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Mandolin with curly maple and mother of pearl.
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Cultural Objects, Music

A-Model Mandolin

People
Maker/Creator: Glenn Hansel Roberson
Date
2003
Places
Floyd (Courthouse District)
Material/Medium

Spruce (top), curly maple (back and sides)

Specifications
  • Length: 27 inches
  • Width: 9 1/2 inches
Description

This archtop A-style mandolin has F-sound holes and an elevated fingerboard. The sides and back are curly maple. Mother-of-pearl inlays are used on the head and as fret markers on the neck.

Keywords
Mandolin, A-Model
Bio Sketch

Glenn Hansel Roberson ( 1930-2020) was the son of Carl and Vada C. Roberson. He and his brothers Calvin and Hubert followed the lead of their father who played old time fiddle, guitar, and banjo. The brothers formed the Bluegrass Travelers along with Eugene Quesenberry and Glenn Wilson; Freeman Cockram joined the group a little later. Hansel was married to Sybil Genevieve Gardner.

Notes

This was one of Hansel Roberson’s last mandolins.  It was donated by Keith Nunn, a long-time friend, who learned to play from Hansel and owns other instruments he built.