Mowry F-Model

A vintage-style mandolin built by luthier Andrew Mowry

Based in Bend, Oregon, luthier Andrew Mowry specializes in archtop instruments. He has been building professionally since 2003, and since then has earned a reputation for producing great-sounding instruments with an incredibly high standard of workmanship. We recently had a chance to check out one of Andrew’s F-Model mandolins built in December of 2016. Based on the classic Lloyd Loar F-style design, it is constructed with an Engelmann spruce top, which Andrew sourced in Lolo Pass, Idaho, and highly flamed red maple back and sides. A sunburst spirit varnish finish as well as a gold Axiom tailpiece featuring the Mowry logo contribute to the mandolin’s beautiful appearance. The instrument includes one of Andrew’s own bridges, allowing for a perfect match with the top’s radius. Although Mowry instruments are also available with traditional truss rods, on this mandolin Andrew used graphite bars inside the neck for reinforcement.

The substantial C-shaped neck profile and low-action setup makes this F-model very comfortable to play. And tonally, it has great clarity and bark, particularly for such a new instrument.

In this video, Peghead Nation co-founder Dan Gabel discusses the instrument, and Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Sharon Gilchrist demonstrates it in a duet performance of “Sail Away Ladies” with co-founder Scott Nygaard.

SPECS: F-style mandolin. Carved Engelmann spruce top. Red maple back and sides. Maple neck with carbon reinforcement bars. Ebony fingerboard. Compound-tapered dovetail neck joint. Hide glue construction. Spirit varnish finish. 13 ⅞-inch scale length. 1⅛-inch nut width. Gotoh tuners. $8,200. Mowrystrings.com

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