Special Phoenix Innovations

• Engineered light-string models that produce full volume and tone with light and extra-light strings.
• Designed a jazz model that utilizes both a piezo and a magnetic pickup for creative playing styles.
• Introduced the graphite-epoxy truss bar in mandolin production.
• Pioneered the use of graphite-epoxy laminations in mandolin tone bars.
• Introduced special models that have no plastic bindings.
• Adopted special epoxies for strength and vibration transmission.
• Reformulated top and back graduations for full plate movements.
• Adopted willow, as Stradivari did, for internal blocks and linings.
• Introduced ancient forest maple for bridge bases.
• Created custom tuner parts.
• Established low instrument weight as a major factor in sound projection; the heaviest Phoenix mandolin weighs only 30 ounces!
• Pioneered the hybrid varnish finish.

Tops

• Fine quarter-sawn, vacuum-dried, red spruce used on most models for superior tonal range and traditional "Loar" tone. European spruce is used on the Jazz and some custom models for its particular mellow tone.
• Full perimeter graduation for maximum top response.
• CNC carved to precise curvatures, then hand graduated and tap-tuned to each model's specifications.
• Tone-bars graphite-laminated, sized for each model, with asymmetrical placement. The Neoclassical and Jazz have a radical new tone bar design for full tone and projection with light strings.
• Amati-style "f" holes, area-matched to Loar specifications.

Backs

• Highly figured maple, specially graduated by a new Phoenix formula, and tap-tuned in relation to the top. "It was a surprise to discover how much sound comes off the back. The Phoenix back contributes hugely to the resonance of the top. More so than any mando I've ever played. By holding it in such a way to leave the back free to vibrate, the G string sprang to life and the low-end became airy and articulate." Larry May, January 2004

Sides and Necks

• Highly-figured quarter-sawn maple.
• Neck is one-piece, profiled similiar to Loar mandolins.
• Epoxy-graphite bar replacing metal truss rod for better sound and stability.

Bodies

• Blocks and lining strips made from willow, as Stradivari preferred.
• Internal air volume matched to legendary Loar mandolins.
• Ultra model has black bindings with abalone purfling.
• Bluegrass model has ivoroid bindings; the Bluegrass Master Model has triple bindings (ivoroid/black/white) on the sides.
• Standard, Neoclassical, Deluxe, and Jazz models are constructed violin style with no plastic bindings.

Fingerboards

• Finest ebony used on all models with Macassar used on the Jazz, all are radiused to 7 1/4" for ease of playing, 13 7/8" standard scale.
• Front inlays: Standard and Bluegrass - snail or abalone dots; Neoclassical - none; Jazz - 2mm snail under the bass strings; Deluxe - handcut abalone vine; Ultra - handcut abalone flames.
• Binding: Standard, Neoclassical and Deluxe - ebony; Jazz - Macassar ebony; Bluegrass - ivoroid; Ultra - black/white.
• Side position dots: Neoclassical, Jazz, Deluxe, and Ultra - snail; Standard and Bluegrass - abalone.
• Scalloped for pick relief above 24th fret.
• The Jazz model has a 22 fret fingerboard to enhance pickup placement and higher and wider frets for jazz playing.

String Nuts

• Width: 30mm (just under 1 3/16")
• Material: Standard, Bluegrass, Deluxe and Ultra - mother of pearl; Neoclassical and Jazz - fossil ivory.

Bridges

• Traditional Loar specifications.
• Nickel-plated metal parts on the Standard and Bluegrass; gold-plated on the Master Model; black plated on other models.
• The bridge base is made from resonant ancient-forest maple recovered from Lake Superior by Timeless Timber.
• The saddle is ebony (Macassar on Jazz), radiused and carefully compensated.

Headstocks

• Overlay is finest ebony, striped Macassar on the Jazz.
• Hand-cut inlays: Standard and Neoclassical - one piece phoenix of pale abalone or mother of pearl; Jazz, Bluegrass, Deluxe, and Master Model - 3-piece of figured abalone; Ultra - full abalone phoenix with flames.
• Binding: Bluegrass - ivoroid; Master Model - triple binding on side (ivoroid/black/white).

Hardware

• Machine heads: precision Grover machine heads, nickel-plated on the Standard and Bluegrass; nickel-plated with custom black-plated string posts and worm bushings and black buttons on the Neoclassical; gold-plated with custom black-plated string posts and worm bushings and black buttons on the Jazz and Deluxe; premium gold-plated Waverly machine heads with mother-of-pearl buttons on the Bluegrass Master Model; and premium gold-plated Waverly machine heads with black-plated string posts and ebony buttons on the Ultra.
• Replacement light-weight machine head bushings on all models, nickel-plated on the Standard and Bluegrass model and custom black-plated on all other models.
• Tailpiece: black plated Rigel-style with ebony overlay on the Neoclassical and Deluxe (Macassar overlay on the Jazz); nickel-plated engraved Rigel-style on the Standard; silver-plated engraved James on the Bluegrass; gold-plated engraved James tailpiece on the Bluegrass Master Model; black-plated aluminum Price on the Ultra.
• Strap buttons: top button inside left point, nickel on Standard and Bluegrass, black on others; (the end pin at tailpiece is ebony on all models except where an end-pin jack is used).

Finishes

• Colors: Standard and Bluegrass - traditional sunburst amber/red-brown/tobacco brown/black; Neoclassical - violin red-brown with dark shaded edges; Jazz - light violin brown with dark shaded edges; Deluxe - warm dark violin brown with dark shaded edges; Ultra - sunburst from wine-red to black; Bluegrass Master Model - vintage sunburst amber/brown/black similar to some Loar-era finishes.
• The color stains are mixed with the shellac sealer or applied directly to the wood prior to sealing.
• A grain-enhancing shellac is used as a sealer before top-coats are applied.
• Top coats are the finest hybrid varnish, a water-borne, environmentally-friendly finish that is extremely durable yet flexible for sound enhancement. The coats take significantly longer to apply and polish to produce a final finish that is only .006" thick.

Strings

• Standard - made for medium-light to medium-heavy, delivered with .011"/.015"/.026"/.040".
• Neoclassical - made for extra-light strings, up to .010"/.013"/.022"/.034", delivered with Dr. Thomastik mittel or mediums.
• Jazz - made for flat-wound strings 011"/.016"/.022"/.034", delivered with Thomastik stark (heavy).
• Bluegrass and Master Model - made for medium to heavy strings, delivered with .011"/.015"/.026"/.040" GHS.
• Deluxe and Ultra - made for medium strings but can take medium-heavy, delivered with .011"/.015"/.024"/.038" GHS.