I picked it up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul six years ago. The face and tension rings are cast aluminum, joined to a back of spun aluminum. The neck is attached by a large screw mechanism that also adjusts the angle of neck tilt, allowing custom action set up in minutes. Just loosen the strings and adjust the screw, retune, and that's it. The head is vellum.
Tension is adjusted with seven screws.
The aluminum body has a closed back. There are some air vent holes near the rim under the head and tension ring, but the overall effect is to add a wonderful resonance, almost as if a little reverb was added from somewhere. Depending on your playing style this could be just a little extra tone, or a much more driving, almost electric timbre. Listen to a 15 second solo here . This special tonal color also helps this mandolin stand out in a big session.