Brand: Rootworks
Instrument Categories: Mandolins, SOLD
We had a visit from Ray’s Rootworks, bringing along a new, fantastically creative Rootworks Shellback Mandolin, with a Redwood top and Cherry shell.
Ray Vincent and Susan Halle operate Ray’s Rootworks out of their shop in Peterborough, Ontario, and produce some of the most innovative yet playable instruments we’ve seen.
This Shellback Mandolin uses a surprisingly wide range of materials. The top is nicely figured Redwood, and the shellback – based on the Fibonacci spiral found naturally in many shells – is made of Cherry veneer with a Spruce center point. The side rims are Maple, with Wenge, Ebony and Spanish Cedar for the neck joint. The neck itself is birds-eye maple with a Padouk center strip and Ebony for the fingerboard. The non-adjustable truss rod is carbon fibre. Aside from the copper side dots, the fingerboard inlays are Walnut, the headstock is Cherry, Wenge and Ebony, and the side panel is Ebony. The bridge is Ebony, and the tailpiece is made from Ebony, Mahogany, and Wenge. The nut is Buffalo Bone. The finish is hand-applied oil.
The fretwire used is Evo Gold, and a dual piezo pickup system is installed. Tuning gears are vintage style, with a 15:1 ratio.
This is an extremely distinctive instrument. It’s very well made and fully usable – it does happen sometimes that in a search for innovative design, builders sacrifice or obstruct function. That’s not the case here.
Tonally, this mandolin tends more towards the sound of oval-hole instruments, rather than F-holes. This is a warmer, rounder tone more commonly used in Celtic or other European styles, as opposed to the bright, crisp tones used in Bluegrass. Acoustically, it is quite loud compared to other traditional body designs.
A well-padded Fusion soft case is included.
- Model: Shellback Mandolin
- Year: Current
- Finish Satin
- Class: New
- Serial Number: N/A
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Condition: Brand New
- Date Posted: 22/08/2018
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Gig Bag case
- Instrument Weight: 2.42lbs 1.1kg
- Scale Length: 13.75in 349.25mm
- Nut Width: 1.33in 34mm
