The bridge, although different from my other Sobell appears to be original and is fit well to the top. Neck is straight, neck angle is good, frets are fine. Scale length is 23', which gives amazing sustain.
The fingerboard is slightly wider than a Gibson to allow quick rolls and triplets. This instrument is built with Indian rosewood back and sides, cedar top and mahogany neck. This is the sound you hear on all the classic Irish and Celtic recordings in the 70s and 80s - Battlefield Band, Boys of the Lough, Planxty, and artists like Donal Luney and Andy Irvine. This is an early instrument, made at Turf House, before the move to the Old School.
I usually tune it GDAE, and play it as an octave mandolin. He calls this build a cittern - a long scale double course instrument, usually tuned either GDAD or GDAE.
Stefan Sobell builds the finest instrument for Celtic music in the world.
