Testimonials

My fourteen year quest for the right mandolin culminated when Luke Auriemmo directed me toward the Muleskinner tent at Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots 2018.  There I fell in love with the punch and precision of a sturdily built specimen crafted of Tazmanian blackwood and Adirondack spruce with lovely blond wooden binding.  The Muleskinner cuts through a live bluegrass quintet, rings true in the recording studio and best of all stays in tune!  Here’s to a trusty mandolin and a luthier who goes above and beyond.

-Geoff Goodhue (Beg, Steal or Borrow / Bryan Bowers Band)

“There is no one I know that can take an idea and make it a reality to the extent that Andy can. He’s, at heart, a builder and maker of things. The combination of intelligence, experience, humility and sheer joy that he puts into his work is truly unique, and all of that is immediately obvious when you sit down with one of his instruments.”

-Mark Burds (The Burds Brothers)

“I love my Muleskinner Mandolin! Beauty matched in great sound! Andy was a pleasure to work with for my custom requests!” – Chloe Powell

“I have the pleasure of owning one of Andy’s first mandolins; one of the first batch of four that he made. My playing leans towards bluegrass, and so I went for an A-style with F-holes. I couldn’t be happier with the mandolin. It has great tone; deep and rich on the low end and clear and bell-like on the high end. It is comfortable to play, and the fit and finish are of course superb. Andy is a master guitar luthier and so it is no surprise that his foray into mandolin making is working out so well. I love my Muleskinner.”

– Peter O’ Connor (mandolin – Turnip Truck, The Straphangers)

Andy recently finished a dreadnought style guitar for me. I have honestly never played an instrument that looks as beautiful as it sounds like this guitar does, perfect balance. Warm and round tone. Clear highs and resonant sustain.  I have also had the honor of playing most of his mandolins. Andy’s mandolins come with the tone, playability and look of an instrument double their price. Most recently, I was able to buy into one of Andy’s latest designs, a guitar bodied octave mandolin. I am still getting to know this instrument, but from the first strum I knew I was in love and the richness and depth would only grow as it opened up with playing. A true craftsman who cares deeply about his work

– Brian Carroll (multi-instrumentalist)

“The absolute intention put into each and every instrument that touches Andy’s hands is always apparent. Both my mandolin and octave mandolin are visually stunning, and upon careful inspection anyone would be hard pressed to find flaw. However, their true craftsmanship is most obvious in their playability and tone. Punchy and resonant, and yet surprisingly delicate, my mandolin can accommodate any musical styles I wish to play. Separately, my octave mando has granted me a new breath of creativity with it’s entrancing sound and bottomless resonance. These instruments truly have taken my playing to the next level.”

-Justin Park (Trifolium , Old Boys)