2016 Bruce Weber Gallatin mandola - A-style body w/ F-holes & original case

Description

2016 Weber Gallatin A-style mandola w/ F-holes
Buckskin satin finish. Comes with original contoured Weber hardshell case
Built under Bruce Weber's supervision before he sold the company.
Gorgeous wood and hardware -- and monster sound!
The new management at Weber just announced a temporary halt to production of mandolins and will building only guitars from here on out. Whether this halt is temporary or permanent remains to be seen but the superiority of original Bruce Weber's instruments like this mandola will increase in value.
I love the sound of this instrument but I'm 73 and have to downsize. Minimal play wear: light scratches and dings on top and sides. My left hand has rubbed away quarter-size patches of finish from either side of the neck just south of the nut. Slight discoloration in finish alongside the edge of the bridge base.
NO deep scratches, belt buckle "rash," cracks, seam separation, or warpage.
Gorgeous volume and tone. It's quite the head-turning at first strum.
Dimensions and Specs:
OL: 30"; body width: 10 3/4; body thickness: 2 ¼"; 17"scale length. Solid spruce top, solid flamed maple back, sides, neck; tone bar bracing; dovetail neck joint; adjustable truss rod; 1-1/4" wide bone nut; ebony radiused fingerboard; 24 frets; nickel tuners w/ pearloid buttons.
The mandola is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin. The mandola is tuned the same as the viola - a fifth down from the mandolin tuning:  C - G - D - A.
Almost anything played on the mandolin can be played on the mandola using the same fingerings and chords BUT due to difference in the mandola's tuning
C - G - D - A
instead of the mandolin's G  - D -  A -  E the key will be different.  The basic chord shapes are the same on both instruments so you don't necessarily have to learn new shapes and chord fingerings but the chords themselves will be different. Examples: a G chord played on the mandola is a C, an A chord is a D, a C chord is an F, a D chord is a G, etc. It's not as confusing as it seems. Just keep in mind that you have no E string and therefore your chords are just one string over from where they would be on your mandolin. Easier to do hands-on than read about it!
Because of its string tuning (C - G - D - A) the mandola works really well with tunes in the key of C, D, G. Some mandola players have capo'd the second fret and then played in the key of D using C chord shape. You can also experimented with alternate "cross-tunings" like those used in Celtic and Irish music which produce a nice drone effect: C - G - D - G OR D - G - D - G.
Mandola can be played as a solo instrument and is an excellent accompanying instrument with a mandolin or violin. Sounds awesome in duets with a mandolin or violin when performing fiddle tunes or Celtic music AND of course classical music. While the mandolin or fiddle play the melody line, the mandola can accompany it with a low tenor or baritone line under it. OR when the mandola takes the lead the mandolin or fiddle can play the tenor part or a high baritone line over it.
Upgrades and extras: New ebony truss rod cover with MOP fleur de lis inlay (original cover will be shipped); strap button added to side of neck heel (I contacted Weber before drilling the screw hole and one of its luthiers told me exactly where to do so).  Maple armrest included to elevate your forearm above the body for more direct righthand contact with strings.  A Cumberland Acoustic ebony bridge is also included if you wish to experiment with the instrument's tone and volume.
Ships inside original Weber case in very good condition (Weber has the absolutely finest contoured instrument cases) with extra sets of mandola strings.
More photos available -- just ask!
00 plus insured shipping.  Sorry, but the fees that EBAY and PayPal charge sellers won't allow me to lower the price to what I'm selling this gorgeous darling on two other websites devoted to musical instruments - especially mandolin family.
Shipping via UPS or FedEX only.  PayPal and CONUS only.
I'm glad to use any shipper you prefer.  I only listed a variety of three for starters.
Local pickup available. Milwaukee, WI