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.
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
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.
Were they your kids? Like, have you disowned them?
Sorry for your loss
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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
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 . . ."
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
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!
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.
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
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
Bummer.
This will fix it
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/131527#131527
The parents should replace it. That would be the honorable thing to do.
Living’ in the Mitten
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......
Send it to John Hamlett or David Houchens; they love that sh!t...
Or try this:
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.
Mr. Condino’s got the idea! Those finishes will really get a fire pit humping in no time!
Chuck
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
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
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
Id hang it on the wall and call it a day
PM Sent.
Sorry for your loss.
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
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