https://www.ebay.com/itm/FINE-OLD-IT...8AAOSwtvFf9gR2
Labeled J.A. Rocca 1850, but seller opines the label is inauthentic. Makes you wonder who did build it, then...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FINE-OLD-IT...8AAOSwtvFf9gR2
Labeled J.A. Rocca 1850, but seller opines the label is inauthentic. Makes you wonder who did build it, then...
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I read somewhere that Tony Stradivari made one mandolin
I believe that he made at least two that exist, one in South Dakota and one in the UK. See wikipedia:
here are two known extant Stradivari mandolins. The Cutler-Challen Choral Mandolino of 1680 is in the collection of the National Music Museum at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota.[201] The other, dated ca. 1706, is owned by private collector Charles Beare of London.[202] Known as Mandolino Coristo, it has eight strings.[24]
Jim
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Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
This is one cool instrument. Super radiused fretboard. It almost looks more radiused than a violin and reminded me of one of those bowed zithers.
For posterity (before it disappears from eBay) here are some photos. That bridge is impressive and that tailpiece. I wonder if it sounds like anything.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
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Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I agree, that is very impressive looking! Never seen anything like that one, looks very well made, Great quality, the bridge looks too huge for it but otherwise very neat.
Scale length of 13.2" per the seller's description -- short!
Allen Hopkins
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I really like the headstock - I too wonder how it sounds. It surely is a good-looking instrument.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I love that instrument, but those tuners, man, tuning it would be a bear! And are those flat wound mandolin strings or violin strings? The instrument is so violin-like I wonder if it could even handle the tension of flat wound mando strings. If they are violin strings, it would probably leave a lot to be desired in terms of tone and volume.
Handsome instrument! Interesting bridge which looks like it allows the bone piece to not have slots for location. Except for the width, this thing could have been bowed, and maybe sound good, but for plucking, maybe not a good sound. Also like the tuner plates, curved, and with an interesting old repair on one side.
Is the 1850-ish time about right for geared tuners, or did they appear much earlier?
I agree with the seller about the label. There's no way this is that old. I do believe it's either close to 1900 or somebody went to great lengths to make it look like it was. This looks like someone was attempting to break away from the bowlback style mandolin. It would be fun to own.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
The scroll looks nicely carved, the sound holes are too crude for Rocca. I doubt it will ever be attributed to a specific maker.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
And label looks like it might have been clipped from a book with 52 written in. No mention of mandolins in my Henley book for that maker. They do mention that quite a few faked violins, etc. Charley is more the expert on violin stuff but for general design I would say that those soundholes are way to close to each other and the design is a little bit strange overall, not very balanced or aesthetically pleasing. Of course, that alone makes it interesting to me but I do get the same feeling like a few others here that it may not play very well. And, again I note the very radiused fretboard.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
It is cool funk none the less.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
All of that aside... I think it's pretty stinkin' cool!
aka: Spencer
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This caught my eye, too, Jim. The top must be very strong to not have distorted with the bridge bearing so close to the F holes.
Here's a Waldo for the sake of comparison, however different. The flat top obviously having less relative strength.....
I'm quite taken to the brass tailpiece on this mandolin. Very nice.
I know I'm just being lazy to recall, but there has been a fella here who makes lovely mandolins with that violin top edge bead.
I think it's a detail that scales up well....to stay with Diego's design based reflections.
Mick
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I wonder if there's a soundpost under that bridge?
Joseph Campanella Mick.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
You can see the sound post in image 7. There may be 2, one on each side. Cool stuff.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
That is cool. Unfortunately, with that description there is no way it could be exported. Surprised the seller stated what they think the bridge saddle could be.
Also, why start the bass side tuners inlaid into the scroll? And then do whatever was done on the treble side? Weird.
Lastly, it's just me, but the fact the button is off center just throws the whole thing off for me. It's a really cool instrument, but that would keep my from buying. Yes, it's a petty thing.
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https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Here's the description:
Yes, that is pretty strange how the tuners are sloppily installed. Obviously they had to cut up standard mandolin tuners. Also, obvious that this maker may have made some violins but hadn't a clue how mandolins work (bassbar & soundpost?). Plus very unlikely that this was made pre-1869 when Rocca died since flatback mandolins were pretty rare if existent at all.An excellent old Italian mandolin / mandola labeled ( the label is in our opinion not authentic) J. A. Rocca around 1850 for restoration. Please scroll down to see all detailed XXL photos below as part of the description!Finely carved scroll and carefully inlaid purfling. There's a firmly closed line below the right soundhole, but no open cracks or open seams. The table is medium to fine grained spruce and the 1-piece back, as well as ribs and neck, is nicely flamed maple. Fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays is ebony, peg-heads, nut, saddle and the inlay in the bridge is bone (ivory?), the tailpiece is brass. The instrument will need some work on the frets and new strings. The mechanics work well. Like a violin this instrument has a bassbar and a soundpost.Excellent rare old collector instrument. Measures aprox.: total 58 cm / 22.8", body 31 cm / 12,2", vibrating chord length 33,5 cm / 13.2", weight 626 gr / ~22 oz.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
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