Mandolins
Standard features on all Apitius mandolins include...
  • Hand carved and expertly graduated top of select spruce
  • Hand carved and expertly graduated back of highly
    figured maple with matching sides and adjustable neck
  • Arched ebony fingerboard with 24 frets
  • Ebony bridge and ebony peghead face veneer
  • Angle-cut and tapered peghead with a dyed pear wood
    veneer on the rear face
  • Ivoroid bindings
  • Hand-cut pearl shell headstock inlays
  • Rich sunburst stain in your choice of “Black Cherry” or
    “ Cremona Brown”
  • Hand applied spirit varnish finish
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty with Certificate of Authenticity

A list of custom features is available by request.
           
On the occasion of constructing my 100th mandolin, I decided to create a new model in honor of the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. This model, named the Rosine, has virtually all of the same appointments as Mr. Monroe’s beloved F-5, such as, black/white purfling on the side surfaces only, mother-of-pearl position markers and a hand applied varnish finish.
In addition, a new peghead inlay was designed to further honor the man who is credited with creating a completely new genre of music, an accomplishment shared by few others. The new headstock inlay is meant to be very symbolic of Mr. Monroe himself. The ‘urn’ represents the man, the two curlicues to the left and right represent the music that he gave to the world while the center flame symbolizes his ongoing spirit.

The Rosine Deluxe has all of the features of the Rosine model (above) plus silver plated Waverly® tuning machines and a silver plated tailpiece.
    
A simply elegant mandolin, the Classic model’s appointments include a hand-cut peghead inlay of abalone and mother-of-pearl, triple bound top and back, Paua abalone position markers, nickel plated Schaller® tuning machines with pearloid buttons and an engraved nickel plated tailpiece cover.
    
A dressed up version of the Classic (above), the Grand Classic features upgrades such as an elaborate hand-cut inlay of mother-of-pearl and abalone shell in a vine motif. Further upgrades include gold plated Schaller® tuning machines with genuine mother-of-pearl buttons, ivoroid bindings with b/w purfling on top and side surfaces and an engraved gold plated tailpiece. Right photo by Brian Pickell
The Studio "A"
An A-model mandolin, the Studio “A” is for those musicians who are primarily concerned with sound quality and playability. Appointments include an original peghead shape with a hand engraved, mother-of-pearl ribbon logo, triple bound top and back, nickel plated Schaller® tuning machines with pearloid buttons and an engraved nickel plated tailpiece.
F-Style Mandola
Featuring the same appointments as the Classic model mandolin, this mandola has the same lines as an F-5 mandolin only larger. It can be heard on track 3 of the Alison Krauss and Union Station CD titled ‘So Long So Wrong”.
A-Style Mandalto
A 10-string mandolin with a standard mandolin scale length (355mm) but with a slightly larger body. Suggested tuning is C, G,D,A,E. Studio model appointments.