Northfield NFS-F5E Ltd Model Carved Top Mandolin (2026), made in China, serial # S2601506, shaded sunburst finish, flame maple back and sides, red spruce top; maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original 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 NFS-F5E Ltd is a lovely example, a traditional styled F-5 with somewhat plainer trim than the original venerable classic but the same design and construction. Northfield describes the "S" series thus: "Each mandolin is made of select tone woods and built by the same team and approach. The lacquer finish on these instruments is made to be stronger than the more delicate spirit varnish, yet still be very thin as to not inhibit vibration and dampen the liveliness of the instrument."
This brand-new instrument (just completed in June 2026) is a special Limited Edition "F5S E Ltd." and has the following upgrades from Standard F5S: Premium Engelmann spruce top and select maple back, sides and neck, full-gloss Nitrocellulose finish, deluxe Gotoh tuners, special Gilchrist/Northfield tailpiece and a slim abalone/mother-of-pearl torch inlay in the headstock.
We are very impressed with these Northfield instruments; they sound great just out of the box , handle and play beautifully with a much nicer finish than commonly found in their price class. This F5E sounds powerful and full-bodied with a wider tonal range than many modern F-style instruments regardless of price.
Overall length is 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm.), 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/16 in. (3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.).
This instrument is new stock, unplayed and already sounds lovely. It is complete in the Airloom Recurve molded hardshell case. This is a fine playing and sounding instrument, a professional grade Bluegrass (and beyond) mandolin at a moderate price. Near Mint Condition.
