2006 Draleon Royale MDD8000 Selmer-Style Carved-Top Mandolin

Overview: Draleon mandolins are scarce. They were built in small numbers at the time outside of Beijing by a small, quality workshop -- Century Strings -- who are now pretty famous for their bowed instruments. If you're looking for good gypsy-jazz or jazz-flavored mandolins, the market is not all that wide, and this carved-top, Selmer-looking critter definitely fills a niche for something expressive in a different way from an F-style or A-style mandolin. It has good volume, cut, and projection and "snaps" in a way more suited to the genre than, say, a dry and poppy bluegrass tone.

Interesting features: The Selmer-style body shape, petit bouche soundhole, and angular headstock shape are all classic design elements that give this a retro look. It has nice, wood binding with multi-lined purfling throughout, too.

Repairs included: I just gave it a quick setup. There's a little bit of fretwear in first position and I wouldn't mind leveling/dressing the frets before it's sold, but I wanted to give the next owner the option as the wear is so light. It's playing spot-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 1 lb 14 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium-deep
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 57/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1 7/64"
• Body width: 10 1/4"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid figured maple
• Bracing type: ladder, hybrid
• Bridge: adjustable ebony
• Fretboard: rosewood or similar
• Neck wood: maple flamed
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10 with wound A (Thomastik flats)
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/smaller

Condition notes: It's pretty dang clean. I'm not seeing any noticeable wear and tear (save a little fretwear in first position) but I'm sure there are small scratches and signs of use if you take a fine eye to it. It's currently got Thomastik flatwound strings on it and the A strings are wound in the set, so in the video the intonation on the As is a hair flat. Normal 2-wound, 2-plain strings would not have this issue and would make the instrument a little louder and punchier, too.

It comes with: It has a good, molded, original hard case.

Consignor tag: MBUO