Siveen Mandolins

[steve V. johnson]

Hi folks,

I haven't been around much, but recently these Siveen mandolins caught my attention and I've had some very nice conversations with luthier Paul Evans over there in Cahersiveen on the Ring of Kerry, Ireland. So I thought I'd pop by and share a note about his instruments with y'all.

This weekend is Cahersiveen's music festival so if Paul comes by here he won't see this.... ... he says he won't be sleeping much, just playing. He also says that this website is out of date, and that his main hangout is his facebook page, but there are great pictures here still. There are a number of videos of his various instruments out there, too, so if you're interested you can hear what they do.

http://siveenmandolins.com/

It seems that Paul started making banjos but since he's gotten such nice results in wood since then I suggest that we forgive him.

I have no financial nor personal interest in the promotion of Paul's work, it's just that I don't see builders following the (ahem...) Sobell-design path with instruments and I think those are designs worth development and I'd like to see more luthiers going that way. Just me ...

Thanks, play on ...

stv

[Reinhardt]

Paul also makes reasonably priced bouzoukis I believe. Never played one but I see them for sale ( new ones) occasionally on buy and sell sites. I think they sell for about €1600. Great to see another Irish Maker of Irish Bouzoukis!! There arent too many of them. Headstock looks very Sobellish although I think his recent instrument headstocks have incorporated a very nice curve!!

John

[Reinhardt]

heres a low res photo of Siveen Bouzouki currently for sale in Ireland. seller looking for €1650. Its actually second hand I think.

[Jill McAuley]

Saw a few clips of tenor banjo player Stevie Dunne playing some Siveen mandolins and they sounded the business. I follow Siveen Mandolins on Facebook and his work looks lovely.