Mike Mandolins

Scottish Musician, Singer-Songwriter and Builder of Bespoke Instruments

About Mike

Having formally learned bassoon and choral singing, then picked up piano and guitar, I got into Scottish folk music in the 90s, co-founding the band ‘Teannaich’ in 1995 on keyboards. After a few years I switched to mandolin, then to cittern in 2004 as a more versatile single instrument for playing ceilidh tunes and accompanying songs and fiddle - especially when travelling with the band. I have restored and repaired instruments for over 30 years, and started building from scratch in 2009. I have performed a mix of Scottish traditional, cover and some of my own songs as a solo artist since 2017, as well as several collaborations with other artists. Whilst I have had many 'main instruments' over the years, my current favourite is a cittern I built in 2022 with cedar top, maple / elm body and striped maple / mahogany neck. I am based in South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland, and use ethically-sourced local and recycled timbers where possible. I have considerable experience teaching online and in person, am happy to travel for gigs, and will be delighted to discuss any particular ideas, requirements or questions you may have.

About the 'Mandolins'

This website, and my passion, is focussed on the mandolin family - including octave mandolins, mandolas and citterns - for their diversity, character and playability. My first mandolin, bought in 1994, was a mass-produced semi-acoustic that was useful for learning but lacked dynamics and warmth. The next, by local luthier Thornton Caldwell, had far more depth and character. I played it on the Teannaich ‘Lucid’ album, and it influenced the way I build my own. Because mandolins have a similar range to violins however, without the bass range I wanted for solo singing, I began exploring other related instruments. After a brief spell on octave mandolin, and discussion with Jonathan of Kemp Strings, I bought a Fylde cittern and restrung it GCGDA in unison pairs. This is still my preferred cittern tuning, as with a capo it essentially gives me three instruments in one: a mandolin, an octave mandolin, and a bouzouki. Unfortunately, the scale-length caused excessive tension and breakage of the top strings, and difficulty playing fast mandolin tunes due to a boomy low end and large heel under the higher frets. Unable to find an existing cittern which met my requirements, I used experience I had gained building guitars to make my own - and have been making and refining them since. I built my first mandola for someone who wanted a lighter, narrower, 8-string version of my cittern. I brought it to a ceilidh to try through the PA (pictured), played it all night, and enjoyed it so much I had to make another for myself. As well as custom builds for others, I am currently developing 10-string mandolins and a travel cittern.

About this website

Mike Mandolins draws together the following six distinct yet closely related areas of activity and experience that I continue to develop and to share. There is obviously considerable overlap as I most often perform, whether solo or in a band, with a cittern I have custom-built for myself; play tunes and songs I have arranged and / or written; and often incorporate some form of teaching about the songs, tunes and instrument, and sometimes teach ceilidh dances. Click a picture or tab to jump to each dedicated page.