How to Order

I have always strived to offer my customers the freedom to choose the custom features that are important to them in a Mandolin. That is one of the main advantages of buying a Mandolin from an independent builder as opposed to a production built instrument. Choice… Tweaking-the-details. That said, the overwhelming majority of Mandolins requested by players over the years have been what you might describe as Loar F5 copies. Consequently, what has developed over that same time as my standard Newson Mandolin could also best be described as a close copy of the Loar F5. Close, but not exactly the same. I have deviated mostly in my use of the wider nut width of 30mm vs. the Loar’s 27mm and in my use of the radiused fingerboard, each of which I’ve used since the 1980s. I am also gratified to be able to provide Waverly tuners and the Bill James tailpiece; these are superb improvements over the Loar-era hardware. Of course, nobody can make an exact reproduction of a Loar; those were, and will remain, a limited production run.

The following list describes my standard F5 Mandolin and may be used as a starting point for discussion of any customizations on any of the models I offer.

• Adirondack Red Spruce top/ Straight braced
• Michigan Red or Sugar Maple back, sides and neck ( from the same forests Gibson’s timbers came from)
• Forward and backward adjustable truss rod
• Radiused Ebony fingerboard, with MOP dot position markers
• 30mm genuine Mother of Pearl nut * Flower Pot inlayed peghead Ebony veneers front and back
• Waverly tuners with MOP buttons in Gold or Silver
• Bill James tailpiece in Gold or Silver/ engraved with “Newson”
• Radiused Ebony Bridge in Gold or Silver
• Hand applied Varnished sunburst finish
• Hide glue construction
• Hard Shell TKL Shaped or Rectangular case ( others cases are available)

Click here for pricing and options for your Newson instrument.

To place an order, or inquire further, use the box to the right to contact me via e-mail or feel free to give a call by phone.

Thanks, Paul Newson