This Strad-O-Lin Artist Deluxe is for sale on eBay. NFI.
Sorry Mike, what's NFI, no idea?
NFI = No Financial Interest as in I'm not the guy selling it and it isn't my brother-in-law selling it either
Here's an Orpheum branded mandolin built by the same folks that built the Strad-O-Lins. This seller has several mandolins for sale, most are described as Strad-O-Lins, some are, some are not. This is the real deal, I owned one just like it. It now belongs to the banjo player in my band. NFI. By the way, the Stadium mandolin he has listed as a Strad-O-Lin is a Harmony.
The Orpheum didn't sell at $100. The economy must really be in the tank.
Has anyone had a look at any of these ebay stradolins? 1 2 3?
If number three is playable it has the original pickguard and tailpiece cover. That's pretty cool and is the same as the one on my branded Strad-O-Lin. I've never seen one that was that dark on the back but it does look original. I've had several Opheum branded Strads. Number 2 most likely has a laminated top. The Orpheum I mentioned above didn't sell at 100.00 but it had a reserve. In looking at it just now (again) I noticed some black around the fretboard on the top. I wonder if that has been repaired? I've never seen that.
I just bought a new mando or I'd be all over one of those ebay stradolins. Auction 1 worries me because one of the bidders only has 1 feedback. I wonder if this person is just trying to drive up the price. The crack on this one concerns me: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3D4%26ps%3D10
That #3 above is very cool, but $245 BIN + $32 shipping? Patient shopping should save you maybe $100. And I'm curious about all the stress marks in the finish on the back of the neck at the heel. Unusual. Compromised?
http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-STRAD-O-...3%3A1|294%3A50 Nothing special here, except it is the first SOL guitar I've seen
It's a sixties import? Slotted head and screwed-down classical bridge, but built for steel strings (note metal rollers)-- that was a common type. Mighty suspicious that it's being offered without strings. In the Classifieds right now is the mandolin WillyG has put in our gallery. Anyone care to speculate when this type was being built? The bridge and pickguard are just like what was being used in the late thirties. But different logo, shorter neck, "dot" soundholes, etc.
Same as the one I had. Probably the last domestic built SOL, had to be 1960's. Great tone, those, too bad about the tailpiece.
The guitar was an import and had nothing to do with the American built Strad-O-lins.