Re: Identifying an old mandolin
I think Jim is right on this. I don't think it is either a Washburn or a American Conservatory 'brand' mandolin from L+H that 'label fell out of'. Those things tended to be glued in pretty tightly and for something to 'fall out' would suggest a very particular microclimate. I'm sure it likely must have happened sometime but I think it is equally likely over-suggested.
Jim's provision that it was an L+H model intended for jobbing out and relabeling is certainly true. But maybe it never got a label and was simply sold unlabeled? Certainly we've seen enough of these, and it isn't too hard to imagine such a scenario.
This brings to mind an interesting discussion here not long ago about L+H and their brands. The trend of the discussion was that the L+H 'factory' might have well had a set of given 'specs' for a brand: (eg Washburn or American Conservatory), but since they had a "Ford-ian" parts system there were likely then left-over parts and left-idle bling-appliers that put together mandolins from the rest of the stuff.
Mike E wryly refers to as "extra parts swept up".
Hence, Jim's 'mix and match' analogy. What was in the catalog might have represented the 'ideal' model with the actual mandolins varying slightly here and there.
We certainly see that with the American Conservatory line (which were on the whole very good mandolins) while the top of the tier Washburn mandolins show a far greater degree of consistency.
L+H made nice mandolins at every price point. Every mandolin player should own a Washburn or American Conservatory bowlback.
Why?
They are ridiculously affordable for the quality. And they are very enjoyable mandolins to play. Flat out.
Get it set up and play it, OP Lake.
If you are new to the mandolin and want to start out on a bowlback, I salute you!
Ignore the naysayers.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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