Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Got myself a Herwiga

  1. #1
    Registered User Rob MacKillop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Edinburgh!
    Posts
    291

    Default Got myself a Herwiga

    Courtesy of Our Man In Lanarkshire, a 1950s bowl-back Herwiga. Really sweet sound. Nice low action. This will certainly do me for quite a while as I explore the repertoire.

    Rob

  2. #2
    Registered User man dough nollij's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    The Real World
    Posts
    2,801

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    Hmm. Never heard of a Herwiga. Sounds painful.

  3. #3
    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Vancouver Island
    Posts
    1,541

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    Sounds like you made a good move there, Rob. I hope you'll let us see it-- and hear it!

    BC

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Bedford, Indiana
    Posts
    826

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    I bought a '50s-era Herwiga a few years back and love it! Quite a versatile little instrument (more versatile than it's player, I'm afraid).
    John Craton
    "Pick your fingers to the bone, then pick with the bone"

  5. #5

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    If memory serves, John has a most glamorous picture of his fine Herwiga, hanging against the backdrop of (acrylic?) lime-green wall-paint. The instrument itself is far less flamboyant than that, and looks like a fine "player's mandolin". I am delighted that the good Ian has been able to provide Rob with a suitable vehicle for his artistry and mando-musings.

    Cheers,

    Victor
    It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)

  6. #6
    Registered User Rob MacKillop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Edinburgh!
    Posts
    291

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    Here's a link to photos I've just taken.

    http://www.classicbanjorm.com/mandolin.htm

    According to Ian Steel, Herwig made instruments of varying quality from poor to very good, and apparently mine is one of the latter - it certainly has a feeling of good quality.

  7. #7
    Registered User Rob MacKillop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Edinburgh!
    Posts
    291

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga - soundfile and photos added

    Here's the link again, this time with a photos and a soundfile. Obviously I have a lot to learn about the subtle art of plucking a mandolin - too often I hear two notes when there should be one - but I think it will give you an idea of the sound of the instrument.

    http://www.classicbanjorm.com/mandolin.htm

    Rob

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    S W France
    Posts
    732

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    The ones I have had through my hands have been nice instruments......... I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Dave
    No such thing as a dead mandolin!

    www.mandolinluthier.com
    www.crumbles.info
    Facebook: search Dave Hynds ... its me with the mandolin!!

  9. #9

    Default Re: Got myself a Herwiga

    Quote Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop View Post
    Courtesy of Our Man In Lanarkshire, a 1950s bowl-back Herwiga. Really sweet sound. Nice low action. This will certainly do me for quite a while as I explore the repertoire.

    Rob
    It is never too late for a Herwiga mandolin... In the arts and crafts period end 19th century, Wilhelm Herwig was a decent violin maker in Markneukirchen, Germany. He founded Herwiga about 1890, kept building fine mandolins until approx. 1930 (classic model woth bowl-back). Later it became a work shop, after WW2 the tuners became typically lower quality russion or DDR stuff (like a cheap russion mandolin, the wood work could (sometimes but not always) be solid and show a very decent construction but you would have to put new tuners on to make it a handsome intrument).

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •