Re: ID my grandfather's mandolin?
Originally Posted by
Richard500
None of the mermaids I’ve met had wings.
Anyway, a nice and decorative mandolin, probably close to playable. Appears to have (a common) bulge in the top between the fretboard and bridge which hasn’t been catastrophic in those many decades of strain, and the split in the bowl is something to discuss, very likely going to get a filler, so a little internal inspection and evaluating the fretboard isn’t going to be excessive. Personally, I think it’s worth it. Worst thing is finding a luthier who is ok with fixing bowl backs.
That "bulge" is being caused by the neck block (and neck) rotating up under tension and transferring that strain to the bowl and to the top which is forcing that bulge in response.
You can see the consequence to the string action. Maybe not catastrophic, except to your fingers if you try to play it in this condition.
Fixing a bowl crack is a slice of pie in constrast.
If it were mine, I would try to stabilize the top from underneath with an Embergher / Martin / Vinaccia style reinforcing plate under the bulge area and install some Embergher style short braces to either side of the soundhole.
You might be able to really reduce the height then of the bridge to get it into a nominally playable action.
I've done this with an old Stridente or Lanfranco mandolin and while you lose some projection from the reduced neck angle and lower bridge, the mandolins tend to project pretty well on their own.
It's a very attractive mandolin with the fluted maple bowl and overall vibe. If Jim is correct and this is a Manello, all the more reason to give the repair a go.
Someone in the 'metropolitan area' can likely take this on.
The repairs I'm suggesting aren't complicated by any means and would at least provide some playable insight into the quality of the mandolin and perhaps motivate for more substantial repair if needed.
That said, I've had bowlbacks where once that bulge appeared, there was no stopping under string tension.
If it is a Manello....I wonder what type of neck joint he used?
Integral neck / neckblock as in the Italian fashion, or some type of dovetail or dowel joint as his American cousins were using.
Jim...any information on that from the MM exhibit on Manello's work?
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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