These mandolins are currently around $1500Aud

Click on pictures for larger view

My mandolin models are always evolving but are based on these designs.

This particular one is a low tension mandolin. (the string length is one fret shorter) This is very handy for a guitar or fiddle player who doesn't want to deal with high tension mandolin strings.

(An .011 gauge E string on a normal mandolin is tighter than the same gauge on a guitar, and is then doubled.)

Listen to a recording of this instrument

The double soundhole version tends to focus the frequencies into the midrange. A sound most desirable in bluegrass instruments.

The saddle/bridge design that is used on all my mandolins is better suited to amplification than the traditional Gibson style bridge. The deep saddle slot makes it easy to adjust the height with shims. This avoids the tone loss that is associated with adjustable screw bridges.

The saddle slot also makes it easy to fit an undersaddle pickup like the K&K FantaStick, which I can supply and fit for $140Aud.

The Blackwood tops having a dry but very balanced tone. This makes them particularly good for stage use with a pickup.

A low profile heel makes it easy to access to the upper fingerboard.

The neck is connected to the body using a 'spanish heel' This means that the body parts are attached to the neck itself, which makes a very strong join.
The zero fret system, tapered head and Gotoh sealed tuners make it tune much better than Traditional style instruments. This is because there is almost no friction at the nut.
Aside from the figured Blackwood above, I have access to some very nice fiddleback Eucalypt for mandolin bodies and necks.
This tail piece was designed for my instruments by Tasmanian jeweller Kate Case. I have not yet had them reproduced, but I hope to in the future.
This is my own wooden tailpiece design that is both comfortable and strong. The pins go through into the tailblock. They are polished stainless steel and can be removed for cleaning.

Tom Chippindall is a luthier and mandolin player who learned mandolin making in my workshop and is now producing his own designs using similar construction and concepts. His instruments are incredible value and outperform mandolins that cost 3 times the price.