Barnes & Mullins BM700 Piercy Mandolin

Barnes & Mullins BM700 Piercy Mandolin

The Barnes & Mullin Salvino mandolin is a classic, F-style scroll top mandolin named after a recently uncovered 'Salvino' model from the turn of the 20th century.

The solid spruce top is paired with solid maple back and sides and finished with a vibrant, antique orange stain. The instrument is coated with a high gloss lacquer which reinforces the well balanced tone with just the right amount of high-end chime.

Featuring a single oval sound-hole in place of the F-holes usually found on most other F-style mandolins, the Piercy mandolin offers a slightly broader tonal range to the player, with a more complete sound across the spectrum. It excels across all frequency ranges, occupying the high, mid and low registers admirably, rewarding the enthusiastic player with great projection.

Complete with a maple neck and an ovangkol fingerboard, gold hardware and adjustable ebony bridge, the Piercy is a delightful mandolin, perfect for those looking for a really special instrument.

Why Should I Buy an F-Style Mandolin?

Commonly played by professional mandolin players, F-style mandolins feature an upper body scroll and scrolled headstock – making them aesthetically distinctive from A-style mandolins. Their more elaborate body and headstock design naturally uses more tonewood materials and requires a greater level of craftmanship.

There is little discernible difference in the sound produced compared to A-style mandolins. However, F-style mandolins are ever so slightly more resonant due to their larger body chamber and tonewood area are historically favoured for bluegrass music, as they are considered to have more 'cut-through' in a ensemble situation.

Common Mandolin Tunings:

• G, D, A, E – Standard mandolin tuning
• G, D, A, D
• A, D, A, E

Body & Construction Specifications:

• STYLE: F-Style
• TOP: Solid Spruce
• BACK & SIDES: Solid Maple
• BRIDGE: Ebony - Adjustable
• BINDING: Composite Wood
• FINISH: High Gloss
• HARDWARE: Gold
• NECK: Maple
• FINGERBOARD: Ovangkol
• FRETS: 25
• INLAYS: Mother of Pearl Dots
• TRUSSROD COVER: ‘Piercy’ Script
• MACHINEHEADS: Open Gear
• NUT WIDTH: 28mm
• SCALE LENGTH: 350mm
• WEIGHT: 1.5kg

The Barnes & Mullins Story

In 1894, Mr Albert Mullins and Mr S. Bowley Barnes started “The Jo”, their famous musical instrument journal.

Specialising in all things banjo, they soon began manufacturing their own banjos as well as importing many other instruments. The original Barnes and Mullins banjos are still sought after today, with collectors seeking them out all over the world. Sadly in 1914 at the age of 40, Albert Mullins drowned when the ‘Empress of Ireland’ sank on the St Lawrence River. He was on the home leg of a 2 year sales trip.

Bowley Barnes continued the business thereafter, and what he had started with his partner years earlier in Bournemouth now moved to Rathbone Place, London. In 1976, Mark Barnes – son of Bowley Barnes – moved the business to Grays Inn Road, Bloomsbury. Sadly in 1986, Mark Barnes died. He was greatly admired and respected by employees and customers alike who were quick to tell of his fair and generous nature.

In 1999, Bruce Perrin – a Director since 1986 – became Managing Director and moved the business from London to the current location – Grays Inn House – a modern 46000sqft warehouse and office facility in Oswestry, Shropshire. Bruce Perrin says “We are excited about the future and are constantly looking at ways to innovate and evolve, yet Barnes and Mullins has always endeavoured to put the customer at the top of its priority list”..