Barnes And Mullins Salvino Model Mandolin

This second hand mandolin is in in great condition

Note: Gloss finish - photos may show reflections from the surrounding environment

The Barnes & Mullins Salvino BM650 is an attractive F-style mandolin aimed primarily at players who want the traditional look and character of a scroll-top instrument without spending a fortune. With its dark finish, solid-wood construction and classic F-style silhouette, it certainly looks the part.

Design and Construction

The Salvino has a solid mahogany top and solid maple back and sides, giving it a traditional combination of woods intended to produce a warm, focused sound. It has a maple neck, ovangkol fingerboard, 20 frets, mother-of-pearl dot inlays and an adjustable ebony bridge. The scale length is 350mm and the nut is 28mm wide. 

Visually, the BM650 is one of its strongest features. The dark stained finish and pronounced body scroll give it the unmistakable appearance of a traditional F-style mandolin. The nickel hardware and simple dot inlays keep the decoration relatively restrained, which suits the instrument.

It is worth remembering, though, that the F-style shape is primarily about aesthetics and tradition. Barnes & Mullins themselves note that the difference between F- and A-style mandolins is relatively small acoustically, although the F-style design can offer a little more resonance and is historically associated with bluegrass because of its ability to cut through an ensemble. 

Sound

The Salvino's solid mahogany top and maple body give it a noticeably warm and mellow character. It isn't an especially aggressive or hard-edged mandolin, which makes it pleasant for general playing, folk music and melodic work.

There is enough clarity to individual notes to make picking enjoyable, while the warmer tonal character prevents it from becoming excessively bright or brittle. The adjustable bridge is particularly useful because it gives you some scope to optimise the action and intonation for your playing style.

Playability

The 350mm scale and 28mm nut give the Salvino a fairly conventional mandolin feel. The 20-fret ovangkol fingerboard provides plenty of room for standard mandolin repertoire, while the adjustable bridge is an important feature at this price level. 

Build Quality

The all-solid body construction is a significant attraction. You're getting considerably more than a purely decorative F-style shell: the Salvino uses solid mahogany and solid maple for the main body components.

Who Is It For?

The Salvino makes the most sense for:

• Beginners wanting a traditional F-style mandolin

• Players moving up from a very basic mandolin

• Folk and acoustic musicians wanting an additional mandolin

• Bluegrass players on a sensible budget

• Anyone who particularly loves the look of an F-style instrument

Pros

• Attractive traditional F-style appearance
• Solid mahogany top
• Solid maple back and sides
• Warm, focused tone
• Adjustable ebony bridge
• 20-fret fingerboard
• Good choice for beginners and intermediate players
• Considerably less expensive than high-end F-style mandolins

The Barnes & Mullins Salvino is a handsome, well-specified entry-level F-style mandolin that gets the important things right. The solid mahogany and maple construction, adjustable bridge and traditional design give it considerably more credibility than its price might suggest. It gives an opportunity to own a genuine-looking, traditional F-style mandolin with solid woods and a warm, musical voice without moving into much more expensive territory.

The Salvino is a good-looking and genuinely playable introduction to F-style mandolins. Its an attractive, warm-sounding mandolin that offers a lot of traditional character for the money.

Specification:
Top: Solid Mahogany
Back and Sides: Solid Maple
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Ovengkol
Inlays: MOP dots
 Bridge: Rosewood adjustable
Hardware: Nickel
Machineheads: Open