Built by Australia’s Steven Gilchrist, this 1993 A-style Gilchrist Model 3 is Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Joe Walsh’s primary instrument. The instrument has a carved Engelmann spruce top and maple back and sides. The top is X-braced, and the fingerboard has a radius. Walsh originally came across the instrument in a Maine music store, but lacking the funds at the time, he had to pass on the purchase. Fortunately, it came up for sale again several years later, this time in a shop in Nashville, Tennessee. “It’s a beautiful mandolin that seems to complement my style in a way that I like,” says Walsh. Gilchrist is represented in the US by Nashville’s Carter Vintage Guitars (cartervintage.com).

To study mandolin with Joe Walsh, enroll in his courses The Advancing Mandolinist or Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites on Peghead Nation.

Maegen Wells A-Style Mandolin and 15-Inch Archtop Guitar Luthier Maegen Wells discusses two of her instruments in the Peghead Nation video studio. Read More

Gilchrist F-Style Mandolin Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Sharon Gilchrist demonstrates her primary instrument Read More

2004 Gilchrist Model 4 Mike Compton demonstrates his oval-soundhole, F-4-style Gilchrist. Read More

2009 Gilchrist Model 1 John Reischman demonstrates his round soundhole Gilchrist. Read More

Lawrence Smart A-Style Mandola John Reischman demonstrates his mandola. Read More

Northfield Archtop Octave Mandolin Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his archtop guitar–inspired octave mandolin. Read More

2000 Gilchrist F-5 Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his new Gilchrist mandolin, which was previously owned by Andrew Marlin and Aubrey Haynie. Read More

2007 Heiden Heritage F-5 Peghead Nation instructor John Reischman demonstrates his Michael Heiden F-Style mandolin. Read More

Nugget A-Style Standard Mandolin Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his 2016 Nugget, built by luthier Mike Kemnitzer. Read More

2002 Gilchrist F-5 Mike Compton discusses and demos his primary mandolin, which was built to match the tone of Bill Monroe’s Gibson F-5. Read More