I just obtained this mandolin that was my fathers before he passed away. there is no name on the mandolin regarding who built it. I cannot see anything in the "F" holes to identify it either. the inlay art work is very unique, outer space scenes, comets, planets, ect. Just wondering if anyone might guess at a builder?
I believe that this may be one of the Vietnam-Taiwan makers, possibly Antonio Tsai, who used to call himself inlaidartist on eBay. Take a look at this mandolin. Different inlay but the scroll, pickguard and headstock is similar in shape. And here is a video of instruments made by him including one with inlays of a similar space theme (scroll to about 24 seconds in):
Here's a screen shot:
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud Facebook 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
Jim, thank you so much. I am going to research this some more but the telling two shots in the video make me feel confident that Antonio Tsai is the builder. the screen shot is way to close to my mandolin to be conincedence. But the other telling thing is in the video at the 22 second mark there is a brass string holder on the mandolin that is exactly the one on mine, but I have changed it out as well as the tuning keys. Thank you again. Any idea what the worth of these mando's would be?
... Any idea what the worth of these mando's would be?
Not as much as one might hope. They are still selling them, some with more some with less bling. Checking the Sold listings on eBay shows a few that get close to $500.00 new. Yours might have sold new for a little more.
Unfortunately, the inherent quality of his instruments can be marginal at best; over the years, many here have documented their issues. About 10 years ago, I got to see a beautiful "F-style" guitar have to be retired mid-concert. Probably one of these two:
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
I believe many of these Taiwan/Vietnamese mandolins were not well made a number of years ago. I played a rather terrible mandola by Tsai a number of years ago, I hope these have gotten better over time but I would not think they are worth much in the market these days. Play it and enjoy it.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud Facebook 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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