Ranking The Best Mandolin Builders in the World - You Won't Believe #1! 

Thank you for your list. You have been fair and informative. Helped me get some increased awareness of the names that are so expensive that I rarely have seen one for resale. I learned a lot.

Awesome video guys! Love the attention to detail

My man done spelled it Gilchirst. 😂 you guys are awesome! Great video as always!

Collings deserves a spot amongst the "best"... especially considering Gibson is on there.

Jeremy, with your experience and talent with mandolins, who the hell can argue with you. Keep on smiling.

I have just got to put in a plug for a local guy now retired from instrument making. LLoyd Laplant lives here in northers Minnesota. He built guitars based of the Martin Dreadnought and also Mandolins. Back in the day, I remember seeing a lot of his stuff being played by musicians performing in Nashville on TNN. Although I will never be able to afford one, I am proud to have had the pleasure of picking with him on many occasions. A true gentleman and one of the most humble peopl on the planet. I am always envious when I see someone with one of his guitars or mandolins. I know the guy who has the first mandolin LLoyd made (LLoyd cringes every time he sees it) and I have got to play LLoyd's personal Laplant Mandolin. What a Delight that is.

I have to say Nugget is one of the most knowledgeable builders out there. Easily on my Mount Rushmore of builders. He’s a treasure trove of the mandolin goods.

With Red Diamond’s and Gilchrist’s being veritable unicorns, Gibson moves to the top of the list because you can actually own one today. As a 30 year player owning several Weber, Northfield, Collings and Flatiron, I agree that Gibson’s are consistently the best. That dry Gibson tone just does it for me. Dave Harvey and crew are building future classics today.

Where do Collings, Girouard, Summit, Nugget, Kimble rank? Waybe Henderson? Apitius? How about Skip Kelley? (I didn't get Weber ranked above Dudenbostel.) Cheers!

I had a long chat with David Harvey at a workshop in Canada. I came away thinking "wow, there simply couldn't be anyone who knows more about Gibson mandolins". This was well before his tenure at Gibson. I knew only good things could come after I heard he'd become the head of the Gibson mandolin dept.

Thanks for including my Dudenbostel #2 and Loar headstocks at the 5:00 mark. I miss the Loar but the Dude gets it done.

Anticipation ❤

Northfield blows so many of these brands out the water. They are consistent great examples out there and their price point isn't insane. I'll take my 4th Gen Northfield pretty over anything.

I would love to see a ranking like this where an example of each builder is played live. Or if not live, show an excerpt of a video of one of that builder's mandolins being played.

I haven't play as many mandolins as these guys ... but the best one I ever got a hold of was a Gilchrist that Dave Wilson of the undergrass boys had . I remember that thin neck and that loud crisp even tone . Funny thing was , He liked my Fish because of the wider neck .. I liked thinner necks at the time.

There’s a translucent green Paganoni on Reverb that I’ve been drooling over for a while. For some reason those green burst mandolins really do it for me.

Jerry Rosa. He doesn't built them anymore but they have a sound like no other.

There’s nobody I’d kick off your list, but some more adds (besides a bunch of other good’uns already mentioned): Rolfe Gerhardt - Phoenix (I’ve loved mine for 25 years.) Skip Peyre- Grey Eagle (Beautifully made-fit & finish and very responsive.) John Hutto - Never played one, but I fell in love with the sound of one or two I heard, and should have gotten on the waiting list.) - Paul

Thanks for the props, boys!

Here’s one you have probably never heard of: Billy Davis out of a dot of a town Douglass Ks. Hard to find but excellent workmanship and tone you have to hear to believe. We have #7

Have you guys ever tried Crosby mandolins ? he’s a builder here in Nova Scotia he also builds guitars I see Josh Williams playing a Crosby guitar

My top 5: 1. Heiden 2. Gilchrist 3. Dudenbostel 4. Monteleone 5. Red Diamond (or Ellis! hard to pick!)

Steve Sorensen in So. Cal. Builds some dream instruments.

I watched Randy Woods build a custom made mandolin for Bill Monroe ,that build got him a position at Gibson in their custom shop and eventually his own shop , I was the only one he allowed watch him work

The Canadian maritimes have two top notch luthiers that makes an awesome mandoline. Leblanc and Josee. Thought I would just give them a holler!

Surprised McClanahan and Monteleone didn't make the list. Thanks for the video and discussion.

Any thoughts on the Anton Krutz mandolin?

Way to go, Gilchrist! (we put prawns on the Barbie here !)

Collings, Nugget, Daley :)

Great list. McClanahan should probably be in there somewhere.

Guess I'll wait for Jeremy's mandolin book before I decide. Thank

As a acoustic guitar player mandolins look like so much fun. Perhaps I'm due for a new skill set. The wife over my shoulder like was the Martin not enough.

I dig your attention to the mandolin details - but you spelled Gilchrist incorrectly when the slide for #1 surfaced.....

I’d say Nugget, Anton Krutz, and Triggs as well.

Love the vid; interesting typo

I am a little biased as Bruce Weber is a friend and I have two of his builds. I agree there are many great builders out there. Too many great mandolins and way too little money. George in Montana

I'd have to say Andrew Mowry out of Bend Or is one of the best. But a great list nonetheless. The ne plus ultra of the mandolin is certainly Red Diamond.

Love my Pava....very good and affordable.......a deeper dive into her story might be interesting ;^ )

Wondered about Collings also. Are they still building them , though? They also seemed to have dropped the Waterloo guitar line as well. COVID was a killer of business for sure.

Ok I agree on number 1 lol

Curious to hear your thoughts on vintage (prewar) vs. high end modern mandolins. To contextualize my question, I'm a guitar player and occasionally dabble with other stringed instruments. Stumbled onto a good deal about 10 years ago and purchased a 1925 Maurer (Larson Bros) flatback. I enjoy playing it, but unlike vintage guitars, I don't have enough background to comparatively judge the quality of this instrument (note: it's in really good condition).

What stores can you go to to sample mandolins?

You've got to have a look at Capek mandolins out of the Czech Republic.

You guys have to check out Ratliff mandolins. Audie builds them in Churchhill, Tennessee in batches of 10 and they’re affordable by the average, hard-working broke Americans

Washburn/Lyon & Healy are amazing. Lots of Italian boutique builders as good as these.

You nailed # 1 and 2 The best of the best......................joe

Triggs deserves a mention in my opinion

10. Krishot 9. Paganoni 8. Dudenbostel 7. Randy Wood 6. Aleyas 5. Weber 4. Ellis 3. Gibson 2. Red Diamond 1. Gilchrist

Northfield Artist top five at least. I played a Gilchrist for over half an hour. My Northfield very close and 6k not 30k

More Canadian input. Apitius Mandolin Co, Mulmur, Ontario. Sohn Stringed Instruments, British Columbia, Ian Pattison Instruments, Wellington County Ontario.

Clark Mandolins. Boise ID. I know he made an octave for Sierra Hull and his French varnish finish is outstanding.

Nugget Ratcliff Collings ?

You guys have great "ears" and you think through your opinions. You rightly included Gibson and placed it toward the top in terms of sound production. On those grounds Gilchrist definitely tops the list. But I know of one professional player who dumped his Gilchrist claiming that the sound production had degraded rather than improved with time and playing. Steve Hinde confirmed that sound production does NOT automatically improve with time and playing but can degrade. As you guys know not all Loars have equally impressive sound production and some are dead in the water. Time and playing have not and cannot improve the sound production of a wooden box. Red Diamond is another absolutely outstanding copy of Gibson. BUT I cannot fathom including Weber anywhere on this list. Maybe I'm missing something but I've never heard much depth of tone in a Weber compared to other boutique or independent builders. I was surprised that Kimble didn't make the cut - I've played / heard several Fs but even an A that had a remarkably rich tone with volume to match. Did you factor into your list CONSISTENCY of sound production? I played a Dudenbostel at Carters and was shocked by the underwhelming tone quality. No, strings wouldn't make any difference. I'd like to hear another rating of the rest of the independent / boutique mandolins not included in this first list. Steve Hinde has taken the bold move of making the bodies of his mandolins 1/8" deeper than the original Gibson which everyone else copies. Thanks for your videos!

Northfield mandolins should definitely be high on this list.

Will this 4,470 desktop studio view warrant the 182nd subscriber LIKE? The suspenders are killin' me... nah - didn't hear you mention The Rosa... maybe even Arlen.

Not sure why you both decided to hold two Pac Rim mandolins that probably wouldn’t be seen on anyone’s Top 20 mandolin list while discussing top-tier world class mandolins. It was like watching two guys holding a Bud and a Miller while discussing top-tier craft beers. That said, it’s a given that a list like this is going to be subjective, and I think that you succeeded in showing what a golden age of mandolin building we’re in, given all the other builders (e.g., Heiden, Apitius, Duff, Smart, Austin Clark, Kremnitzer (Nugget), Sobell, Ruhland) in addition to your ten who also could be named to a Top 10 list.

" Gilchirst" is No 1 of course.......classic typo guys. Google set me straight though..phew!

How about Northfield Instruments?

Red Diamond is what I think of as tops

Steve Hinde, Pava, Apitius

One of the first 15 Gibson made Flatirons that Bruce Weber made was better than the Gilchrist I played.

Paul Duff...the "other" Australian builder. None better.

Robert L Givens.

At :23 seconds b "O" tique.

My guess before I watch is Eastman?

I have krishot #201 from 1999, it's awesome, needed some quality setup...but after it's great

I'll go with whatever Sierra is playing.... that's #1

I would have Dudes in top 3

Have you never tried Hinde mandoliins????????

Is it Gilchrist or Gilchirst?

Mr. Oliver Apitius. Shelburne, Ontario.

HOW DID YOU MISS THE BEST OF THE BEST BUILDERS***AUDREY RATTIFF***DR KEL

I have an old Rigel G110 that is pretty unique. (OK, by unique, I mean funny looking) Also, a Ratliff F style, Which doesn't look unique. Although maybe the name is.

None of this matters is what he said at the end lol…truth at last , Gibson is there , but not Apitius , Collings , Hieden !! 😂

What about Eastman

Hieden

Yeah, where is Kimble?

All of we guitar players need left handed units. Dang chords are upside down and backward guitar chords.

Are there any decent mandos under $500? Mandos are so expensive.

You guys know better than to not mention Hinde.

18:03 Really? I thought you could fit more onto a top 10 list?! :-

Rick Hayes mandolins.

They all learned from Gibson and Lloyd Loar.

Hmm...Collings and Nugget were big misses.

Haha you spelled "Gilchrist" wrong.

No Heiden? No Nugget? So many other great luthiers missing, too numerous to mention t,t easily could be considered "top ten" builders. But Heiden and Nugget most egregious omissions.

Perhaps you need to tell whoever types your captions to pay MORE ATTENTION TO DETAIL! "botique"? "Gilchirst"? Give us a break!

why does the guy on the left with the squeaky voice always talk over the other one. it is uncomfortable to watch.

Spare us the clickbait title. Everyone will believe #1. Fun video tho.

Weber was too inconsistent.

Who cares about so-called "boutique builders"?! I'm interested (we're interested) in how Collings, compares to Bourgeois, compares to Gibson.

Two Old hippies destroyed brands

Putting current new Gibson above Ellis is laughable! I guess you need to sell those, lol… Shills… If #1,2,3 is not in no particular order Gilchrist, Dude, Ellis get back in the wood shed! ASAP! What a joke…