Steve Earle's 1997 Gilchrist Model 5 Mandolin
Musician
Steve Earle
(American, born 1955)
Musician
Ronnie McCoury
(American, born 1967)
Maker
Gilchrist Mandolins & Guitars
(Australian, founded 1977)
Date1997
ClassificationsMusic
DescriptionSteve Earle's 1997 Gilchrist Model 5 Mandolin 1997, serial number 97386, in Cremona finish. The mandolin features flowerpot headstock inlay, red Spruce soundboard with spiral cut bookmatched hard sugar Maple back. This mandolin was the prototype first mandolin to use a hinge tailpiece. Steve Earle (b. 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his debut album Guitar Town (1986) featuring his bestselling single “Copperhead Road.” Earle has released 21 studio albums and won three Grammy Awards.
Earle received this mandolin from Ronnie McCoury, musician and son of famed mandolinist Del McCoury. According to Steve Gilchrist of Gilchrist Mandolins, this mandolin was custom-built for Ronnie McCoury in 1997. McCoury toured with this mandolin before selling it to Steve Earle, most likely while Earle was touring with McCoury in 1999.
Gilchrest Mandolins & Guitars was founded in 1977 by Australian luthier Steve Gilchrist.
