ALL INSTRUMENTS ARE HAND MADE, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

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Assembled with the finest of musical wood and components. Triple bound ebony headstock veneer. 16 piece vase inlay in select mother of pearl and paua abalone. Givens script inlay in mother of pearl. Vase is...

Engelmann Spruce top. Curly Koa sides and back. X-Brace forward design. Monster Bluegrass tone. Herringbone and Ivoroid binding. Triple bound ebony headstock veneer, bound fingerboard, ebony...

With original R.L. Givens inlay, this mandolin has fantastic sound. Triple Bound ebony headstock veneer. Mother of pearl and abalone inlay. Engraving on both headstock and fingerboard markers. Bone nut...

ALL INSTRUMENTS ARE HAND MADE, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

News from Givens Legacy

Written by Administrator

Listen to a jam on 'Limehouse Blues' with Givens Legacy Dreadnaught Guitar and F-5 Mandolin

Well, it's now into December....where does the time go? The firewood is in and we are nestled for the winter. I thought I would bring everyone up to date on what's new at the Legacy.

We are currently working on one Mahogany Dreadnaught and a 'mini' dreadnaught with a 24.5" scale. This one is built off of the S.B.400 with a longer fret scale. Also in the works currently are two A6 model mandolins in a lacquer finish.

In the development stage is a 50th Anniversary Tribute Model, a project for the winter. Clear top bound in Curly Maple with an A6 motif. Triple bound headstock, Ivroid bound radial fingerboard, vase inlay, engraved R.L. Givens. Simple elegance blended with an eye towards detail. How's the sound? Well....those who know say, "Hey, it's a Givens"

Blessings, Best Wishes and Good Music.

S. Weill

THIS WON"T LAST LONG. ORIGINAL R.L. GIVENS DREADNAUGHT FOR SALE

About our pricing...

I was asked the other day why Bob's instruments never followed the upwards pricing curve while he was living? I thought this was a valid question. So in response I had to explain that Bob had 21 shops in his 33 years of building. Bob always had a distributor friend or acquaintance that picked up the instruments the day they were finished and paid cash. Bob lived well his whole adult life and didn't have the ego, the drive, or the time to drive his price up. He just needed a hamburger and another set of tuners and bindings. A man with humility and a wonderful boss.

Bob was often working behind the cash flow, trying to catch up with rent or debt incurred on parts supply. No room or time for marketing. I would buy his parts at times so we could both keep working. Most artists don't find respect or value living. If you were fortunate enough to hear about or know Bob during the building years, you could have bought one well under the true market value. Trying to find one now is a challenge and certainly not cheap. The Givens Legacy mandolins are in the same boat as Bob's, great, great mandolins. We offer the same mandolin Bob built at more than a reasonable price, a real value. It's a matter of great wood and accurate assembly that the tone and playability are as great as they are.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 00:25

Steve's History

Written by Steven M. Weill

Monday, 05 January 2009 00:00

We thought readers would enjoy a little history about Steve Weill himself, written by Steve Weill himself.

Born in southern California in August 1952, Steven M. Weill was raised at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The greatest feature and influence was the ocean. Surfing and boating, learning some of life's lessons from the relationship. Dad had a home wood shop. An engineer by 'degree' he was good with wood also. Dad built furniture and several small boats. Leaving California in 1967, Steve moved to a farm in Kentucky near the Ohio River. Finishing High School, hunting and fishing and making friends; Life was good. First experiences with Timber were in Kentucky. Very cool trees and forest in Kentucky.

Learning the guitar about 16 years old got me interested in music. Country music was big, Saturday dances with the local talent was great. Here we are 41 years later and the music is even bigger and better too. Really in love with music, a never ending experience. College found Steve pursuing Forestry and building primitive snowboards. The snowboards were all in fun as was college.
After bouncing around in the Timber Industry awhile the late 1970's found Steve building boats. Nice 16' lapstrake Whitehalls rowing boats.
This is the first connection with R.L. Givens. Bob had built a boat or two and the two men 'clicked in mutual perspective. It was coming on winter and the boat shop business had slowed. R.L. "Bob" Givens had a shop and asked Steve to come help build mandolins.
Taking up the offer and a warm place to work sounded good. This was around 1981. There were three or four Luthiers living and working in Sandpoint, Idaho. We were all firends and shared ideas and information on building. The likes of Franklin guitars or Steve Anderson Instruments and a dulcimer manufacturing facility. It was the high time for handbuilders in Sandpoint. 30 years later the tradition goes on, handbuilt with the finest materials and traditional design aspects. Mandolins & Guitar for the discriminating player.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 February 2011 03:29

Givens Legacy @ Wintergrass 2011 in Bellevue, WA

Written by Administrator
Friday, 18 February 2011 19:03
Well...The big Wintergrass Bluegrass festival is now in the history books. We had a great time. The Likes of Sam Bush & The Gibson Brothers Band, Prairie Flyer and other greats. The Wilson School of Strings entertained us with a few shows. Andrew and Deanna will be teaching a new year with the introduction and help of a new video teaching library. Check it out at www.wilsonschoolofstrings.com The music was great, the festival was family friendly, to watch the kids play and sing will just warm your heart. As a bonus we got to hear a Jazz duet on the new Archtop & Dreadnaught. They were great; Thanks Ray, Thanks Peter. The Givens Legacy mandolins are received so well everywhere we go. I can't help but be very pleased. It's like taking your children out and introducing them to the world. They are boisterous but well behaved. I find music to be another form of love. That's all for now. -Steve
Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 23:57

Our Booth @ Weiser 2010 National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 16 September 2010 20:55
This was our first year at Weiser. What a wonderful experience. A week of great people and great music.
Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 19:36