The Shippey “Axe” mandolin has a flat top and carved back and it is this combination that gives the “Axe” mandolin its unique tone.
Warm, full and slightly woody in the low register, bright and clear at the top end – It is highly responsive, but will also deliver when played forcefully.
The carved back is at the heart of this mandolin’s tone – hand carved from European Maple.
Beautiful, straight-grain cedar for the soundboard; Ebony binding front and back. Ebony is also used for the bridge and finge
I make the tailpieces in my workshop from solid brass. It is a hinged design, finished with a dark patina and will accept both ball and loop end strings.
This model is played by Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead, Faustus), Ward Dhoore , Robin Jones (The Trials of Cato) and Maarten Decombel

Specification
Cedar top
European maple carved back
Ebony Fingerboard
Brazilian Mahogany neck
Polished Ebony bridge
Ebony head facing
Ebony binding front and back
Ebony and birch bound fingerboard
Ebony handmade truss rod cover
Satin lacquer finish
Shippey handmade rosette
Shippey tailpiece
Gotoh 510 tuners
Bone nut and saddle
356 mm scale length
30 mm nut width
278 mm body width
12 ” radius fingerboard
Two way adjustable truss rod
