2025 Ancel Coburn 3-String Mandolin-Like Critter

Overview: Workshop crewman Ancel made this just before he left for a cross-country trip as he wanted something to keep his fingers happy in transit. He's never content to leave well-enough alone, though, and is on to his next projects so this one's ready for new fingers. It's a 3-string instrument, currently tuned to DAD in the same range as mandolin's DAE strings. It can retune to EAB for fourths players, DAE for fifths players, or various lowered open tunings, of course. He made the body from the same very-thin ply birch we use for cleating material and reinforcement patching and the stuff sounds good -- I've used it it for building instruments in the past, too. It's built, roughly, in mandolin sizing and the top has x-bracing. It's loud, sweet-sounding, and carries well. He "finished" it in stain on the body and followed it up with a little white-paint trim that he brushed-on which gives it a Harmony Stella sort-of look and style.


Repairs included: None, just the building! It plays quick and easy and is ready to serve.

  • Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
  • Scale length: 14 1/2"
  • Nut width: 1 1/8"
  • Neck shape: medium C
  • Board radius: 12"
  • Depth at first fret: 61/64"
  • Depth at seventh fret: 59/64"
  • Body width: 9 1/2"
  • Body depth: 2 1/8"
  • Top wood: ply birch (very thin)
  • Back & sides wood: ply birch (very thin)
  • Bracing type: x
  • Bridge: floating ebony
  • Fretboard: rosewood
  • Neck wood: mahogany
  • Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
  • String gauges: 22w, 13, 9 or close to it
  • Neck relief: straight
  • Fret style: modern medium

Condition notes: It's brand-new -- a little rough and ready -- but brand-new. 


It comes with: No case!


Consignor tag: ACCB














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