1928 Martin AK Koa Flatback Mandolin

Update March 2024: I'd sold this recently but the owner swapped it back for an electric mandolin instead -- his loss, heh heh! It's come back to the shop perfectly in order and gorgeous as it was the last time...

While Martin A mandolins from the '20s and '30s are not particularly rare, AK models are. The K is for koa which this mandolin has in spades. It's flamed and figured throughout and just the right deep-amber, orange-gold color that touches the lust in my fellow wood freaks.

This mandolin is in fantastic shape and just needed a glorified setup to get it dialed-in. I like the tone of these much better than the "normal" spruce over mahogany A-model Martin mandolins. It's both sweeter and more round in voice and, I think, a little louder overall. These make great players for folk and Celtic musicians and they do old-time fiddle-tune playing nicely, too, though you can't play them like Gibsons (with a really heavy hand) and expect them to respond the same. They're more nuanced.

My guy Tim did the work on this and it's playing beautifully and ready to go.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress, minor bridge adjustments, cleaning, and setup.

Weight: 1 lb 8 oz

Scale length: 13"

Nut width: 1 3/16"

Neck shape: medium soft V

Board radius: flat

Body width: 9 3/8"

Body depth: 2 7/8"

Top wood: solid flamed koa

Back & sides wood: solid flamed koa

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 36w-10 lights (use no heavier)

Truss rod: non-adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: small/low

Condition notes: aside from an old repaired hairline crack on the top (treble side to the right of the pickguard) which is hard to see in the pics, it's in incredibly good order and quite clean. It's all-original throughout and the finish and wood glow beautifully. There are small weather-check marks here and there and maybe small scratches here and there but overall it's in great shape.

It comes with: its original hard case.

Consignor tag: SR