2011 Clay Alden Flatback Mandolin

This is an attractive, good-sounding, functional, and cool-looking Army/Navy-style (or pancake-style) mandolin. It was made by Clay Alden in Tennessee and appears to be a cedar-topped (or maybe pine?) instrument with, perhaps, cocobolo (or similar) back and sides. It's pretty plain (no binding) and workmanly but has "the right stuff" to be a good player. I only had to give it some compensation at the bridge and a setup to be able to hang it out in the shop.

While it's a newer instrument and overall kept in good order, the top shows a bunch of scritchy-scratch wear to it. I'm not surprised at that because it's a rather soft wood, however. I've been letting it settle-in to Vermont before listing it for sale and it's held-up spot-on over our weather changes during the last few weeks.

It has a pickup installed which is of the undersaddle variety. It sounds just fine but I would be happy to install a K&K to replace it if desired -- for a small uptick in pricing. The undersaddle pickups tend to have a midsier, hyped tone you have to finesse with EQ to get to sound like you'd want while the K&Ks are much more natural-sounding.

Repairs included: a quick setup.

• Weight: 1 lb 14 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium C/D
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 9 1/2"
• Body depth: 1 7/8"
• Top wood: solid cedar? pine?
• Back & sides wood: solid cocobolo?
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: hair-under 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10 or similar
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/medium

Condition notes: while it has some scritchy-scratch to the top and a little usewear throughout, it's overall clean-ish but "player grade."

It comes with: a TKL hard case -- which is nice -- but the "case pocket" needs to be fit back into it.

Consignor tag: RC