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"The post on a Brekke Traditional bridge can't possibly turn in that design without major obvious damage to the saddle and probably to the bridge and the instrument itself."

That is true some of...

Fairly standard Neapolitan shape, but better carved than some, including the "student of Vinaccia" instruments which have more or less square-profile braces, where as these are tapered towards the...

When someone posted some pics of a 1920s Stromberg-Voisinet mandolin a few weeks back, I was reminded that I had traced the body and head outline of one that someone brought in for some repairs a few...

Shims? The rims on these often get distorted over time.

Should have made it clear; the neck on the one in post #5 still doesn’t look original - I bet it’s off something else. They didn’t usually...

We have a tendency to get a bit facetious in responding to what I'm sure is a serious inquiry from someone who doesn't know a lot about mandolins, but has heard of Bill Monroe and Gibson and thinks...

Well, that's not exactly how it works. I'm running out of time, but the simple version is:
string motion excites the top which then immediately excites all other parts of the instrument and the air...

Not sure what the article said or how it was stated, but wood does not continue to "dry out" as it ages. It reaches equilibrium with it's environment and fluctuates in moisture content in response to...

The individual that started this thread has been permanently banned from the Mandolin Cafe and Classifieds for posing as an interested party for a product and attempting to drum up enthusiasm for it...

Frankly, to me it sounds like you have some kind of invested interest in these things from the tone and content of your posts, which rubs me the wrong way. I also think it is hocus pocus. Carry on....

There being a spirited discussion elsewhere on the forum about various devices claimed to improve stringed instruments by artificially vibrating them, I thought a few people here might be interested...

I’m surprised that wood has knowledge and learns over time. And that it’s learning is always successful in the desired direction.

Just where is the wood’s brain anyway? And when you cut it down,...

Spoiler alert, for years I have been working (in my secret laboratory) on a product that will make all mechanical devices, like the ones discussed above, obsolete. It will come in an aerosol format...

Well, that's 7 minutes of my life I'll never get back, and here I am wasting even more time.

About the YouTube:
One guitar is too small of a sample size to be of any scientific use.
There is no...

Hokum, 100%. But it's your money.

I have many old mandolins with that endpiece, mostly German but my waldzither has a different one and it's made for 9 strings(Böhm). I am guessing it's for a strap.

I have another type with built...

Could be for a waldzither.

Made up some binding strips. Used maple & wenge. This will be a close match to the original binding once I put a finish on it. (just locally)
I had enough of the wenge sitting around the shop, so I...

The laws of physics state that objects (including guitars and mandolins) vibrate in their normal modes of motion in response to any stimulus and the frequencies of those modes are fixed, not...

202324
In case you'd like evidence.

Completed bowl for a Brescian mandolin.
Claro walnut with extreme curl.

202283
202282

A proper helium balloon on the headstock would not add weight and balance it out

This post brought to you courtesy of Reuben Goldberg Engineering Associates LLC PE

I can't find it on a quick search, but somebody posted a fair bit ago about using some kind of weighted bag attached to the butt end of the mandolin that was designed to adjust for the weight of the...

I use a Tone Gard and arm rest for other reasons, but they do help with the balance as well.

I like the way you think.:)

If it was an Italian bowl back, I’d say spaghetti straps ….
(Sorry, it’s been one of those days …)