Mandolin Artimúsica BD40TC Simples Carrilhão

The mandolin Artimúsica BD40TC is a model with a standard tuning machine and a solid spruce top,  ideal for those  who play  Portuguese folk music and for academic tunes.

The Portuguese mandolin resulted from the evolution of the original instrument of Italian origin, which in turn descended from the lute. The mandolin appears in its modern form in the romantic period, around 1830, with the introduction of strings and metal pegs, which allowed for a more perfect tuning. The Portuguese version is distinguished mainly from other mandolins by the shape of the harmonic box, which has a pear shape and an almost flat bottom.

It was an instrument both popular and luxurious, traditionally played by ladies of high society, but that was transversal to all Portuguese society, falling into disuse throughout the 20th century, but being recovered by musicians who wanted to revive the Portuguese musical tradition and, particularly, as an integral part of academic tunas.

The mandolin is a cordophone, with strings of 4 double strings, tuned from the highest to the lowest in Mi - Lá - Ré - Sol, a tuning identical to the violin. Some mandolin models have fan-shaped tuners but the Artimúsica BD40TC has standar tuning machines, nickel-plated for greater durability.

Artimúsica used several woods to manufacture this mandolin, treated so that it has greater longevity and superior sound quality. The bottom and sides are in walnut, maple or cherry, and the top in solid spruce. The neck is in mahogany and the scale is in panga panga (Millettia laurentii), a wood originally from Mozambique, of high hardness, resistant and aesthetically appealing.

Founded in September 1992, Artimúsica is one of the benchmarks in the artisanal construction of traditional Portuguese instruments. It is a family business, which follows the construction method started by master Joaquim José Machado, more than 100 years ago. His grandchildren, masters Manuel Carvalho and José Carvalho, manufacture each instrument as if it were a true work of art, making each piece unique and of high quality.

The Artimúsica BD40TC is an excellent instrument at an affordable price, perfect for those who like to play traditional Portuguese music or add trills and melodies to the serenades of the tunas, and perpetuate the national musical legacy with the manufacturing quality of one of the largest traditional instrument companies Portuguese.

Specifications:

• Model: BD40TC 

• Top: solid linden

• Bottom and sides: walnut, maple or cherry, solid

• Neck: mahogany

• Fingerboard: panga panga

• Rosette: Artimúsica S

• Binding: 1

• Finish: gloss

• Tuning machines: standard