Instrument Gallery
Over the years I have been lucky to acquire a range of good instruments, many of which I have recorded with on my cds. They are nearly all tuned in the standard fifths of the violin/mandolin, high to low - EADG. A few are more wall decoration than playable now, but lovely to enjoy, nevertheless.
Stefan Sobell mandolin, 1983
I commissioned the legendary English luthier Stefan Sobell to build me this small bodied Indian rosewood & European Spruce mandolin in 1983. It has an exquisite tone and sound and has been my main instrument for recording.
Paddy Taylor's jig by Kevin Macleod on a 1983 Stefan Sobell mandolin (youtube.com)
1922 Gibson F4 mandolin #69909, circa 1922
This 1922 Gibson F4 mandolin was built when acoustic engineering genius Lloyd Loar was at the Gibson factory overseeing the development of the now classic Gibson F5 mandolins. I shows some enhancements from the changes at that time, the main one being a truss rod and coverplate. It was previously owned by Scots folk singer Jimmy MacGregor.
Taran Guitars ‘Springwell’ mandolin #14, 2018
This is Taran Guitars ‘Springwell’ mandolin, with some custom appointments like an ebony fretboard and hand cut paua shell inlays. Full information about its development by Rory Dowling, with some input from myself, can be read on the ‘Projects’ page and videos.
Three Irish Jigs - by Kevin Macleod on Taran "Springwell" mandolin (youtube.com)
National resonator tricone tenor guitar, style 1, #355, circa 1928
I purchased this in the mid 1990s from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, having seen it in a catalogue. I had heard the sound on a record by De Danann ‘The Mist Covered Mountain’ where Alec Finn played a resonator tenor guitar. I was mesmerised by it, and later found out from Alec what it was. My first one here, a tricone, was purchased from Gruhn Guitars, but was different from Alec’s (see the ‘Story’ page for my account of Alec Finn’s Instruments). I later tracked down a single cone version (below) similar to Alec’s instrument.
National resonator single cone tenor guitar, style 1, #944, circa 1931
I purchased this in the mid 1990s from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, having seen it in a catalogue. It is a superb sounding instrument, originally designed for tenor banjo players in jazz bands in the 1930s. It never fails to generate a conversation when I play it in sessions!
Stefan Sobell 4 course octave mandolin, 1995
I commisioned Stefan Sobell in Northumberland to build me this awesome beast. Brazilian rosewood body, European spruce soundboard, custom fretboard inlays, herringbone purfling & maple binding. I tune this, high to low, EADG and sometimes drop the whole tuning for low accompaniment on recordings. It’s in beautiful condition still, as I very rarely take it out of the house, except to record.
Three reels on a 1995 Stefan Sobell octave mandolin on Vimeo
Deering ‘Crossfire’ electric tenor banjo #1852, 1991
This has been my main instrument for live and recording work with The Occasionals ceilidh band. We first saw Bela Fleck play one with The Flecktones, and I custom ordered one in 1991 from Deering in San Luis Obispo, California, USA. It has a custom vintage antique stain finish, and inlays derived from my old Epiphone tenor banjo. It has been an incredible workhorse for many years.