Northfield Archtop Octave Mandolin Maple

Peghead Nation instructor Ethan Setiawan demonstrates his octave mandolin.

July 17, 2024

When Northfield first launched its guitar-shaped Archtop Octave Mandolin several years ago, the instrument was a welcome and successful alternative to the custom instruments offered by individual luthiers. Today, the Archtop Octave Mandolin is part of a family of Northfield octave mandolins that also includes the guitar-shaped Flattop Octave Mandolin and the A-style, short-scale WaveLength, making Northfield the most prolific builder of professional-level octave mandolins around. Peghead Nation instructor Joe K. Walsh has used his Archtop Octave Mandolin (which has mahogany back and sides) in most of the lessons in his Octave Mandolin course, and we have a video of him demoing the instrument. When Ethan Setiawan was in our studio recently to shoot lessons for his Weekly Mandolin Workout course, he had his Archtop Octave Mandolin with him, so we took the chance to have him demo this maple version of the instrument.

Northfield has shops in Qingdao, China, as well as Marshall, Michigan, and many of the company’s instruments benefit from a collaboration between the two facilities. The Archtop Octave Mandolins are primarily built by the company’s luthiers in Qingdao, before being inspected and set up in Michigan. The instrument has a non-cutaway body inspired by vintage archtop guitars, though at a somewhat reduced size that measures 13.7 inches across the lower bout. As with all archtop Northfields, the top is hand carved, braced with a pair of tone bars, and has two traditional f-holes. Ethan uses Northfield’s medium-gauge, octave mandolin strings on the instrument.

Ethan’s Archtop Octave Mandolin is built with an Italian Alpine spruce top and figured maple back and sides. Having spent time with Joe K. Walsh’s mahogany instrument, Ethan says, “They’re quite different, quite distinct. Joe’s is perfect for him, very mellow and warm, great for backing up a voice. The maple one pushes a little more and it’s a little punchier.” Ethan uses the instrument for various musical styles, but especially in the duo Hildaland (with fiddler Louise Bichan). “Mandolin and fiddle duos do work, but octave mandolin and fiddle duos may work a little better,” he says. Ethan also often plays the instrument with a capo at the fifth fret, which puts it into mandola tuning, allowing him to cover the range and sound of two instruments without having to bring a mandola on tour.

To study with Ethan, enroll in his Weekly Mandolin Workout course!