2019 A-5 mandolin from the Ontario, Canada workshop of Mario Proulx featuring a hand-carved spruce top and flamed maple back and sides with a full red bust finish in excellent condition and including a hardshell case. Proulx hasn't been taking orders for a long while now, but back when he was, his fine flattop guitars were in such high demand that he had little time to build mandolins, which is a bit of a shame because his mandolins stand up with the absolute best of them. This particular example is outstanding: lively and sweet at any volume with plenty enough projection to chop through even the densest bluegrass mix. Every note is cushioned by a pleasant woody midrange, even at the highest reaches of the fretboard, making for a deeply satisfying playing experience – it really gets the ribcage moving. Setup to play comfortably with action measuring 4/64" from the 12th fret to the bottom of the outside strings with a touch of relief in the maple neck. Appointments include a Brazilian rosewood headstock overlay, full tortoiseshell binding, red firestripe Tortoloid pickguard, and Proulx's signature grommet/leather strip mandolin strap design. Cosmetic wear is minor, with only very faint signs of use in the finish here and there and moderate pickwear on the guard. Frets are unworn and level up the board.
- Year: 2019
- Top wood: Solid spruce
- Back & Sides: Solid flamed maple
- Neck/fingerboard: Flamed maple/rosewood
- Binding: Tortoiseshell - top, back, fretboard & headstock
- Nut width: 1-1/4"
- Scale length: 13-7/8"
- Bracing: Traditional 2 tonebar design
- Tuning machines: Open gear Gotoh
- Bridge: Custom ebony/rosewood wedge
- Tailpiece: Brass, 8 string hooks w/ rosewood cover
