I finally found a Luigi Embergher I could afford.
It's a wreck but it's MY Embergher wreck :)
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I finally found a Luigi Embergher I could afford.
It's a wreck but it's MY Embergher wreck :)
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I've seen a few real wrecks restored on here, that one isn't too bad at all.
congratulations.
Do you have a preferred luthier to use?
Yes, ME :))Quote:
Originally Posted by Beanzy
The good thing is that there are no cracks in the top. The bowl is always a bit more hidden.
Nice, and looks solid. That puncture shouldn’t be too difficult to do cleanly.
How did Luigi know to make a place for the tuner display?
"How did Luigi know to make a place for the tuner display?"
:grin:
It can all be repaired with time and knowhow. And then voila, you own something truly special. The inlay around the sound hole is wonderful,
Fair play to you, Poul.
Is that a rosewood bowl, or darkened maple?
I wouldn’t mind at all if you posted more pictures. ;)
Mick
The bowl is flaming maple. beautiful, but not easy to emulate after patching the hole. :-) I am on my way to a wood dealer who kindly agreed to have me look for a suitable piece, which will costs 3$
It truly is special. Luigi Embergher had the idea that a mandolin would be easier to play if the fretboard was tilted. So it is higher on the upper side than on the downside.
The cover on the tailpiece is still there, because it is hinged.
I also got the original case, a bit tattered and loose in the bowl (hehe) but I think restorable.
Here are some more "before" pictures.
AND, Breaking news. My bragging on a Danish collectors site, brought about a Luigi Embergher 1933 Mandolino da Studio tipo A which I have agreed to buy.
It's less elaborate but an Embergher anyway and faultless. Last picture.
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I assume you know that you scored one of the most desirable models that Embergher made. And I also assume that you have to skills to properly restore it? I am impressed!
Yes I know. My search is part of my drive to refine my "noncollection" as I have too many and too many insignifikant mandolins. And I wanted to try and play and hear one of the most sought after mandolins, for the last 100 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Garber
I started looking for Martins and Gibsons until it dawned on me that they are wanted by bluegras players and I like more Italian, Irish and classical music. So I bought a Puglisi not having the money for a Embergher but then came this. I have restored several guitars ukuleles and mandolins, so I'll give it a shot, although I might just ask for an estimate from a professionnal, it being an Embergher.
And I just found another Embergher a Studio, that is faultless, so I can play that and have time for restoring the bis5.
But yes I am happy. The prices for both were more reasonable than I have ever seen on other Emberghers. I think I was lucky, beause the bis5 was probably an heirloom and not from a collector. I looks like noone saw it. They tried to persuade me to pay more because someone bid the same as I but when I saw the detailed pictures, it looked like 4 or 5 cracks, so I offered 200$ less and they accepted.
The Studio just came up in a small guitarcollectors group when I bragged of my bis5
I think the complications here are a lot more than any guitars and ukuleles and working on a fluted back, would add even more complications. My N.3 has a fluted back and had what looked like plastic wood filling a crack. I sent it to Belgium for a professional restoration and it cost quite a bit but I was worth it and its value was not reduced, in fact it was improved. You might consider having a pro do the difficult parts otherwise you will have a valuable mandolin reduced in value. BTW I believe it was made in 1929 not 1909, according to the label date but that should not really matter. Anyway, I hope you are not insulted and, of course, that is just my opinion.
I'm unsure about the date. I first read 1929 but when I compared to the number 2 in the serial number they don't compare at all. The same with the number 1, so I guessed at a badly written 0. also because of the very low serial number. Labels from 1920s have much higher serial numbers.(and different 2s compared to my mystery number.)
I might just ask for a quote from a professional but there aren't many of those in this country.
Example:
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Good for you! You conceived of it and made it happen. It should play great which is what counts!
I know it gets crazy expensive for me in the US to ship and find someone in Europe to do the work but is it reasonable to ship to one of the known quality luthiers in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands who know these types of mandolins?Quote:
Originally Posted by poul hansen
I don't really know. But I know one here in Denmark but he is throttling down so very difficult to get hold of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Garber
But I also have a few other mandolins to practice on :-)
I was curious if shipping to a luthier in other European countries was at all an option. Lorenzo Lippi in Milano is one option: http://lippi.net/strumenti/mandolini/?lang=enQuote:
Originally Posted by poul hansen
Or Alfred Woll in Germany is another: https://woll-mandolinen.de/
Aaaargh, no "edit" function. bis5 should ofcourse be 5bis :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by poul hansen
Alas it was NOT faultless, 4-5 cracks in the bowl.:crying:Quote:
Originally Posted by poul hansen
I could only negociate a 40$ partial refund. But then it was cheap from the start, now I've paid appr. 400$, shipping included, so.....
But the cracks are pretty close so maybe easy to fix.
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