Mandolin

This is an English flat back mandolin with a tear-drop-shaped body. It has a spruce top, a metal brass plate reinforced heel, and the ribs have f-holes. The neck has a raised ebony fretboard with 21 nickel-silver frets (including a zero-fret), an ivory/bone nut with a strip of green felt on top, and a truss rod with regulation screw at the top of the headstock. It is a four double course stringed instrument with nylon trebles and metal wound basses, with hook ends. The "Mickey mouse ears" shaped headstock is slightly tilted and has eight tuning gears (4+4) covered by brass plates on the back, with ivory knobs, and an ebony overlay plate. There is an ebony bridge with brass saddle, and a string tensioner also made of ebony screwed into the soundboard (similar to De Meglio style tensioner). The tailpiece is made of nickel-silver and has a blue felt padding.