Re: New (to me) mandolute
This sort of instrument was generally built with light strings in mind. Try 10 - 14 - 24 - 36 or lighter. If it still sounds tight and harsh, you can go down to 9 or 9/12 - 13 - 22 - 36.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rcc56
This sort of instrument was generally built with light strings in mind. Try 10 - 14 - 24 - 36 or lighter. If it still sounds tight and harsh, you can go down to 9 or 9/12 - 13 - 22 - 36.
I tried tuning it down a step and it opened up a bit more. Tomorrow I'll see what i can find for strings locally. My interest in this is partly that I'm using it for Irish music and partly that I'm doing research on Philadelphia in 1914, which is when and where this mandolin was made.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
My favorite strings for old bowlbacks and flattops are Dogal Calace RW92b dolce. Bernunzio.com usually has them.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
My favorite strings for old bowlbacks and flattops are Dogal Calace RW92b dolce. Bernunzio.com usually has them.
Thank you Jim: I should add this isn't ether a flattop, technically or a bowlback but neither is it carved. The top has a slight arch from side to side and a pronounced arch from neck to tail. The back has a more pronounced arch from side to side and the same arch neck to tail. It's an interesting design from a luthiery standpoint
Re: New (to me) mandolute
We generally refer to non-carved top mandolins as flat tops. I believe that most non-carved instruments including guitars have some induced arching. That is also the reason for the cant or fold in the tops of bowlbacks and flattops. Otherwise the tops will sink with the downward pressure of the strings.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
We generally refer to non-carved top mandolins as flat tops. I believe that most non-carved instruments including guitars have some induced arching. That is also the reason for the cant or fold in the tops of bowlbacks and flattops. Otherwise the tops will sink with the downward pressure of the strings.
Seem totally reasonable, and I'm not being argumentative, just offering information. The arch induced here on the top and the back is much more extreme than you'd find on most flattop acoustic guitars, for example. There maybe other non-carved mandolins that do this, I have no idea. know about the martin madnoin toops and have Selmer style guitar with the "creased" top
http://www.spokeshave.net/music/Weymann6.jpeg
3 Attachment(s)
Re: New (to me) mandolute
I believe that the Greek instrument makers induce an arch without a cant on their bowlback instruments.
As for Weymann mandolute, it was a design patent and the ads for them mention a "swelled" top and back.
Here is the patent from 1913:
Attachment 196212 Attachment 196213
And a page from a brochure:
Attachment 196214
Lots of other information about Weymann on this site (and other articles as well): https://www.leavingthisworld.com/h-w...n-innovations/
Re: New (to me) mandolute
I owned a low-end mandolute for a decade or so before it went in trade. Predicting that if you tweak string gauges (and possibly composition of the windings on the lower courses), you'll end up with an instrument you like.
As Jim points out, the induced-arch top and back were definitive features of the mandolute. Hope you got a case for it; sometimes hard to fit one in modern cases. I was lucky and got mine with the original case.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PB+J
That's a very nice looking mandolin! I'm not familiar with Weymann mandolins but I really like the old mandos. They have something special to their sound and look and feel.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
I pretty new to the world of vintage mandolins. I need to get more familiar with the old manufacturers. But I do like that "mandolute" !
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Re: New (to me) mandolute
Just an update. I wanted to lower the action a bit but didn't want to mod the original bridge, so I made a new one. I ordered a new adjustable bridge from StewMac and then cut it down and glue it to a maple base. It took a good deal of sanding to match the curve of the top.
Attachment 196371
It's interesting--it sounds brighter, possibly because the new bridge weighs less and the action is slightly lower. Not clearly better or clearly worse, but different. I have a few pieces of ebony around the shop and might make a whole new bridge.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Cutting bridges for mandolins can be like going down a rabbit hole. Materials, shapes, thicknesses, etc. all have an effect on the sound.
If you are going to cut a new bridge, and you've lightened the treble strings and they still sound harsh, you might try cutting one out of rosewood.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
In the second photo, it looks like the back is separating from the sides?
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Charles E.
In the second photo, it looks like the back is separating from the sides?
What you're seeing might be the "violin edge" characteristic of the better mandolutes. where the edges of the top and back project over the sides, and are sculpted into a half-round "bead" around the instrument's circumference.
The lower-end mandolute I used to own didn't have violin edges, just a standard back-to-side joint. This one's a high-end instrument, apparently.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rcc56
Cutting bridges for mandolins can be like going down a rabbit hole. Materials, shapes, thicknesses, etc. all have an effect on the sound.
If you are going to cut a new bridge, and you've lightened the treble strings and they still sound harsh, you might try cutting one out of rosewood.
An interesting approach was some experimentation by Red Henry on mandolin bridges based on Violin bridges: https://www.murphymethod.com/index.c...t&contentId=87
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
allenhopkins
What you're seeing might be the "violin edge" characteristic of the better mandolutes. where the edges of the top and back project over the sides, and are sculpted into a half-round "bead" around the instrument's circumference.
The lower-end mandolute I used to own didn't have violin edges, just a standard back-to-side joint. This one's a high-end instrument, apparently.
I am pretty sure what I am seeing is a visible gap between the back and the ribs with glue strands. I think the back was removed at some point and re glued. But I could be wrong.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
Violin bridges are a really deep rabbit hole.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Are the raised bindings on the sides just for decoration, or do they take the place of linings inside the instrument? They look cool, whatever function they may have.
Re: New (to me) mandolute
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Charles E.
In the second photo, it looks like the back is separating from the sides?
Looks like that to me too.
