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Thread: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

  1. #1

    Default No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    This week’s mystery 8 string thing, previously pictured but not identified here, is now somewhat apart and in process, the neck repair being necessary.
    Internal inspection shows no evidence of top braces, just a sort of thick soundpost behind and to the treble side of the bridge.
    The top itself is still flat, no cant, looks like mahogany or another very dark wood.
    Anybody seen this species before?
    Also, there is no block at the tail. The fretboard is likely from some other mandolin, and the head must have had pegs, not machines.
    I’m debating adding a brace.
    Ideas?

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    You should post pictures of what you are talking about if you want help from the experts here (I am not one in the field of luthiery but others will say the same.
    Jim

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  3. #3
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard500 View Post
    Internal inspection shows no evidence of top braces, just a sort of thick soundpost behind and to the treble side of the bridge.
    I'm still trying to figure out what mandolin design had a soundpost.

    Any pics?

  4. #4

    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    This is like one of those murder mystery podcasts where you only get the clues one installment at a time.

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  6. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    Since we are not hearing from Richard500, we can only guess. It sounds like either an amateur luthier built this not having seen a real mandolin or else an amateur luthier tried to fix a sinking top with a “sound post” of sorts. Of course, not of will have any clues until he posts some photos.
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  8. #6

    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	199106Ok friends, back at the bench. Overall before taking apart, the ‘soundpost’ best viewed from outside, the distinctive headstock carving. Photos with the endoscope only show that post, it’s plain seating under the top, and absence of either braces, or traces of missing ones. Certainly primitive, but from what corner of the world? As of today figuring out a strong enough neck attachment to a frail block. 1/2” aluminum rod, maybe. Top maximum width 8”.
    Click image for larger version. 

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  10. #7
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    Something looks odd to me about that instrument - maybe it didn't begin life as a mandolin?

    And that's an awful thick soundpost as far as soundposts go.

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  12. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    The ribs of the bowl look like they came from a mass production shop but he rest of the instrument looks like amateur hour to me. A little creativity on the headstock is endearing but the Home Depot “sound post” looks like flirtation with reptile dentistry of the first order. The top looks pretty funky and the lack of braces, to me, shows a bit of creative ignorance. “Hey, I have seen a mandolin but I don’t need to look inside. Also, who cares if it collapses after a year or two.” Anyway, my not so humble opinion.

    I was hoping for one of those homemade instruments made from a wooden salad bowl. Oh, well… can’t have everything.
    Jim

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  14. #9

    Default Re: No brace bowl back soundboard - ?

    Somebody cared enough to replace the tuning pegs with machine heads. They must have been hopeful when they tried it.

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