Monteleone Grand Artist Model Carved Top Mandolin, c. 1996, made in Islip, NY, flame maple back, sides and neck, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, hard shell case.

John Monteleone is one of the world's foremost luthiers, widely respected as a builder of mandolins and guitars. After getting his start in the business working as a repairman for Mandolin Brothers in the early 70's, John struck out on his own as a luthier. Initially, John built F-5 copies. In 1977, John decided to see if he could improve upon the Gibson design and came up with the Monteleone Grand Artist.

David Grisman saw one of these new mandos and asked John to make one for him with a special arched fingerboard. Grisman became a highly visible endorsement for the Grand Artist mandolin. John was selected Frets Magazine "Luthier of the Year" in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. Over the years, John has won many other prestigious awards. He made changes in the instrument from designing his one-piece bridge, changes in his Loar copies, and the debut of his Grand Artist mandolin in 1977, all culminating in the innovative Radio Flyer mandolin prototype in 1996.
 
Overall length is 27 3/4 in. (70.5 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). Excellent Condition.