I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.
Wow. I love it, Jo.
Metal strings......Maybe a chillador?
My search for Toribio Q Cespedes draws blanks. Hopefully someone has some information.
If that neck (not the mermaid's) wasn't so awonk I'd be after this.
Santo Toribio is pretty important around our neck of the woods.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Interesting instrument, thanks for posting it. What is the reason for the odd fret board cutout below the mermaid's neck? Is it so the part that extends to the sound hole looks like a mermaid's tail?
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album
Kind of a nasty crack in the back, but the neck looks pretty askew.
Nonetheless, very very cool.
Kit
Guitars, Mandos, Violins, Dulcimers, Cats
Heresy! -- charangos are supposed to be made from dead armadillos.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
We were told to keep away from armadillos when we were kids, Allen, as the rumor was that they spread leprosy. I don't know how true that was but it just made them even more interesting.
The chillador--a type of charango- do have flat backs and are typically strung with metal strings like this one.
Maybe we were warned to keep away from mermaids, too, but don't recall hearing about them showing up in the Gulf.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.
Well, I bought an armadillo-shell charango from Bernunzio's a decade ago; it was the only instrument I've ever owned that had actual hair and ears. Bought a new set of strings from Todaro's and strung it up, but never really got into playing it. In a subsequent deal with John Bernunzio I remembered that he told me that he "missed it," so I traded it back to him.
In a way, I'm glad that luthiers aren't slaughtering armadillos to make charangos. However, I'd venture to say that if one patrolled rural Texas roadsides for a few days, there'd be a sufficient harvest of armadillo roadkill, to create an oversupply of the instruments.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Allen, there was an annual 'road kill' festival outside of LaPorte, TX when I was growing up. I'm sure they've got a version of that in most states.
A lot of beer to wash down the garfish, snakes, raccoon, nutria, assorted varmints, turtles and I'm sure I ate armadillo in some form or another.
"The wild ass sleeps on his side and he'll eat anything just as long as it's fried."
I don't know if it's technically possible to hit a garfish with a car but I'm sure it's been done.
I bought a charango from some online "Andes Merchant" type dealer. Bill Kilpatrick was the one who inspired me. Remember Bill?
It was an all wood carved one like Jo was talking about but clearly wasn't of much calidad.
I loved that thing but even with the nylon strings I could watch the neck get wonkier by the day.
I played it as fast as I could because I knew it wasn't going to last long.
Maybe I'll get another one day, on that dream trip to see Machu Picchu.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
It seems obvious to me. And why not? There's no practical purpose at that point, fretting-wise, to restrict the shape of the fingerboard. Why not incorporate the mermaid theme into the design there?
In case anyone had any doubts as to whether the words paciencia, humildad, esperanza y amor have anything to do with Christianity, they sure do. They translate as "patience, humility, hope, and love." I'm no Christian scholar, but googling turned up what I think was a sect called "Hermandad de Humildad y Paciencia" - the Brotherhood of Humility and Patience. More than that, feel free to explore on your own.
How that relates to this instrument is up for speculation. I assume there's some connection, as these words were chosen purposefully.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Did you see the side view of the neck and how high the action is?
Eventual deformation of the body is the downside of 'traditional' animal shell construction - it's to be expected, unfortunately. I would recommend a wood body (but also a reputable builder/supplier).
*I have a gaelic harp with a selkie carved into the pillar - apparently a common motif, used in horse tack - https://www.ebay.com/itm/30389353948...EAAOSwey5gMXow
Last edited by catmandu2; May-23-2021 at 6:01pm.
Back in 2007 this Mermaid mandolin showed up. They would make a nice set together.
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 like that one.
By the way re that harp: I've posted on the harp sites but perhaps someone here might know as much - the maker is Charles Ellis, likely the Birmingham AL region. Maybe a furniture maker in the area? (I got it from a Birminghan pawn shop off ebay for cheap and would like to know if he might like to have it back - it's quite a nice little clarsach). But, on second thought now that I look at the inside I guess it's pretty old.
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