Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 35

Thread: Mandolin all cracked up

  1. #1

    Default Mandolin all cracked up

    Some kids ripped my Eastman MD505 mandolin down from the wall (I know I should have hid it) and it really smashed it up. Just want to see what you all think about repairing it or moving on. I removed all tension just an FYI. Thanks.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mando 1.jpg 
Views:	490 
Size:	437.6 KB 
ID:	172790   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mando 2.jpg 
Views:	405 
Size:	430.8 KB 
ID:	172791   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mando 3.jpg 
Views:	360 
Size:	337.6 KB 
ID:	172792  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mando 4.jpg 
Views:	349 
Size:	337.0 KB 
ID:	172793  

  2. #2
    Adrian Minarovic
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Europe
    Posts
    3,461

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandopickinbirder View Post
    Some kids ripped my Eastman MD505 mandolin down from the wall (I know I should have hid it) and it really smashed it up. Just want to see what you all think about repairing it or moving on. I removed all tension just an FYI. Thanks.
    RIP, mandolin. Those nasty top cracks and area around tailpiece is really as bad as it gets. If it were Stradivari ti could be reapired invisibly again, but you could buy hundred of new Eastmans for the cost.
    You could sell it as "project" for someone aspiring in repair of mandolins or someone who needs mandolin neck for his cigarbox mandolin if the neck is intact.
    Adrian

  3. #3
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,077

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    That's the worst I've seen in a long time. By the time you replace the top, and do something about the loose tailblock and the split sides, you're looking at many hours and many hundreds of dollars worth of labor. The repair would certainly cost more than a new Eastman 505.

    After a careful look at your pictures, I would consider the existing top beyond repair, at least from a practical point of view.

    And yes, the neck [and the back, if in one piece] might be of interest to somebody interested in building or re-building as a hobby.

  4. #4
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Bozeman, MT
    Posts
    1,252

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Were they your kids? Like, have you disowned them?
    Sorry for your loss
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

  5. #5
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    HooEee! That’s a real shame, looks pretty “vindictive” how many years have you been chasing them out of your yard?
    Sorry, that was not funny. I apologize. Have you located the hooligans?
    Instrument vandals and thieves go to a very special misery after they are caught, in this world it’s never harsh enough, the next, too late. Just an opinion.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  6. #6
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,077

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    The worst I ever saw:

    One day I got a call from my friendly neighborhood music store. The owner's nephew had backed up his truck over an older Gibson J-50 guitar. I looked over the shards and splinters. Not one of the 27 pieces of wood that made up the guitar had survived intact.

    After I looked at it, shaking my head, the nephew [a man in his thirties] asked me, "Can you fix it?"
    My reply: "Nooooo . . ."

  7. #7
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Wow, sorry to hear about this. It is beyond repair at that price point so I would look for a replacement. Any legal recourse with the youngsters that did this?
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Not to be contrary, but I have repaired much worse. Cost wise it is not worth it, but as a challenge, which is what I needed at that time in my life, I took a violin much worse than this and glued all the pieces back together and it is still playable. I have done several instruments others said were not repairable, maybe just to see if I could, but in all cases I could.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  9. #9

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Hi all, thanks for your responses. I figured what most of you are saying, it’s not worth repairing. If I loved that particular mandolin or it had sentimental value maybe I would look into it, but I don’t and it doesn’t.

    The kids were some good friends 5 year olds at a party my wife was hosting, so I’m just chalking it up as my fault and a great excuse to upgrade my mandolin. Thanks again for your knowledgeable responses.

  10. #10
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Ah, rambunctious five year olds. Good luck with your search for a new mandolin.

    Nice to hear from another birder-mandolin player.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  11. #11

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    You wouldn't want to pay to have this done, but at this point you have nothing to lose giving it a shot yourself. We are looking at days of work

    The cracks are fresh and clean, no better time to glue it up!

    Hot hot glue would have the best shot, but for the sake of keeping it simple, you could try titebond .. I would at least pull the top off.

    It does actually have some value to sell as is too....
    Robert Fear
    http://www.folkmusician.com

    "Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
    " - Pete Seeger

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Boulder, CO & Chesterfield, MO
    Posts
    2,562

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up


  13. #13
    mandolin slinger Steve Ostrander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Capitol of MI
    Posts
    2,795

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    The parents should replace it. That would be the honorable thing to do.
    Living’ in the Mitten

  14. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Steve Ostrander For This Useful Post:


  15. #14

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Four years ago we got a new puppy and had to childproof the house. Kids are easier to deal with -- we don't let them in the house......

  16. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


  17. #15
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    2,758

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Send it to John Hamlett or David Houchens; they love that sh!t...

    Or try this:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	condino fannndola.jpg 
Views:	161 
Size:	220.0 KB 
ID:	172800  

  18. The following members say thank you to j. condino for this post:


  19. #16
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Annapolis, MD
    Posts
    1,663

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Ostrander View Post
    The parents should replace it. That would be the honorable thing to do.
    Exactly.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  20. #17
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Manchester - Lancashire - NW England
    Posts
    14,187

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Was it insured under your home contents insurance ??. All 3 of my mandolins are insured against breakage or theft - inside my home. Outside my home = too darned expensive !!. Also - would any insurance held by the kid's parents help ?.

    I agree with Robert Fear regarding the expense of having it repaired,but unless you're very adept at jigsaw puzzles/weilding a glue brush & having the tools to hold the pieces together,it's fork out the cash or write it off (IMO). A lousy thing to have happen to a nice instrument,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  21. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    4,786

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Mr. Condino’s got the idea! Those finishes will really get a fire pit humping in no time!
    Chuck

  22. The following members say thank you to CES for this post:


  23. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    589

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    I am surprised at how much damage there was from just falling from a wall. It looks like it fell from the Empire State building and then was run over by a bulldozer. I am no expert on repair, but it might be fun to try to repair it yourself (after buying a new Mando) just to try

  24. #20
    Registered User Dave Fultz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Columbus, Oh
    Posts
    141

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    So, were they using it as a bat? Butt swatting? I don’t agree with hitting children but the urge to reduce it even further on some fannies would be hard to resist.

    Enjoy your new mando, whatever it may be.

    ============
    ~Music self-played is happiness self-made
    ——————————
    Loar LM-590
    Kentucky KM-272

  25. #21
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    springfield,ohio
    Posts
    656

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    I've taken on two repairs that were almost as bad, because of the emotional value they held. They meant a lot to the owners and I couldn't stand to let them go. Neither had any value but was well worth fixing. My payment was for them to play for me when they were finished. Sweet music at any cost...…..
    kterry

  26. The following members say thank you to buckhorn for this post:


  27. #22
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Warwick, NY
    Posts
    3,985

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Id hang it on the wall and call it a day

  28. #23
    Registered User Inklings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    North Shore of Masschusetts
    Posts
    119

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    PM Sent.
    Kirby Francis

    Francis Guitar Repair

  29. #24
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Sorry for your loss.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  30. #25

    Default Re: Mandolin all cracked up

    Homeowners insurance would likely cover it, but depends on your deductible. I'd say the mental trauma deserves a healthy upgrade.

    The best guitar I ever played was a 1939 Gibson J 35. It was the most busted up guitar. A guy walked into Sylvan in Santa Cruz with parts in a box. It took three years to put together, mainly because the luthier insisted on using old wood where needed and had to find a broken old top, etc. I counted seven large top cracks, four side cracks up to a foot long, a five by five inch piece splice into the side too. Six or seven back cracks and three major neck repairs. It was sold for $7500. Luthier said it was the best guitar he's ever had in his shop. I believe him. Some things are worth doing. He probably was lucky to net $15 an hour.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •