Don Paine is now in his mid-90s in total number of mandolins built. He has established a reputation as a fine maker of sweet sounding instruments, but with very respectable volume. This is an earlier instrument which we had a chance to acquire that Don has been using as his personal mandolin. It's warm and open and representative of his work during this period. It's a varnished mandolin with his own satin finish and available with hardshell case at $4200. We're hoping to have more of Don's instruments in the coming year.

Don and I play together in a Celtic/Old-Time band called the Crowlin Ferlies, and it has been a pleasure to see both Don, and now Tom Hicks develop as highly skilled and dedicated builders as well as players.