Phoenix

A two-point, hand-made, exquisite-sounding acoustic eight-string suitable for bluegrass or any other type of music, this is as fine a modern mandolin in an intermediate price range as can be imagined. About his mandolins, the builder of the mighty Phoenix says – these are instruments for connoisseurs of handcrafted instruments, and for musicians who want outstanding volume, tone, and playability.

Rolf Gerhardt of cosmopolitan South Thomaston, Maine, has been building mandolins professionally since the mid-‘70s when he made the brand called Unicorn. He seems to get along well with mythical creatures (play nice, boys). This Phoenix double cutaway carved top and back instrument makes an exceedingly impressive sounding mandolin – as are all Phoenixes.

and a strap pin/jack on the bottom side, made for the jazz mandolinist seeking elegance, beauty and sonic affluence. It proffers a radiused Macassar ebony fingerboard, highly flamed maple back and sides, a most comfortable one-piece maple neck and a European spruce top. The top and back are unbound and the bridge saddle is made of Macassar.