Built by Australia’s Stephen Gilchrist, this 1991 F-style mandolin has been Peghead Nation Beginning Mandolin instructor Sharon Gilchrist’s (no relation) primary instrument since 1994. The instrument was built as a copy of the only red-sunburst Lloyd Loar–signed Gibson F-5 ever made. The instrument originally had a fingerboard with a tree-of-life inlay, but Gilchrist had it replaced with a fingerboard with simple dots to avoid damage to the original after several refret operations. Gilchrist has had the neck shape modified from its original design, leaving it unfinished, as she prefers to feel the raw wood. The instrument has a carved spruce top and highly figured maple back and sides. Gilchrist instruments are represented in the US by Nashville’s Carter Vintage Guitars (cartervintage.com).

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

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

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 Model 3 Mandolin Read More

2008 Duff F-5 Mike Compton demonstrates his F-5 mandolin built by Australian luthier Paul Duff. 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

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