Another Strad-O-Lin in the Quiver...

[Spruce]

Hey all...
I just gifted a favorite Strad-O-Lin to a friend, and lo and behold another comes along to take it's place...

Full monte:



Nice even wide graining on the top...
Is that bridge original?:



Plain Jane backside:



Solid wood top:



Tailpiece:



Peghead:



...and the serial number...
Anyone ever see a number like this?
I haven't...

[Seter]

My Strad-o-Lin has an identical headstock logo but is otherwise quite different. What decade would you guess yours is from?

[Spruce]

What decade would you guess yours is from?

I don't know if that serial number denotes a date too, but it could be from Feb. 1st, 1949??
Feels like that could be right...

[MikeEdgerton]

I don't think it's a serial number. I've never seen one with a serial number. There was a time in the 60's-70's when people put their driver's license or social security number on things so that they could be identified if stolen. Whoever had this took care of it. The tuners put it right around WWII. No screw on the cog.

[Jeff Mando]

Nice looking mandolin, Spruce! I love the Bell Brand tp.

[Spruce]

Cool case:



...and the price was right...

[Steve Ostrander]

Nice one! And a good deal too.

[MikeEdgerton]

Damn fine case.

I would have bought it for the case alone.

[JRG]

Nice lookin' Strad ! I bought one on eBay a few months ago that had the same bridge and tuners, but didn't they come with an adjustable bridge for the most part ?

[MikeEdgerton]

The just pre-WWII (like right before or during) had fixed bridges and the tuners with no screws. I'm assuming the shortage of metal for anything other than the war effort was the reason. Gibson used those same screwless tuners at that stage.

[Spruce]

The just pre-WWII (like right before or during) had fixed bridges and the tuners with no screws. I'm assuming the shortage of metal for anything other than the war effort was the reason. Gibson used those same screwless tuners at that stage.

The screwless tuners don't work all that well...

[MikeEdgerton]

They didn't work well for anyone else either

The last one of those I had the tuner holes were drilled slightly off.

[Spruce]

The last one of those I had the tuner holes were drilled slightly off.

Thanks!
I'm gonna try to stick those high-ratio Grovers on there....

[MikeEdgerton]

You might try a set of Stewmac vintage bushings as well.

[JRG]

Yeah, those tuners ? I replaced mine with a set of those Grovers that were on eBay for $25 for a bit. Had to re-drill a couple of screw holes but they worked out great. Bushings would be a nice touch for sure.

[Spruce]

One piece top!

[Spruce]

Bushings would be a nice touch for sure.

[mrmando]

Maybe it's a phone number? Of course it would have to be later than the instrument, because 7-digit phone numbers weren't common until the '70s.

[Spruce]

Maybe it's a phone number?

Could have been gifted on 2/1/49, and "21G" mans something?

[William Smith]

Damn fine case.

I would have bought it for the case alone.

Right ON, I have a case of the case fetish-Big time

[JRG]

Those tuners look fantastic, did you have to re-drill all the holes ?

[Spruce]

Those tuners look fantastic, did you have to re-drill all the holes ?

I did...
The neck appears to be "poplar"--actually magnolia.
Greenish colored wood that you see in a lot of Danelectro necks, too...
Neck is totally flat, too.
Whew...

[dhergert]

Nice mandolin, a piece of history...

Is that a subliminal message, picturing the Strad-O-Lin right next to the hand saws?

[Eric Platt]

Nice looking one. Definitely would have picked it up at that price. Love the case.

[Spruce]

....and now we have a Strad-O-Lin in our own classifieds priced at 3.5K...
Just wow...