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Thread: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

  1. #1
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    There was discussion in a different thread on some Orpheum stenciled Strad-O-Lins on eBay. While looking at them, also spotted this one. Got extremely lucky and won the bidding. It arrived last night. Had to do some cleaning of the instrument and the case. Had been in an area of high humidity and all the latches and hinges are rust covered as well as a general coating of dust. Also dusted off the instrument, put new pickguard screws in (old ones were rusty) and cleaned the last few frets on the treble side. Probably a side effect of gassing from the pickguard, although it looks stable, just slightly warped.

    Biggest surprise was when opening the case, the tailpiece with attached celluloid cover was there. Wow. Definitely didn't expect that. After stringing up, realized why it wasn't on. String angle is steep enough that the cover wouldn't slide down far. A careful bend with a pliers fixed that.

    As I mentioned elsewhere, this appears to be a different factory than the older SOL I own, and very similar to the two point Orpheums that have shown up. Neck joins body between the 8th and 9th fret. Fingerboard markers are turned aluminum. Bridge is the same style as those with a scallop front and rear and more of a gap for the feet in the base. The full front and rear binding is different. It's two ply with a thin black strip next to the body. There is some rot on the binding. Not sure if it's due to the adhesive used in the binding or due to storage in less than ideal conditions. It isn't too bad and will just let it be for now.

    Top is solid - can't tell back and sides although I will presume they are both ply. No date stamp inside the body. Tuners and case make an argument for early 1950's to me.

    The instrument sounds good. Definitely more bass and probably more projection than the other one. Which makes sense considering the body is noticably larger. The neck is huge. easily the biggest of any SOL I've owned or played. Nut width is the standard 1 3/16" that I've measured on 3 different SOLs.

    I know that the all solid wood models should be the ultimate, but of the models I've owned, the laminate back and side ones seem to have an extra something in the sound. Again probably just the larger body, but to my and other ears, it seems to make a difference.

    Now photos or it didn't happen - oh, and colors are not that red, more brown. Blame it on artificial lighting and the digital camera. Too cloudy and cold to take photos outside.

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    binding deterioration
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    case
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    size comparison to older SOL
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    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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  3. #2
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Nice!

    Jamie
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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    The tailpiece cover is an awesome bonus

    What are the comparative body sizes of the two SOL's?
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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    The tailpiece cover is an awesome bonus

    What are the comparative body sizes of the two SOL's?
    Width of the older model is 9 3/4" the newer one is 10" wide. Which is the same as the 1941 I compared earlier. This is another good argument for at least two different factories. Why have body molds that close? Body depth appears to be the same.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Have a great time playing this one, Eric. Thanks for all the information. I have on old student model Strad-o-Lin that I still enjoy. 90 years adds a lot to the tone!
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    I had a Weymann mandolin very similar to yours. It needed a bunch of work and I ended up selling it as a wash to another MCer who is working on getting it in playing shape. It is possible that it is all solid woods.
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  12. #7
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I had a Weymann mandolin very similar to yours. It needed a bunch of work and I ended up selling it as a wash to another MCer who is working on getting it in playing shape. It is possible that it is all solid woods.
    Thanks Jim. The back has light flame on the inside and out and a couple spots seem to match up. Probably just wishful thinking on my part to hope it's solid. It seems to resonate more than most. To the point where a Tone-Gard seems to make a difference. Again, though, more than likely wishful thinking.

    Oh, and for posterity - side depth on both this one and the older version are the same. There appears to be a bit more arch to the older model. But that could be due to the smaller body making it look more pronounced. The body height in the center appears the same on both.

    And other thing - while the clamp mark on the inside of the neck block seems to be a good indicator for SOL models, this one does not have that. Another argument, maybe, for different factories.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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  14. #8
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I had a Weymann mandolin very similar to yours. It needed a bunch of work and I ended up selling it as a wash to another MCer who is working on getting it in playing shape. It is possible that it is all solid woods.
    Definitely solid woods! My guy is still working on that Weymann, The SOLID two-piece back has to come back off, again, because the binding was way off. The back fattened out since it was taken off at least a year ago (since I acquired her). This one is taking forever and the only other Stradolin I owned has been in the shop for half a year... got so tired of waiting that I bought this one www.ebay.com/itm/185637216898 so that I have at least one SOL that is playable. The SOL that has been in the shop for half a year is unlike either other two SOL's (so maybe a third SOL manufacturer) with inlayed STRAD-O-LIN headstock logo (never seen that before). Comparison coming when I get her back.

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  16. #9
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: NMD - Another Strad-O-Lin

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Definitely solid woods! My guy is still working on that Weymann, The SOLID two-piece back has to come back off, again, because the binding was way off. The back fattened out since it was taken off at least a year ago (since I acquired her). This one is taking forever and the only other Stradolin I owned has been in the shop for half a year... got so tired of waiting that I bought this one www.ebay.com/itm/185637216898 so that I have at least one SOL that is playable. The SOL that has been in the shop for half a year is unlike either other two SOL's (so maybe a third SOL manufacturer) with inlayed STRAD-O-LIN headstock logo (never seen that before). Comparison coming when I get her back.
    Be fun to hear your comparison. Especially since my definite solid wood model is identical to your newest one.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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