J.K. Bellville Guitar Company

The peg head designs on the mandolins include:  Blackberry blossom, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Ramshead ladyslipper, Yellow ladyslipper,  Pink ladyslipper, Trillium, Pitcher plant, Peach blossom and Dragon's tongue.

Prior to construction.  Note the beautiful flame in the European Maple.

An interesting dinner setting.

Below the finish is drying on these mandolins under black lights. 

Above peg heads under construction. 

About the instrument maker

John Bellville was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in the mid-50's.  He is the youngest of five children.  His father and mother were both on staff at the University of Minnesota.  His father began his career as an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and later trained in Psychiatry.  His mother was a psychologist obtaining her specialized training in the 60's.  The family spent summers at their lake place in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

At a very early age, John began music lessons but had a knack for playing 'by ear'.  In his mid-teens, he began playing bluegrass music with various groups and in different venues from coffee shops on the West Bank to Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul.  From the Bellville Band to Middle Spunk Creek Boys, John performed on mandolin, fiddle, guitar and vocals.  He has continued to play in Kansas, Alaska and Oregon.

After relocating from Fairbanks, Alaska to Oregon, he began seriously making instruments.  In 2006, he was one of the featured artists in the Art Harvest Studio Tour of Yamhill County showing many of his instruments.  He has been asked by several organizations to give talks regarding his instruments.  He is planning to feature his instruments at upcoming local shows.  He continues to occasionally play bluegrass music near and far.

On the 19th and 20th of April 2008, John was an exhibitor and performer at the Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego, Oregon.