yoods
Jun-20-2004, 5:23am
Howdy all,
I am pasting a thread here I started in the Builders/Repair section a few days ago to see if I could get more of a response.
Thanks for any thoughts you might add.
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Posted: June 18 2004, 05:40
Howdy wood and mandolin repair experts.
I have a question about a vintage F model mandolin that I am holding for a few days deciding whether to buy it or not. I can really use your help deciding if this is something I really need to worry about or not. I don't have a mandolin luthier nearby to check this for me.
It has two very slight and short (barely hair sized) surface cracks on the top that follows the grain. The don't appear to be deep, but I am no expert. They almost look like scratches.
Both are on the treble side of the mandolin; one is in-line with the grain starting where the lower point begins, as you go from the tail-piece to the point, about 1/4" long starting at the binding. The other is about one inch from the upper point (between the point and the neck), about 7/8" long in-line with the grain starting from the bindings as well.
My question is do I really need to worry about this?
Is this just a sign of things to come where the top has real problems, or is this to be considered normal for a 80 year old instrument and I just need to keep it humidified during the winter months? I will add that the top appears stable and is not sinking or anything.
Thanks so much for your help on this as I am really concerned; both for the value of the instrument and its health and playability down the line.
-Dave
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Posted: June 18 2004, 05:51
I'm not an expert, but from your description the first crack is typical "lower point crack". Many old Gibsons have it and the Distressed Master Model does too... . The other crack may be a result of a fall (caused by neck leverage) or low humidity.
You should have them repaired by a pro, it should not be expensive. They do not seem to be 'dangerous' to both health and value.
And, I bet they go all through the top.
-HoGo
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Posted: June 18 2004, 09:06
No problem. Don't worry about them. If this is a nice F2 or F4, go for it, the cracks are meaningless. As stated, if you repair them, have a good pro do it. It will not need any finish touchup, and don't let them do any. Just humidify the instrument, and glue when it's closing up. Any finish work to try to cover the repair/crack will impact your value, and.... it looks funny.
-Ken Waltham
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Posted: June 19 2004, 06:51
Thank you very much for all your comments. They are very helpful and they relieve my concerns a bit. And thanks for the comment about the finish, yes that is important to me too.
Please help me a little more in my education about such cracks.
I just got this mando and would like to meld with it for a while, if you know what I mean. If I can avoid it I would like to wait from giving it to a luthier to seal the cracks.
So, am I safe to assume that if I just monitor the cracks over time, make sure that they are not getting any bigger (and humidify the mandolin in the winter) that all is okay? Or am I being stupid and should bite the bullet and take it to a luthier now? In other words, the cracks being very small now, if they were to increase in size, would they generally do so gradually where I can catch it before they become a problem?
Also, does anyone have a general idea of how much such repairs cost?
Lastly, would it be correct to infer from your comments that finding some hairline cracks on the top of vintage F's (and vintage A's for that matter) is not unexpected? This last question is more for if I come across other vintage instruments and I just like to know what is considered "normal". If this last question is more complicated than just a short answer and someone can point me to another source where I can read-up on this I would appreciate it. Thanks much!
-Dave
I am pasting a thread here I started in the Builders/Repair section a few days ago to see if I could get more of a response.
Thanks for any thoughts you might add.
================================================== =====
Posted: June 18 2004, 05:40
Howdy wood and mandolin repair experts.
I have a question about a vintage F model mandolin that I am holding for a few days deciding whether to buy it or not. I can really use your help deciding if this is something I really need to worry about or not. I don't have a mandolin luthier nearby to check this for me.
It has two very slight and short (barely hair sized) surface cracks on the top that follows the grain. The don't appear to be deep, but I am no expert. They almost look like scratches.
Both are on the treble side of the mandolin; one is in-line with the grain starting where the lower point begins, as you go from the tail-piece to the point, about 1/4" long starting at the binding. The other is about one inch from the upper point (between the point and the neck), about 7/8" long in-line with the grain starting from the bindings as well.
My question is do I really need to worry about this?
Is this just a sign of things to come where the top has real problems, or is this to be considered normal for a 80 year old instrument and I just need to keep it humidified during the winter months? I will add that the top appears stable and is not sinking or anything.
Thanks so much for your help on this as I am really concerned; both for the value of the instrument and its health and playability down the line.
-Dave
================================================== ========
Posted: June 18 2004, 05:51
I'm not an expert, but from your description the first crack is typical "lower point crack". Many old Gibsons have it and the Distressed Master Model does too... . The other crack may be a result of a fall (caused by neck leverage) or low humidity.
You should have them repaired by a pro, it should not be expensive. They do not seem to be 'dangerous' to both health and value.
And, I bet they go all through the top.
-HoGo
================================================== =========
Posted: June 18 2004, 09:06
No problem. Don't worry about them. If this is a nice F2 or F4, go for it, the cracks are meaningless. As stated, if you repair them, have a good pro do it. It will not need any finish touchup, and don't let them do any. Just humidify the instrument, and glue when it's closing up. Any finish work to try to cover the repair/crack will impact your value, and.... it looks funny.
-Ken Waltham
================================================== ==========
Posted: June 19 2004, 06:51
Thank you very much for all your comments. They are very helpful and they relieve my concerns a bit. And thanks for the comment about the finish, yes that is important to me too.
Please help me a little more in my education about such cracks.
I just got this mando and would like to meld with it for a while, if you know what I mean. If I can avoid it I would like to wait from giving it to a luthier to seal the cracks.
So, am I safe to assume that if I just monitor the cracks over time, make sure that they are not getting any bigger (and humidify the mandolin in the winter) that all is okay? Or am I being stupid and should bite the bullet and take it to a luthier now? In other words, the cracks being very small now, if they were to increase in size, would they generally do so gradually where I can catch it before they become a problem?
Also, does anyone have a general idea of how much such repairs cost?
Lastly, would it be correct to infer from your comments that finding some hairline cracks on the top of vintage F's (and vintage A's for that matter) is not unexpected? This last question is more for if I come across other vintage instruments and I just like to know what is considered "normal". If this last question is more complicated than just a short answer and someone can point me to another source where I can read-up on this I would appreciate it. Thanks much!
-Dave