Some regard Michael Stevens' mandolins as the ultimate electrics. He is noted for attention to detail, and has done a lot of experimenting with the placement of hollow sound chambers in solid instruments. Paul Glasse's 5-string electric is a Stevens—in fact, you're looking at several examples of the "Paul Glasse model" 5-string mandolin. Specs include mahogany bodies, Western curly maple tops, one or two custom Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups, volume and tone controls, and three-position pickup selector switches.

Tom Rozum, Barry Mitterhoff, and Don Stiernberg are additional Stevens owners, and Michael also built Junior Brown's two electric "guit-steels." Check out his Web site, or contact:

Stevens Electrical Instruments
P.O. Box 1082
Alpine, Texas 79831
915/364-2487