Editing Mandolin (section)

=== Archtop ===
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
 | align = right
| image2 = 1924 Lloyd Loar F-5 (SN75846), Virzi (SN10002) (2010-09-18 00.27.59 by Joseph Brent) clip1.jpg
 | width2 = 124
 | alt2 = 1924 Gibson F-5 mandolin
 | caption2  =1924 Gibson F-5 mandolin, with f-shaped soundholes designed by Lloyd Loar

 | image1 = GibsonF4Mandolin1916.jpg
 | width1 = 139
 | alt1 = Gibson F-4 Mandolin c.1916
 | caption1 = 1916 Gibson F4 with arched and carved top, curled scroll and oval soundhole

| image3= GibsonA4Mandolin1921.jpg
 | width3 = 150
 | alt3 = Gibson A4 mandolin
 | caption3  =1921 Gibson A4 mandolin
}}

At the very end of the 19th century, a new style, with a carved top and back construction inspired by violin family instruments began to supplant the European-style bowl-back instruments in the United States. This new style is credited to mandolins designed and built by [[Orville Gibson]], a Kalamazoo, Michigan, instrument maker who founded the "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co., Limited" in 1902. Gibson mandolins evolved into two basic styles: the Florentine or F-style, which has a decorative scroll near the neck, two points on the lower body and usually a scroll carved into the headstock; and the A-style, which is pear-shaped, has no points and usually has a simpler headstock.

These styles generally have either two f-shaped soundholes like a [[violin]] (F-5 and A-5), or a single oval sound hole (F-4 and A-4 and lower models) directly under the strings. Much variation exists between makers working from these archetypes, and other variants have become increasingly common. Generally, in the United States, Gibson [[F-hole]] F-5 mandolins and mandolins influenced by that design are strongly associated with bluegrass, while the A-style is associated with other types of music, although it too is most often used for and associated with bluegrass. The F-5's more complicated woodwork also translates into a more expensive instrument.

Internal bracing to support the top in the F-style mandolins is usually achieved with parallel tone bars, similar to the bass bar on a violin. Some makers instead employ "X-bracing", which is two tone-bars mortised together to form an X. Some luthiers now using a "modified x-bracing" that incorporates both a tone bar and X-bracing.

Numerous modern mandolin makers build instruments that largely replicate the Gibson F-5 Artist models built in the early 1920s under the supervision of Gibson acoustician [[Lloyd Loar]]. Original Loar-signed instruments are sought after and extremely valuable. Other makers from the Loar period and earlier include [[Lyon and Healy]], Vega and [[Larson Brothers]].

====Pressed archtops====
The ideal for archtops has been solid pieces of wood carved into the right shape. However, another archtop exists, the top made of laminated wood or thin sheets of solid wood, pressed into the arched shape. These have become increasingly common in the world of internationally constructed musical instruments in the 21st century.

Pressed-top instruments are made to appear the same as carved-top instruments but do not sound the same as carved-wood tops. Carved-wood tops when carved to the ideal thickness, produce the sound consumers expect. Not carving them correctly dulls the sound. The sound of a carved-wood instrument changes the longer it is played, and older instruments are sought out for their rich sound.

Laminated-wood presstops are less resonant than carved wood, the wood and glue vibrating differently than wood grain. Presstops made of solid wood have the wood's natural grain compressed, typically creating a sound that is less full than a well-made, carved-top mandolin.