Northfield Artist Series

Steve Gilchrist has been raising the bar on mandolin making since he started building. There has always been a distinctive look and sound to his instruments and the decades-worth of incredible work has earned him a place at the pinnacle of this craft. We’ve looked up to him for many years.

Last year we approached him with the idea of collaborating on a project to make his well-known tailpiece available on our instruments and in our online shop.

We’ve always admired the elegant design and thought that it would make a nice addition to the products we offer.

We’re very honored to make it available to you now.

A little history about this tailpiece from Steve
“I first prototyped it in 1996-97 after slowly working on an idea I had from an old Lyon & Healy bowlback many years ago that had a clamshell design that hinged from the lower tail end. I think they were available on a lot of brands around the turn of the century and I always thought it would be a good sturdy solution to what was available at the time. I'm thrilled Northfield's attention to detail is able to make the design more widely available.”

Please see further specifications and information on this tailpiece bolded below on this same page.

For more information, if you have further questions or concerns, or looking for an installation video—Please check out our Email on TAILPIECE UPGRADES. If you have further questions or concerns reach out to us at info@northfieldinstruments.com

Solid Brass, Nickel Plated.

Standard Mandolin Size.

Need the Octave size? Please inquire directly here.

Made in our Qingdao shop.

Weight: 1.4 oz.

Watch Promo Video

What a cool project. A collaboration that keeps our ethos at the heart of our business bringing together art, tech, and sustainable manufacturing into a brand new product that protects these painstaking instruments we love to create. The "Recurve" is our latest case made in a partnership with world-famous German case maker, Jakob Winter. It utilizes their process for turning plant materials (hemp, flax, kenaf) into a pressed shell using heat and pressure instead of glue. The result is a rigid and highly protective shell that is incredibly light. Unique arching and internal molding provide strength and the internal dimensions have been tested with many mandolins on the market today. Cases come with a single-basic carrying strap.

Outside Features:

• Material technology from renewable natural fibers

• Case lid opens 180° to prevent accidental closing during instrument handling

• Backpack carrying possible with 2 padded straps (upgrade)

• No use of toxic glues due to One-Shot press technique

• Lightweight build and optimized for easy carry

• Wear-resistant, shock-absorbing hardcover

• Water repellent and weather resistant

• Comfortable non-slip soft handle

• 3 custom latches

Inside Features:

• Designed to fit most modern Mandolins with a 15th fret neck joint, generally does not work for instruments with a 12th fret neck joint.

• Accessory compartment

• Foam blocks for shock protection

• Fits both F and A style mandolins

• Eco-friendly cotton velvet Inside lining

• Odorless inside as no toxic glues are used

• Accommodates a Tone-Gard on most mandolins

• Polystyrene insert instrument protection system for optimal protection

Made in Germany
Approximate weight (unpacked) 5.25 lbs.

Measurements:

Overall length: 71cm / 28in

Body length: 37cm / 14-5/8in

Endblock to case pocket edge: 53cm / 20-7/8in

Body width: 26cm / 10-1/4in

Waist: 15.5cm / 6-1/8in

Body depth: 7.25cm / 2-7/8in

Lid depth: 5.25cm / 2in

Case outer dimensions (with latch overhang) roughly 30"L x 13"W x 5.125"H

The original Koa tree is endemic to Hawaii, where 'Koa' has various meanings- brave, bold, fearless, valiant, warrior...

but that's not what we have and not where we found it...
surprisingly, this beauty found us...

At Northfield we believe in locally sourced goods and materials, and a bit of destiny.

Unlock the door, step inside, and begins the Northfield morning ritual. Aromas dance in the shop, while the steaming kettle indicates 'it's time to pour', the coffee is brewing. Mug in hand, sifting mail. Sip, sip. It was a fresh day, with morning lights beaming in the windows, surely a sign of goodness. Goodness indeed... an unanticipated package. Inside—a strikingly gorgeous, small piece of wood, with a note—"if you like this and are interested, give me a call". This takes us on a journey to meet Tom Petredean, at the River Basin Hardwoods in Homer, MI. Tom is the saw/slab father of the silver maple we call "Michigan Koa".

Why do we call it Koa? the color, the character, from the spalting and mineral deposits, and the figure, it ain't koa, but for us wintery northerners it reminds us of soft breezes and coconut drinks...

Northfield Mandolin Armrest

• Made from figured maple.

• Lined with cork on the instrument contacting surfaces.

Wood from Homer, Michigan.

Armrest made in Marshall, Michigan.

Dimensions:

Length 3 5/8” or 9.2 cm

Width 11/16” or 1.8 cm

Thickness 3/8” or 1 cm

Fits body widths roughly up to 2" (5.08 cm) thick and tightens to about 1.525" (3.8735 cm)

Fits most standard size Mandolins, does NOT fit Octave Mandolins.

Scratch & Dent Neck Rests – Limited Stock, Final Sale

We’ve got a handful of scratch and dent neck rests available at a discount! These may have small cosmetic imperfections, but they’re still fully functional and ready to support your instrument. If you’re looking for a deal, this is your chance!

Please note: These items are sold as-is and are non-refundable and non-returnable—all sales are final.

….

Lately, we’ve been trying to turn practical items we’ve made for our shops into long-lasting accessories we can offer to all of you. Based on a tried and true design that has been a staple in many workshops for decades, this neck rest version is our interpretation of what an instrument companion needs to be.

Reliable, durable, easy to use.

Made in two sizes for various instruments, the Northfield Neck Rest makes regular maintenance like string changing, fret dressing, and the like very convenient. Set it on a benchtop, kitchen table, or on the floor in your hotel room before a gig (many, many times)... you know what we mean. It’ll get the job done.

Made from highly sustainable and fast-growing pine. Resilient, organic, and attractive without using up the precious hardwoods we use on our instruments.

Neck rest portion lined with cork for a protective yet firm action. Does not compress like foam. Contains no tannins found in leather. No plastic.

And.. the cradle will rock.

Short: perfect for mandolin, banjo, electric guitar, violin, other thin-line instruments.

Measurements:

Neck width 2”

Height 2.5”

Length 5”

Weight 7.8 oz

Tall: acoustic guitar, mandocello, Archtop guitar, octave mandolin.

Measurements:

Neck width 2”

Height 3.3”

Length 5.8”

Weight 11.3 oz

Save a case, save the sound, save your back—use a Foot Rest.

— A Foundation for Your Playing —

Every great performance starts with a solid foundation. The Northfield Foot Rest is designed to elevate your playing experience—literally. Whether you're picking out tunes at home, preparing for the stage, or diving into a long practice session, this accessory brings you the comfort and stability you need.

Crafted with care and precision, the Northfield Foot Rest offers:

Adjustable Height: Find the perfect position to support your posture and playing style.

Compact & Portable: Lightweight and easy to fold, it’s ready to travel wherever your music takes you.

This is more than just a tool; it’s a quiet partner in your musical journey, helping you to stay grounded and connected to your instrument. Whether you're a mandolin player seeking the perfect angle or simply want to reduce fatigue during long sessions, the Northfield Foot Rest is a game-changer.

Elevate your playing. Ground your inspiration.

Experience the difference thoughtful design can make in your playing—comfortably positions the body to support the mandolin playing position.

• Sturdy Beech Wood

• Bonnily Blonde

• 4 Adjustable settings

  • Height settings: 4.75” at 1st setting, 6.25” at 2nd, 7.25” at 3rd, and 8.125” at 4th (tallest setting.)

• 10.625” L x 5.6875” W x 3/4” H —when entirely collapsed.

• Roughly 1 lbs.

  This product does fit inside of the Deluxe Airloom Case pocket and coordinating case cover pocket.
  It does not fit inside the case pocket of the Recurve Case line, nor the Tura case line at this time.

Made from beech, this pick box’s inspiration grew during our first-ever Marshall Mandolin Summit. We created something simply elegant to hold picks and memories for you… We made sure this pick box holds tight with two strong magnets and two self-closing hinges. In each, we wood-burned the signature ‘Marshall Mando Summit’ logo, an extra touch to mark the occasion.

…

Newly expanding on this design, we bring you the “Northfield” Pick Box. Free to choose your style.

Pick Box dimensions: 3.5" x 3" x 1.125"

Made in our Qingdao shop.

Our pick trays have been one of the most popular items in our store. We wanted to figure out how we could make more of them, keep things sustainable, and recycle even more in the process.

We decided that our most readily available renewable resource was the beechwood we use on our footrests and a few other items. The beech has a few characteristics that make it more stable during the machining process which allows us to get two products out of one setup!

For the first time, we can now preserve the cutaway material, refine it with a little sanding, and voila! - a picture frame! It is so cool, we decided to make a few other instrument shapes too.

Specs:

Made from solid beech. We acquire the wood through a source that sells dimensional lumber to furniture companies and regularly has too much material pre-sawn. We grab the materials suited for a 4x6 frame and set up our product, using this material as responsibly as possible.

The frame is sized for a 4x6 print. Each frame ships with our classic art print “For Trees this is the After Life” postcard. The backing is made from recycled wood pulp pressed board and is press-fitted into place. The frame can be used in a portrait or landscape orientation. The wooden base and metal peg can be positioned for the best balance and attached with the 3M adhesive. Please note: it’s sticky stuff! Please make sure you’ve got it where you want it. If you set it in the center of the frame, close to the edge while in “portrait” orientation it’ll work for both. It’s very light so you can also hang it by a nail. Please note: it doesn’t ship with wall attaching hardware but because it’s solid wood the typical stuff sold at any hardware store will work. 

Frame Finish, to assure long-lasting stability and minimize any warping, the frame is sealed in a thin lacquer finish coat.

Tray Finish, it almost looks like a wooden toy so for this we finished it in a food-safe “butcher block” oil. While we don’t recommend eating it, it’s pretty darn kid-safe if your toddler decides a taste test is in order.

Package: each combo ships inside a linen bag, another reusable item. So.. that actually makes 3 products in one!