About

Brian Dean has been quietly building for some of the finest talents in mandolin today. His philosophy is simple: "don't complicate it". Each mandolin is brought to life from the rawest of lumber and metals, shaped unhurriedly by hand tools, and tuned to resonant golden standards by self-taught methods.

Aged woods, natural adhesives, unrefined shellacs, and aromatic resins come together in musical instruments that sing with grace, power, and ease. Each instrument takes slightly over two months to complete -- "there is no hurry". Approximately six to eight instruments are handcrafted per year in Brian's antiquarian home workshop.

When not in the shop, Brian enjoys being outdoors, cycling, running, and working in his garden. He is a Meyers-Briggs INTP and holds a Bachelor's degree in Wood Science from Virginia Polytechnic, 2000, cum laude.