Named for an Italian luthier who emigrated to Brazil in 1900, Giannini builds and exports Brazilian-style instruments such as this bandolim (that's Portuguese for mandolin). It's quite a looker, it's loud, and it's just the ticket for choro music although folk, classical, and jazz are other possibilities. It's set up with flatwounds and ready to rock.
     Serial number 86610. Looks like it has a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. There's purfling on the back, and both the neck and back have center inserts that could well entail other species of wood. According to the Giannini website, such woods might include Brazilian cedar, pau ferro, and Gonçalo alves, AKA Brazilian tigerwood. Fancy soundhole rosette.
     As with most bandolims, the body is a good deal deeper than that of a standard U.S. mandolin, which may help give it a surprising amount of volume. Ebony fretboard has 20 frets plus a zero fret, and side markers at frets 5, 7, 9, and 12. Bridge appears to be some kind of synthetic bone material, such as Corian, as does the nut.
     It might escape your notice at first, but this is an acoustic/electric mandolin. It has an internal soundboard pickup, and the volume control is cleverly concealed just inside the soundhole. The preamp is powered by a 9-volt battery in a pop-out compartment on the treble bout, and just next to that is an endpin jack. It is in good condition with a pair of exceptions: two long cracks in the back, on either side of the center strip. These have been repaired and aren't easy to see in the photos, but they do bring the value of the mandolin down somewhat even if they don't affect the tone.
     Original hardshell case included. The sale of this mandolin benefits the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra. Brazilian bandolims aren't that easy to come by in the States. It's yours for $600 plus shipping. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. 48-hour approval offered.