I recently purchased a nice 1924 Weymann mandolute. It's the cheapest model, Style 15. It has good tone, but a makeshift, hand-carved bridge. Does anyone have suggestions for a bridge that would be better? Thanks!
I recently purchased a nice 1924 Weymann mandolute. It's the cheapest model, Style 15. It has good tone, but a makeshift, hand-carved bridge. Does anyone have suggestions for a bridge that would be better? Thanks!
As I recall the mandolute I used to own had a bridge that was similar to the long, thin, low, non-adjustable bridges normally found on bowl-backs. I'm relying on 40+ year-old memory, though.
I had a Style 15 too; decent instrument, and I remember paying less than $100 for it back in the late 1970's.
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
Thanks, Allen. I've got a local luthier who might have just the thing in his parts bin. The price on this one defied inflation—it listed for $200—which is why I couldn't pass it up. Wasn't even particularly looking for another mandolin, but . . .
It looks like even the plainer Weymann Mandolutes tended to have one piece compensated ebony bridges with fancy ends. A plainer well-made one piece ebony bridge would probably look and function well enough, though.
If your local guy's bridge doesn't work, something can be made easily enough. I make them every now and then-- plain ones take less than an hour to make, fancy ones take longer.
Hi Scot63, I've restored on Mandolute and have two more in line for eventual restoration. Here are pics of the bridges I've seen.
1) This is what I have seen on multiple Weymann Mandolutes, a solid ebony compensated bridge with fancy ends.
2)
3)
One of the Mandolutes in line has this bridge, not of ebony and heavily modified, but I suspect it might be a repro.
I cut a replacement for my first mandolute, but was able to add a shim and use the original. That being said, not too hard to reproduce by hand if need be.
Thanks, this is super helpful!
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