View Full Version : My latest acquisition
wmferg
Oct-18-2005, 12:13am
Hey everyone....guess what? I just bought (well, I've had it for a week) a 1920'2 Lyon & Healy Model C!!! Yeah, I know....no scroll, no points....but man, oh man. It has THE SOUND! After 4 months of playing on a pacrim job, it's unbelievable. I just took it on the road with me for a few days, and tonight, I tried to pick a little on the Fender...I just couldn't do it.
Anyway....I think I need to have it "set-up"....but I have no idea....sounds like the A string might be buzzing a little. Anybody shed some light on what most likely might need to be done to a vintage L&H like this one?
Help, please.
Mike
arbarnhart
Oct-18-2005, 6:11am
Very nice! I am an oval A guy and I want a vintage one someday. That one is a beaut. Does the A buzz only when open? If so, it is probably the nut. Buzz only fretted at certain locations? Then it's a fret. There is a buzz FAQ out at FRETS.COM that is pretty good.
Congrats on your new instrument. I just parted with my L&H Style B; traded it and cash for a new Apitius (not Adam Steffey's). As I understand it, Lyon & Healeys normally are set up with relatively low action. And the frets are tiny, so it probably doesn't ake much fretwear to cause buzzing.
twaaang
Oct-18-2005, 9:39am
My congratulations as well. #I have a Style B with wonderful sound, very dry and woody and with plenty of volume in sessions. #Just to share some experience: I assumed that TI-stark strings would be perfect on this, and they gave great sound but unfortunately I had a lot of fret buzz. #FT-74s with higher tension solved that problem for the most part, a little brighter but still great. #I like the wound A-string except for about the first hour after installing, and didn't get any intonation problem with it on this non-compensated bridge. #Soon I'll try out a set of the JazzMando strings I got from Ted Eschliman, which have a smaller-gauge G which might offset the tendency of the open low-G to be pretty boomy. #Anyway ... enjoy! #-- #Paul
Jim M.
Oct-18-2005, 10:07am
Very nice. I really like my L&H. And just think what they'd be worth if Bill M. had found one of these in a barber shop. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Bob A
Oct-18-2005, 11:38am
Welcome to the L&H club. I think they'r the ideal mandolin in many ways, with a sound that's nicely between the Gibson and the bowlback: sparkling trebles, good bass, and your choice of scale - 13" for the classical crowd, 14" for the Gibsonites.
A little setup work is all you need, I suspect. I've found them to be stable, solid instruments, and way underpriced for what you get. Even the top-of-the-line A style is less than a typical F2. While it wouldn't do to let too many people know about them, at least I have mine now, so it's someone else's lookout.
They're more lightly built than Gibsons, so I tend to use aomewhat lighter strings on them.
wmferg
Oct-18-2005, 4:08pm
Thanks for the info, everyone.
What..!?!?!? There's an L&H CLUB..!?!?!? Nobody told me. Who do I talk to to get my membership card?
That A string sounds like it might be buzzing, but only when it is open.
What about cleaning the instrument? Any suggestions. I do not want to do anything to damage the authenticity or the "patination". The tailpiece cover could use a polish. Is this legal? Or should I just leave the tailpiece cover alone. How should I clean the wood? Do I want to do anything to condition the wood. I just don't know.
I know I keep coming up with more questions, but we are still getting to know each other, this mando and I.
I have heard that it is difficult to date these instruments do to a plant fire, or somesuch. Any good way to narrow the dating down?
Thanks again.
Mike
Jim Garber
Oct-18-2005, 4:41pm
I have a restored early Model A. Unlike Gibson the lower the letter the higher in the line. The main difference is that late in the teens L&H reduced the scale length from 13 7/8" to 13" (closer to violin length and more suitable for classical repertoire).
Rather than guess what is wrong, take the mandolin to a qualified luthier and have it set up correctly. It won't caost that much and will make a big difference.
I use EXP74s on mine and it sounds nice. I would imagine that Ted's Jazz strings might be a good choice as well and slightly lighter in gauge.
Jim
Well, Mike, you done got the membership for the price of the mandolin. It ain't a big club, but it sounds great.
I used a bit of metal polish on my tpiece, but it was a pain to get out of all the grooves and such. In retrospect, bu8ffing with a soft cloth is all I should have done.
A bit of fingerboard oil once every couple years, and a gentle wipe to get the sweat off is all it really needs. If I'm feeling compulsive I'll use a small amount of violin polish once in a while (like 1-2 times a year).
Man, these're real fine mandolins. Don't tell anyone - I know a few folks who're saving for a nice A-style; after they buy in, the price can rise.
I used to be big on dating instruments, but for these it doesn't really matter - the quality stayed high from the first to the last, and the only thing that makes any difference can be determined with a ruler.
Jim Garber
Oct-18-2005, 7:21pm
I have a list of serial numbers compiled by MCer Keef and can get you approximate dating. PM me.
Jim