The mandolinetto is strung and set up like a standard mandolin, but on a small guitar shaped body. They were mostly made around the turn of the century through the twenties and appear in old catalogs and photos from that era. I own an old one, The Vernon, made of oak and spruce with a mahogany neck. I fell in love with the sound and style, and decided to make a copy. It came out delightfully well, so now I try my best to keep the mandolinetto from falling into obscurity, by building more and more of them.
I build two different body styles... The original Vernon, and a slightly wider, longer variation I call the Verola. The base price for the Vernon is $1600 shipped with a hard case, $1700 for the Verola.
John Hasbrouck picks on his new lefty (my very first) while I play the old Vernon.
Inlaid pickguard.
Engelmann spruce top with ebony bridge
Reclaimed cherry sides with hand rubbed finish
Bear-claw sitka spruce
Moustache bridge with compensated bone saddle.
