions, was produced by Trevor ...

POMONA, CALIF. — Eastman Strings has announced the availability of their new MDO605 octave mandolin.

About the new offering, Eastman's spokesman told us, "We will see the first small batch heading out to dealers in late July ...

BRAMPTON, CANADA — As long-time fans of the music of India's legendary, late U. Srinivas, Eastwood Guitars has announced the limited availability of the Eastwood Mando 5.

Often referred to as the "Mozart" of Classical Indian Music, Srinivas was a mandolin ...

BRAMPTON, CANADA — Following the release of the Model S Tenor and Model S Mandola in 2021, Eastwood Guitars has announced new models continuing their Model S series.

The Octave Mandolin, Mandocello and Tenor Baritone have all been popular models and will now be added to the Model S Series ...

ATASCADERO, CALIF. — Siminoff Books has announced the release of The Luthier's Handbook, 2nd Edition, with a foreword by Lynn Dudenbostel.

This 2nd edition is an essential guide for the instrument builder, The Luthier's Handbook ...

BEND, OR. — Two Old Hippies President and CEO Tom Bedell has announced a temporary transition of the Weber mandolin luthier team to the guitar side of the company's manufacturing operations effective with the completion of instruments already in ...

Introducing the "Mandolindo," a new sound from KR Strings.


KAILUA, HAWAII — Luthier Kilin Reece, the founder of KR Strings and creator of the Pono line of octave mandolins and ukuleles has introduced his latest creation, the Mandolindo, a four-stringed guitar bodied instrument with a mandolin ...

Weber formally announces three additional new models, bringing the total to five new models for 2020.






BEND, ORE. — In addition to two new models from Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments announced prior to this year's Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, the company has formally announced three new models now in production and available soon from Weber retailers. ...

BELGRADE, MONT. — Steve Carlson, owner of ZETA Violins and founder of Flatiron Mandolins (1980-1993), as well as 7 years with Gibson resurrecting their mandolin line (1987-1993), has announced the launch of ZETA's "A" Style mandolin, the "Stage," bringing to the market the first of its kind, a fully acoustic ...

Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments rolls out new models for the new year. The Pronghorn two-point and deeper body Red Rocks are first to debut.

Bend, Ore. — Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments has announced the addition of two new models for the year, both of which will be on display at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif. this week, at which time retail pricing will be made available to ...

"Apitius J-Model Mandolins - Eight Strings That Really Swing," a review by Keith Baumann appears in the July, 2019 print issue of DownBeat Magazine and is republished here with permission. A version of the review as it appears in the magazine can be found on pages 82-83 of an online ...

Austin, TX — Ellis Mandolins has announced the unveiling of their new "F5 Tradition" mandolin. The newest addition to the Ellis Mandolins line will be on display in their booth at the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina this week.
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Bend, Ore. — Weber’s 20 year journey was fathered by a dedication to the traditional 8-string sound, design and craftsmanship. It all began 10 years earlier when Bruce Weber Senior joined the Flatiron Mandolin and Banjo Company in Bozeman, Montana ...

San Francisco, Calif. — Saga Musical Instruments has announced their newly redesigned Kentucky KM-750 Deluxe F-model mandolin series.

Available in four lacquer finish options: Traditional Tobacco Sunburst, Jet Black, ...

Titusville, Fla. — Gold Tone is pleased to announce the release of their new Mandocello, expected to be available for purchase in mid-December.

This affordable "Folkternative" instrument offers deluxe features and wonderful acoustic and plugged-in tones.

The humbucker pickup and volume controls are attached to the pickguard, so for acoustic-only players, the pickguard ...

Belgrade, Mont. — Zeta Violins, a company known for progressive acoustic and electric violins announces the launch of the ZETA JM25 Mandolin.

ZETA's new Jazz Fusion 5-string mandolin features discreet polyphonic signals providing a digital MIDI-capable output, along with a standard 1/4" true analog out.
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Bend, Or. — In October of 2012, Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments was acquired by Two Old Hippies Stringed Instruments located in Bend, Oregon. The company was relocated to Bend, and the workshop's handcrafting practices were maintained.

For the ...

NOTE: yesterday the Mandolin Cafe published this article in advance of today's formal Breedlove announcement. What follows is their official press release in full on the matter of them moving mandolin production overseas.



Breedlove to focus on manufacturing ...

Manufacturing of Breedlove Mandolins, a part of the Two Old Hippes brand, will be moving overseas the Mandolin Cafe has learned. In a recent announcement Breedlove's mandolin team learned the entire line would be outsourced in the near ...

Ontario, Canada — After a 10-year hiatus from his craft, Canadian based luthier Oliver Apitius has confirmed with us he is back in the business of building mandolins once again.

Apitius he told us, "It feels great to be back pursuing my #1 passion. I've re-tooled ...

Bend, Ore. — Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments has announced a free color upgrade on instruments purchases made during the month of October and November.

The offer is available in all body shapes and sizes, including ...

Silver City, N.M. — A Bill Bussmann Old Wave Mandolin up for raffle helps make possible this year's 7th Annual Pickamania!, a three-day free music festival held September 11-13 in the far southwestern corner of New Mexico.

The festival features performances by local and national acts concluding Sunday with a performance by the award winning Claire Lynch Band.

The mandolin, ...