Per the Weber web site, every feature most desired by players is available in this exquisite, glossy-finished workhorse [actual horses are not typically glossy finish]. Sporting the rich, full sound of X bracing, the Traditional Brekke Bridge, and the playability of a comfortably radiused ebony fretboard, the Yellowstone is fantastic in any forum. From your family's living room to a hard-scrabble roadhouse, the Yellowstone will always hold its own as a graceful bluegrass powerhouse. Just So You Know Department: The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing river in the United States. It flows from the cold, clear and deep Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park which at over 7,000 feet is the largest high altitude lake in the U.S.
Here are its specifications: the body size is Octave Traditional A; the soundhole in this instance is modified oval or “D” shaped, the bracing is X-citing, the back, sides and neck are curly (flamed) maple and the top is hand graduated and tuned solid spruce; the peghead veneer is “tapered A” in matte finish ebony that’s bordered in a ring of thin white and then edged with tortoise shell celluloid, as is the top and the back (but they don’t have the white ring). The peghead is inlaid with the stylized “Weber” logo in pearl in the late 19th century style – there under is a square-ish Celtic Knot; tuners are gold-plated Grovers with relief designs on the backplates and pearloid buttons wherein each button is secured by a gold plated and recessed screw. The nut width is 1 3/8”; the scale length on this particular one is 20”, the nut width is 1 7/16” and the strings spacing at the bridge saddle is nominally 1 7/8th”. The fret markers are 8 mother of pearl tiny diamonds in 7 fret positions. The nickel-silver frets themselves are .080 in thickness; the truss rod is dual action and adjustable; the color is honey and the finish is nitrocellulose lacquer and glossy. The tailpiece is cast with the big “W” for Weber, but nickel underlies the gold, and the bridge is the traditional Brekke and adjustable.
Other features that shouldn’t be missed include the matte finish ebony truss rod cover held in place by two gold plated Phillips head screws; the black binding around the gaping maw, the elegant manner in which the fingerboard end is elevated and cantilevered. It has 25 frets, all full length, and there is an area of 7/16” at the bottom of the fingerboard in which there are no frets. The back of the headstock is finished in black and this contrasting color comes to a point behind the first fret. The heel cap is polished ebony.
If you are used to hearing the sound of a flattop, flatback octave mandolin, the sound of a carved top, carved back may make you dizzy with euphoria. This is the octave mandolin you need to hear. Please phone us and we’ll play it for you over the telephone. But when you do, hold onto your chair.