Description
Barnes & Mullins BM650 Salvino Mandolin
The Barnes & Mullins Salvino Mandolin, originally established in London in the early 1900s, Barnes & Mullins became one of the most famous names associated with high quality banjos. Today, the company reissues some of its most popular models. These instruments allow today’s musicians to enjoy a fantastic high quality banjo at an affordable price, developed with the same expertise and attention to detail as they were over 100 years ago.
The Barnes & Mullins Salvino Mandolin is a classic, F-Hole scroll top mandolin named after a recently uncovered ‘Salvino’ model from the turn of the 20th century. F-Hole style mandolins are historically favoured for bluegrass music, as they are considered to have more ‘cut-through’ in a ensemble situation, allowing themselves to be heard more easily above other acoustic instruments. This instrument is constructed using carefully selected solid woods including a solid Mahogany top.
Barnes & Mullins BM650 Salvino Mandolin Specifications:
- Body Top: Solid Mahogany
- Body Back and Sides: Solid Maple
- Bridge: Ebony
- Neck Material: Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Number of Frets: 20
- Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dot
- Electronics: N/A
- Hardware: Nickel
Barnes & Mullins BM650 Salvino Mandolin Origins
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”.
