Northfield S Series F5S Adirondack LTD Wide Nut Mandolin – New

Northfield’s S Series of mandolins are an excellent choice for the player looking for the best tone with a little less bling. The NFS-F5 offers the same quality woodworking as their more expensive instruments but by binding only the edge of the top and leaving the back unbound, the number of hours in each instrument is significantly reduced. The NFS-F5 Limited takes that basic idea and ups the ante in a few significant ways.

The first thing you might notice is this model has a full-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, which really makes the highly figured maple in the back pop. The top is made from aged, premium Adirondack Red spruce and the headstock boasts a flowerpot inlay. This mandolin has a wide, 1 3/16-inch nut, which many players find more comfortable to play, particularly if they have larger hands. The NFS-F5 Limited has a two-bar bracing system like the classic Lloyd Loar mandolins and it has a clear, focused tone with a strong bark that can be heard over the loudest banjo picker. It also has a radiused fretboard, making it a breeze to play. Includes a hardshell case.