It's an absolute joy to make things like this. With any small instrument, I have a much greater choice of exceptional, high quality timbers, partly because I have saved every small section for about thirty years. This is a Touchstone mandolin, made from old Brazilian Rosewood, which came from the Classical guitar maker Harald Petersen. Harald lived quite near to here, although I never did meet him. The soundboard is again, very old timber, dark Sinker Redwood from California, and the neck is wonderful Mahogany which I have had for a long time.

Snakewood bindings and head veneer with red lines at all the borders. Abalone diamond fingerboard inlays, I knew it would look lovely, and it sounds so sweet.

This instrument is a special order, and is not for sale, but to give you an idea, it would cost in the region of £4,000.