Once in a Lifetime Mandolin Find

[George Henry]

Some weeks ago I happened to snag a 1929 Martin Style 20 which had been floating around GCs in the NYC area for some time. After the price had been greatly reduced, I decided to bite and take a chance on it. When I picked it, I was shocked at how clean and little used it seemed, but even more at how short and tiny the bar frets were. It was almost a "fretless" mandolin. Good for an old time banjo, but not for a mandolin. Reason enough it had been neglected for 90+ years. It had great tone, but it hurt my hand to play it.

Several weeks ago, I listened to a Norman Blake interview who mentioned that Bob Chuckrow of Chattanooga was the man who knew bar frets. It wasn't long until I was in contact with Bob, and he told me he a technique for replacing bar frets with T frets.

Long story short, my mandolin has new frets and it is a winner. Best sounding all around mandolin I have touched (except maybe for bluegrass). Just a magical, sweet, bright, projecting sound. As Bob Chuckrow says, it combines the qualities of a good A model Gibson with a Lyon and Healy.

[Mark Gunter]

Congratulations, sounds like a sweet find.

[rcc56]

Thank you so much for the kind words, George. I wish you many years of happy picking with it.
I like that mandolin a lot.

If any of you builders want to try something different, you might want to take a look at one of the oval hole style 20's. Although the shape resembles that of a Lyon & Healy style B, the approach to carving and bracing are quite different from anything else I've seen.

[Mando Mort]

That is a great story, and you got an instrument you will enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

[Sue Rieter]

I think it was waiting for you to find it and bring it home

[Murphy Slaw]

I think it was waiting for you to find it

Yep.

I'd never heard of Scotty Stoneman until I found his mandolin hanging on the wall at the old Gruhns, downtown.

The pathway of fate can be a tangled mess of a map.

[George Henry]

I remember visiting Ensley Pawn and Music in Blairsville GA way back around 2001 or so. The owner had a Martin 2-20, similar to my Style 20 but with f holes. I marveled at the artistry of the design and workmanship. The arching and recurves were especially attractive to me. But Bob Ensley was not interested in selling, and neither was his son after Bob had died. I didn't see another until I saw one in the Martin museum along with a sister Style 20. But Martin wasn't interested in selling either.

And then mine fell into my life.

[Jeff Mando]

That is a wonderful conclusion to a long journey, George. I'm glad you got it and that it is everything you hoped for!

On a similar note, I have a friend I played music with who wanted a vintage Stratocaster since he was a kid and they were new in the 60's. He wanted a certain color, year, etc. -- sure, they were available on the vintage market, but he would have to spend $25K or so to get one and that was out of the question. Still, he mentioned it at every practice for years and years. Well, one day he shows up with it and none of us could believe it! Turns out a guy we know who books bands saw one at a church sale and remembered he wanted one and it was the right color, etc. and it was affordable, so he picks it up for him for $300. It was as if he wanted it so badly that he "willed" it to happen.

[Mike Buesseler]

Maybe everyone else knew who rcc56 is. I almost always read his posts and find them to be among the many very informative and most useful posts here. And now an endorsement from Norman Blake! Congratulations, Mr Chuckrow, rcc56! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with us!