1900s Howe-Orme Cylinder-Top Mandolin

We're all fans of Howe-Orme instruments around the shop. They're beautifully-made, quirky, and always sound lovely. This one has a voice somewhere between a really good bowlback and a flatback mandolin -- it's clean and clear but with some subtle warmth and sweetness that lets it flit into the old-time/Celtic camps and away from classical/1900s mandolin-orchestra stuff.

Jose gave this a level/dress of the frets, compensation to the bridge, and setup work. It's playing spot-on, now.

It features a solid spruce top over solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides, with ebony board and bridge. The build characteristics all line-up for an instrument built by Vega for Howe-Orme.