Bridge for old bowl back mandolin

[Littledivils]

Hi folks

I just got a real old and beat roundback mandolin that my late uncle used to play. It's in the old neopolitan style. I reckon I can bring it back to life if I could locate a bridge for it. Have just been on ebay to no avail but I'll keep trying. My two elderly aunts have promised tea and buns if I can get it working again! Any ideas or anyone with a spare one lying about? I'd be more than grateful. Thanks, LDS

[Jim Garber]

Elderly carries a couple of replacement flattop bridges. You will have to fit them to the curve of the top and the proper height:
Rosewood flattop bridge (http://elderly.com/accessories/items/MA4.htm)
Ebony Flattop bridge with insert (http://elderly.com/accessories/items/MA5.htm)

I also bought a few ebony bridges with bone inserts from an American seller on eBay. Also, Dave Hynds in France sells on eBay and makes some nice bridges for reasonable prices. I don't have either address handy at the moment but could prob find them.

I would not buy any of the br5idges from Taiwan/Vietnam for various reasons.

A lot of this depends on what the neck angle is. You could also get a 1/4 inch piece of ebony or rosewood or maple and make your own. Generally most will work but if this is a fine instrument you might want a more complicated style of bridge. If you just want to get this playable, then the above should work fine.

[Fliss]

Here is the link to Dave Hynds's website:

http://www.mandolinluthier.com/

Fliss

[Jim Garber]

I just realized that your "tea and buns" comment may mean that you are in the UK or at least on the other side of the Atlantic from me (in the US). Pardon my assumption. Check out Dave Hynds site (thanks, Fliss!)

[Martin Jonas]

Ireland, according to Mick's profile. Dave Hynds has a number of standard style of bridges for old bowlbacks on his web site and he will make a custom one if you don't like those. Pretty reasonable prices, too, and he's a joy to communicate with. If you can post of photo of your bowlback, and the maker's name if there's a label, we can make an educated guess regarding the likely style of bridge that was on it originally.

Dave will supply the bridge blank overheight, and you will have to sand it down to the desired height and fit it to the precise curvature of your soundboard.

Martin

[Littledivils]

Thanks guys. Yes, it's Ireland alright! I think per head of population we drink more tea here that anywhere else in the world, even more than the UK. A little bit of useless information for y'all! So, I tried to figure out how to attach pictures on this message board but couldn't so I set up a photo album with a couple of pictures of the mandolin and attached the link. I realise that the pictures don't show the head of the mandolin but there's nothing written there anyway so I suppose it doesn't really matter. Also there's no label on the inside, and to be honest I'd say I'm dealing with a fairly inexpensive mandolin. I do like it though and the sentimental value is huge for me. Would be delighted to know a bit more about it. Thanks again!

http://littledivils.myphotoalbum.com/view_ph....1010090 (http://littledivils.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=P1010090)

[Martin Jonas]

Thanks, Mick. Yes, that's certainly an Italian one, fairly modest, most likely from Catania in Sicily, most likely between 1900 and 1920. Looks in pretty good condition, though, and you should be able to make it playable. At least it's an instrument made for playing, rather than one of those overdecorated tourist souvenirs that English tourists brought back from Naples at the time. I wouldn't expect it to be subtle, but it'll be fun.

I think you will want a bridge with an inset bone saddle. Look at Dave Hynds' bridge blanks here (http://www.mandolinluthier.com/repro-bridges.htm). The ones he's labelled "Stridente", "German", "Corradotti", "Fenga" and "Minieri" will all suit your mandolin and are all 15 Euro each plus 3 Euro P&P. Pick the one you like best. The original bridge on your was probably a bit plainer, but none of these are so fancy that they'll clash with your mandolin. You can get Dave to pre-cut your bridge slots, or you can do it yourself. One advantage of this style of bridge is that the slots don't need to be cut to precision, as it's the inset bone saddle that provides the string termination. The saddle should remain smooth and unnotched.

When you get strings, remember to use only ultra-lights -- heavier strings will destroy the instrument.

Martin

[Littledivils]

Wow! That's incredibly useful information. Thanks Martinjonas for that. I'll pick one and, as you say, get Dave to pre-cut the slots. And the history is interesting too. I'm going to look for Catania on the web to see where the mandolin originated. The funny thing is that I never knew that my uncle played the mandolin. When he died, he left me about 3k in his will and I immediately bought an old 1914 F2 (because I knew if I didn't I'd end up spending the money on domestic stuff). Now, some time later, I went to visit his two sisters, who are well in their eighties, and they were clearing out stuff and they said that they had a mandolin for me that belonged to my uncle. I couldn't believe it! Anyway, that's the story. Thanks again for the help. LDS