Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a waiting list for your mandolins?
There isn’t currently a waiting list, though this is still early days in this newly awakened iteration of Kettler Mandolins. Depending on the demand, though, there may be a list coming in the future. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, if you don’t see the mandolin you’re looking for listed here, get in touch about a special request.
Do you take custom orders for mandolins or other custom work?
Yes. Get in touch with details of what you’re looking for, whether it’s some elaborate inlay work, a unique combination of woods and finishes, or a special body shape or scale length. Depending on the work, timeline and pricing will vary. Generally, half of the price is needed up front to cover costs, with the remainder due upon completion.
I hate credit cards. Can I just pay with an old-fashioned check or money order?
Check or money order is actually preferred for custom work, but they also work for mandolins you see for sale on the website. (Just get in touch to let us know which mandolin you’re interested in, and it will be set aside for you for up to 2 weeks while payment is in transit. If payment isn’t received by then, it will be put back up for sale on the site.) Of course, credit card is fine too.
Can I request custom hardware?
All Kettler Mandolins come with quality tuners and tailpieces, including Gota or Rubner tuners and cast-metal tailpieces, but other options may be available. Waverly tuners are available at increased cost, as are some plated tailpieces. Let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll try to accommodate. Be aware that not all mandolin hardware is interchangeable, so these requests could require custom work to fit an existing instrument.
Are Kettler Mandolins sold through dealers or only directly through the website?
Again, Kettler Mandolins is only just now awakening from a long slumber and this is relatively early days in the new iteration, so most sales are currently directly through the website. Select dealers will also be carrying them soon. If you are a dealer or know of one that would be interested in carrying these hand-crafted instruments, feel free to get in touch.
Where do you get the wood you use?
The spruce, maple and other woods come from a number of different sources: specialty tone wood suppliers, unique finds at local lumber mills, and special pieces saved from the earlier days of Kettler Mandolins, to name a few. Kettler Mandolins is located in the heart of maple country, so hard and soft maple are often available locally. All wood is carefully selected for beauty, tonal character, and stability to make the best mandolin possible.
What if my mandolin is damaged during shipping?
They’re packed carefully in sturdy instrument cases inside heavy duty boxes with ample padding, so this really shouldn’t happen. Nothing too strong ever broke, as they say. But if the rare tragedy does befall your instrument while in transit, it’ll either be fixed or replaced for you. If the box is damaged when your mandolin arrives, please take a photo of the box before you open it and then take photos of any damage done to the case or the mandolin. Get in touch with these photos and details of the damage immediately so we can start the process of making it right with insurance and any needed repairs or replacements. This shipping insurance is included in the instrument cost.
I noticed that the prices vary between some of the mandolins for sale on the site. Why the variation in prices?
It’s true, the prices are not the same for every Kettler Mandolin. That’s because each instrument is truly an individual. Sometimes the difference in price is because of different hardware or other material choices. Other times it’s because more elaborate bindings, finishing or other techniques were used to get a special, one-of-a-kind look or feel. Simply put, the pricing reflects different material or labor costs that go into each unique mandolin. More elaborate and time-consuming techniques or appointments (or vice versa) will naturally be reflected in the price.