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*** Items may not be in stock in both shops. PLEASE CHECK INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT LISTING to see where an item is located, either Soho or Scarsdale ***
*** Items may not be in stock in both shops. PLEASE CHECK INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT LISTING to see where an item is located, either Soho or Scarsdale ***

Monteleone 1979 Grand Artist Mandola #40

$39,000.00
Soho: Out of stock / Scarsdale: In stock
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John Monteleone is widely considered to be one of the world's preeminent builders of archtop guitars. Having started his career as a repairman for the famous (and now defunct) Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island, Monteleone quickly garnered a reputation for quality and design. Some of his work was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on loan from Rudy Pensa himself.

This gorgeous instrument features a spruce top and highly flamed maple back, sides, and neck. This F style mandola features John's proprietary scroll design, a more modern choice, differentiating his mandolins from the others. John's years of experience at Mandolin Brothers has allowed him to capture the Loar tone, but add a sense of modern clarity that stands above many builders.

A mandola, tuned like a viola, comes with a longer scale, the length of which is something that varies between manufacturers. This particular mandola has a 16" scale, allowing for bright, punchy tone, and has a nut width a hair under 1 1/4 (or 32mm), a common nut width for mandolas of this size. The neck shape, like many Loar adjascent instruments, is a softened V even burgeoning on C at points.

Serial #40. Comes with deluxe hardshell case.

Check out the fascinating 2021 documentary on the luthier called "John Monteleone: The Chisels Are Calling," available from various sources online. Rudy appears in the film, too, along with a star-studded list of guitarists including Mark Knopfler, Ben Harper, David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Julian Lage, Anthony Wilson, Woody Mann, and others. 

“There is truly nothing like it. The highest quality professional gear and The Rudy’s custom shop are undeniably one of the best!” Mike S.

“There is truly nothing like it. The highest quality professional gear and The Rudy’s custom shop are undeniably one of the best!” Mike S.