Home -- Instruments -- Weber Mandolins

WE HAVE THE BEST SELECTION OF MANDOLINS IN SAN ANTONIO. If what you want is something that resembles a mandolin and makes some mandolin like noises, the big stores and the other music stores may have just what you need. But if you want a good mandolin that's properly set-up, plays and sounds great, GUITAR TEX is the place to go. Gus and myself actually play a bit of mandolin and understand what makes for a great instrument that's well suited to the player. Whether it's a good used mandolin, or a new LOAR or WEBER mandolin, we can help get started on or continue your journey into the world of mandolin.

HARWOOD MANDOLIN. Bowl back with spruce and Brazilian rosewood. Overall extremely nice condition with two well repaired top cracks; back is remarkably crack-free. Artfully shaped neck with a diamond volute and a filial carving in the headstock. Tuners and engraved tailpiece (marked patent 1894). Neck is straight and frets original and in great shape. Bridge has been replaced and that appears to be the only thing non-original; it fits well and looks good. The mandolin plays and sounds excellent. The current issue of FRETBOARD JOURNAL has an article on Harwood guitars and mandolins. Build quality that was as good as any being made in their day. This is a very nice and affordable collectible mandolin that can also be played with great satisfaction.  $450.00 pics comin soon                           

WEBER MANDOLINS

 If you're looking to step up to a fine American made mandolin, WEBER should surely be considered. Personally, I feel that WEBER has set a benchmark for mandolin making that the big name from Nashville doesn't begin to equal. Everyone has their favorites, but you should judge for yourself. The best instrument is the one you play and fall in love with. Often that's one that you weren't even looking for. That BRIDGER model that we have in stock, for example, is considered ideal for Celtic style music. While I wouldn't contest that assessment, I think you might be surprised at how well it does bluegrass and old-time music. And the BLACK ICE pictured below will do anything you want with style and panache. Let's face it, we could all use a little style and panache. There are some wonderful luthiers today making awesome mandolins and the bar is higher than ever, just as it is with guitars. There are reasons why the successful builders are successful and each builder makes instruments with a unique voice and character.  There is a wealth of good (mostly) information on the internet about mandolins but there are also opinions all over the map about every mandolin maker out there. Some folks think that anything less than a 5 figure $$ Gilchrist or Dudenbostel is not worthy of of consideration. There is no substitute for putting an instrument in your hands, feeling it, playing it, hearing it. Today WEBER makes archtop guitars (my main guitar is a Weber Yellowstone archtop) and resonator guitars that are at once traditional and distinctive, but their focus has always been on making the finest mandolins that can be made. The build quality of WEBER has always been exceptional, but I believe WEBER has continued to refine their mandolin making and improve the instruments to the point that they will stand with the finest and costliest mandolins in the world. If you haven't had the opportunity to play some WEBER mandolins we invite you to stop in and play them in person. It's official; as of 2011 you no longer are required to play a mandolin that looks just like Bill Monroe's, or Sam Bush's, or Ronnie McCoury, or Ricky Skaggs, or anyone else's. Nowadays it's okay to find a mandolin with a look and style that suits your taste. To use the title of an old Nat King Cole song "Style Is Coming Back In Style" and that's evidenced even in WEBER's modestly appointed Gallatin and Bitterroot models. Radiused fingerboards, tone bar bracing, hand graduated tops and carved maple backs. But check out the new models listed below like the "Rawhide" or "Black Ice" for a new take on an American classic.     

Head 'em up, move 'em out! WEBER RAWHIDE F style mandolin is in the house and, like the BLACK ICE model shown below, makes a bold and dramatic visual statement. The RAWHIDE F features a red spruce top with herringbone trim, Buffalo skull inlay on the headstock, extremely figured maple back and sides, translucent "chocolate burst" finish, scalloped spruce tone bars and much more. For the serious mandolin player willing to make her own statement the WEBER RAWHIDE F sounds and plays as good as the best of the best with a look that is at once traditional and totally unique. MSRP is $5,799.00; MAP is $5.219.00. ASK FOR DETAILS and special offers on all WEBER mandolins in stock!                                  

We also have some new and used mandolins from Loar, Eastman, and Kentucky for players with a tighter budget.

Simply put, we have more mandolins than anyone else in the area. We know how to play them and know what makes for a good mandolin. Ask some mandolin questions at the big stores and watch their faces go blank while the salesperson stutters around to come up with an uninformed response.

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Yellowstone F featuring an Antique Tobacco Sunburst, an exquisitely carved F style mandolin that has everything you could ask for in a great F. Stunning looks with highly figured maple & a subtly done tobacco burst. Has the bark that is expected but also a delicacy that is lacking in many otherwise fine mandos. Bruce Weber makes world class mandolins & this Yellowstone will outperform many that cost far more.                                                                                                           

 Weber Hyalite Just received from our friends in Montana.  New and for sale, call us for details or better yet just drop on by and give her a play!  List is $1599.00 but of course we'll do better!

Bitter Root Guitar For Sale at Guitar Tex.  Call us at [210] 822-1595 for details. 

 These are by far the best quality for the money. The Stage 3 bag is more like a hard case than a bag & the Stage 3 case is a rectangular design. Either one will fit F or A style mandolins, as well as left handed models.                                                

THOMASTIK flatwound mandolin strings are in stock & they are wonderful. Probably not the 1st choice for bluegrassers, but for jazz, classical & most other styles there's nothing else like them. $40.00 per set                                                

LAKOTA LEATHERS MANDOLIN STRAPS ARE BACK! We were out of stock for awhile, but we have them in both the woven & the plain styles made from buffalo skin. These are soft, supple, extremely comfortable, durable & attractive.

ALONZO'S FINE JEWELRY & LEATHER is now making mandolin straps. Our friend, Alonzo Hererra has made us some mandolin straps at my request & they're really nice. A simple leather strap that was meant to last a lifetime hand made in Gresham, Oregon.

HAND MADE PICKS! I'm loving the new casein picks we got in from Papa' Picks, as well as the new ones from John Pearse. Casein is a milk by product that makes for a beautiful looking, feeling & playing pick, coming remarkably close in all respects to genuine tortoise shell, imparting a warm rich tone. A nicely beveled edge allows the player to play faster, cleaner, & sound better. ROMA PICKS are a new line of hand made picks that we carry that should find favor among the mandolin players with their dense feel, clear tone and comfortable grip.

PICKUPS

We've got some excellent choices for mandolin amplification:                                             

 David Gage Realist Mandolin pickups are in  stock. If you need the best sounding pickup available without any modifications this is an outstanding choice.

Designed with Ned Steinberger, the Realist can be easily installed an most mandolins without visiting your local luthier. $195.00                                                                                    

K&K Mandolin Twin internal pickup. In my opinion, the best pickup for mandolin on the market. $119.00

Weber Yellowstone F-style oval hole mandolin. We like to order our mandolins from the folks at Weber with a few touches that vary somewhat from the straight catalogue items. For this one we chose an oval soundhole with scalloped X-braced top, radiused fingerboard "The Weber" headstock inlay & a satin tobacco sunburst finish, making for a mandolin quite similar to the Custom Vintage F, but slightly simpler appointments & considerably less expensive. Players have frequently commented on their attraction to the rare F-4 model mandolins, so we had the talented Weber people create a variation on that theme for us and we couldn't be more pleased with the results.

For your consideration here is something completely different; an oval hole Yellowstone F style for those who long for an F-4. Players who try this one are stunned at the difference that the sound holes make, with the oval hole a versatile mandolin that can effectively perform most any style of music. The Yellowstone model seemed to have just the right appointments that would compliment a satin finish & indeed it does look mighty nice. Oval sound hole imparts tone like the shape of the hole....round & warm but still has an aggressive punch, as you'd expect from a good F style mandolin. Excellent tone, feel & clarity making it suitable for most any application, jazz, classical, bluegrass, old-time, etc. MSRP: $4,450.00 call for quote