Northfield NFMSP-A5 Carved Top Mandolin (2025)
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Northfield NFMSP-A5 Model Carved Top Mandolin (2025), made in Quingdao, China, serial # ASM240172, sunburst finish, figured maple back and sides, Alpine spruce top; laminated figured maple neck with ebony fingerboard., molded hard shell case.
Northfield Mandolins are really fine modern mid-line instruments featuring excellent materials with very high build quality and a close attention to detail. Northfield was founded by a team of experienced luthiers in Michigan and China with the goal of producing the highest quality instruments they can, and have proved very successful.
This A-5 Special is new stock, completed in March 2025. The F-hole but non-scrolled "Master Model" mandolin design was tried but an "A-5" never put into production by Gibson during the Loar era. A number of iterations have appeared from more modern builders, of which this is one of the nicest. It features superb highly figured maple for the back, sides and neck with a special Alpine spruce top and ebony fingerboard. The included warranty card notes "Premium Engelmann Spruce" in the materials section. The laminated maple neck is very slim and comfortable and the top is a brighter Cremona sunburst than some with some delicate shading adding to the classic look.
Northfield mandolins are a collaborative effort, built with materials from North America and the EU, seasoned and matched in their Marshall, MI shop. The instruments are assembled and varnished in Qingdao, China then sent back to the US for set up and final inspection back in Michigan. This bi-continental approach has so far enabled Northfield to create high quality instruments without the price tag of similar instruments fully hand assembled in the US. This A5 is one of their nicer offerings, a delightful variation on the classic Gibson mandolin theme often overshadowed by F-clones. It handles and plays beautifully with better materials and a much nicer finish than other instruments in its price class and a more full-bodied sound than most similar A-style F-hole instruments
Overall length is 27 in. (68.6 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This instrument is new stock, unplayed and already sounds lovely. It is complete in the Airloom Recurve molded hardshell case. Near Mint Condition.
Northfield Mandolins are really fine modern mid-line instruments featuring excellent materials with very high build quality and a close attention to detail. Northfield was founded by a team of experienced luthiers in Michigan and China with the goal of producing the highest quality instruments they can, and have proved very successful.
This A-5 Special is new stock, completed in March 2025. The F-hole but non-scrolled "Master Model" mandolin design was tried but an "A-5" never put into production by Gibson during the Loar era. A number of iterations have appeared from more modern builders, of which this is one of the nicest. It features superb highly figured maple for the back, sides and neck with a special Alpine spruce top and ebony fingerboard. The included warranty card notes "Premium Engelmann Spruce" in the materials section. The laminated maple neck is very slim and comfortable and the top is a brighter Cremona sunburst than some with some delicate shading adding to the classic look.
Northfield mandolins are a collaborative effort, built with materials from North America and the EU, seasoned and matched in their Marshall, MI shop. The instruments are assembled and varnished in Qingdao, China then sent back to the US for set up and final inspection back in Michigan. This bi-continental approach has so far enabled Northfield to create high quality instruments without the price tag of similar instruments fully hand assembled in the US. This A5 is one of their nicer offerings, a delightful variation on the classic Gibson mandolin theme often overshadowed by F-clones. It handles and plays beautifully with better materials and a much nicer finish than other instruments in its price class and a more full-bodied sound than most similar A-style F-hole instruments
Overall length is 27 in. (68.6 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This instrument is new stock, unplayed and already sounds lovely. It is complete in the Airloom Recurve molded hardshell case. Near Mint Condition.