Round Acoustic Mandolin (2025)
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Round Acoustic Mandolin (2025), Montgomery, Texas, serial # 5.
OK, we'll admit it we were dubious when we first saw a mandolin "in the round". This instrument is built by John Liestman in Texas and has roots in instruments built by Iucci in New Jersey and Paramount in NY around a century ago. Liestman describes his "Mission Statement" Thus: "To produce a fine quality mandolin with a bright, lovely tone that can be heard by the session and the player while picking with moderate force."
Over a century ago New York area builders Iucci, Dewick and Tieri all made mandolin-family instruments based on round-body designs. William Lange's Paramount banjo company briefly offered a wood-top banjo-styled "Paramount Mandolin" in 1932 and Round mandolins are strongly influenced by this nearly forgotten design.
Most dimensions of the Round mandolin are based on this 1932 Paramount (just under 14" across with a 15 3/8" scale), with the soundboard and back design upgraded by more acute arching achieved by carving, not bending the wood. This instrument made primarily of curly soft maple with American black walnut highlights and an ebony fingerboard. The neck/body structure includes carbon fiber rods in the neck beneath the soundboard which eliminate the need for truss rods or a banjo flange, yielding an almost entirely wooden instrument.
The sides of the outer and inner body (what would be the "pot" if it were a banjo) are solid block construction rather than layered veneer. The Round mandolin has 14 small sound holes in the inner rim structure and the bottom of it is open, all of which feed into the outer structure and out to the listener. Sound ports in the upper side ensure that the player can hear their own playing well, an important consideration in such a front-focused instrument.
The neck is attached by two steel rods running from the tailpiece through the body to steel nuts in the neck heel. This prevents string tension from compressing the body allowing for maximum sound production. To harmonize with the longer-than-standard scale length very light gauge ball end strings are specified; these are anchored by a hand hammered tailpiece unique to Round. The adjustable ebony and brass bridge is made to unique Round specifications by Bruce Weber, while the brass and ebony tuners are supplied by Rubner.
The Round mandolin offers a unique combination of volume, projection, playability and tone, with a wide dynamic range. The maker calls them "truly a game changer" especially suited to Irish and Celtic styles. The custom hardshell case is also made by Round specifically for the instrument featuring a tough outer covering similar to that used for truck bed liners with quality hardware and a comfortable "banana" handle. This is a truly unique instrument in almost every way and we are pleased to have one in stock here in its "spiritual" home of New York City where the original inspiration for this design originated a century ago.
Overall length is 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 1/4 in. (387 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/32 in. (31 mm.).
This mandolin shows a few light signs of play, but no serious wear. It is certainly eccentric in feel, but once one gets used to it an easy playing and great sounding instrument. It is housed in the original case with the maker's instruction sheet. Near Mint Condition.
OK, we'll admit it we were dubious when we first saw a mandolin "in the round". This instrument is built by John Liestman in Texas and has roots in instruments built by Iucci in New Jersey and Paramount in NY around a century ago. Liestman describes his "Mission Statement" Thus: "To produce a fine quality mandolin with a bright, lovely tone that can be heard by the session and the player while picking with moderate force."
Over a century ago New York area builders Iucci, Dewick and Tieri all made mandolin-family instruments based on round-body designs. William Lange's Paramount banjo company briefly offered a wood-top banjo-styled "Paramount Mandolin" in 1932 and Round mandolins are strongly influenced by this nearly forgotten design.
Most dimensions of the Round mandolin are based on this 1932 Paramount (just under 14" across with a 15 3/8" scale), with the soundboard and back design upgraded by more acute arching achieved by carving, not bending the wood. This instrument made primarily of curly soft maple with American black walnut highlights and an ebony fingerboard. The neck/body structure includes carbon fiber rods in the neck beneath the soundboard which eliminate the need for truss rods or a banjo flange, yielding an almost entirely wooden instrument.
The sides of the outer and inner body (what would be the "pot" if it were a banjo) are solid block construction rather than layered veneer. The Round mandolin has 14 small sound holes in the inner rim structure and the bottom of it is open, all of which feed into the outer structure and out to the listener. Sound ports in the upper side ensure that the player can hear their own playing well, an important consideration in such a front-focused instrument.
The neck is attached by two steel rods running from the tailpiece through the body to steel nuts in the neck heel. This prevents string tension from compressing the body allowing for maximum sound production. To harmonize with the longer-than-standard scale length very light gauge ball end strings are specified; these are anchored by a hand hammered tailpiece unique to Round. The adjustable ebony and brass bridge is made to unique Round specifications by Bruce Weber, while the brass and ebony tuners are supplied by Rubner.
The Round mandolin offers a unique combination of volume, projection, playability and tone, with a wide dynamic range. The maker calls them "truly a game changer" especially suited to Irish and Celtic styles. The custom hardshell case is also made by Round specifically for the instrument featuring a tough outer covering similar to that used for truck bed liners with quality hardware and a comfortable "banana" handle. This is a truly unique instrument in almost every way and we are pleased to have one in stock here in its "spiritual" home of New York City where the original inspiration for this design originated a century ago.
Overall length is 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 1/4 in. (387 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/32 in. (31 mm.).
This mandolin shows a few light signs of play, but no serious wear. It is certainly eccentric in feel, but once one gets used to it an easy playing and great sounding instrument. It is housed in the original case with the maker's instruction sheet. Near Mint Condition.