Italian 10 string Mandolin (Didone)

[Mima]

Hi all,

Bought this a few days ago on Ebay, unusual design with its 5 courses. Seems to be a short lived and not sucessful design. The name Nicola Didone is new to me, couldn't find any information about the maker.

Enjoy and best, Michael

[PizzaPastaCannoli]

All I found is this:

https://www.socialismoitaliano1892.i...prile-1905.pdf

If you look carefully, it says:

SCUOLA DI MANDOLiNO
Il maestro Nicola Didone, in-
ventore del nuoto mandolino a
5 corde, brevettato e premiato
con medaglia d'oro alla esposi-
zione di Napoli, garantisce far
suonare col detto istrumento qua-
lunque pezzo di musica scritta
per violino, con soli sei mesi di
scuola. Discreto prezzo - Via Ca-
pocci 22 int, 7.

EDIT: Via Capocci seems to be in Rome.

This was the official newspaper of the Italian Socialist Party from 1905! The man might have died before or during WW1. What a pity to Italian liuthery!


You bought a piece of Socialist proletarian history there!

[BillWilliams]

The Naples Exhibition where he won the gold medal could refer to the big Labour Exhibition for the opening of Galleria Umberto 1 in 1890.

[Mima]

Thank you so much gentlemen for providing these informations!!

Best, Michael

[Joe Bartl]

Could someone move this to the "Bowlbacks of Note" thread?

[BillWilliams]

Worth noting in the ad. above that this master mandolinist and luthier seems to guarantee that after 6 months of study at his school, you would be able to play on the mandolin any piece of music whatsoever written for violin.

[Richard500]

Didn’t mention how long to get the tuning layout down.

[BillWilliams]

Nicola Didone also acquired fame outside his native Italy as can be seen in the Music Trade Review of 1907.

[PT66]

By saying you don’t have to move out of 1st position are they implying it might be tuned in 4ths not 5ths?

[DavidKOS]

By saying you don’t have to move out of 1st position are they implying it might be tuned in 4ths not 5ths?

I'm not sure...check the scale length and neck and see how short it looks. It may be in 4ths or 5ths. I'm curious.