I play an Arnold Hoyer mandolin. I don't know when it was made, but I bought it (used) 45 years ago. It looks like a miniture guitar with "f" sound holes and uses ball end strings. It is louder than my Epiphone or Crafter and plays better than those. I use it when playing with Bluegrass bands and in jam sessions. I have an electric Gibson Mandolin I use when playing with Country bands. I'm beginning to think I have the only Arnold Hoyer mandolin around because everyone tells me they've never seen one like it.