Aaargh

[Chip Booth]

Yesterday I had a small gathering at my house. #Fletcher Brock is building in town again and he brought over his latest A5 for us to check out along with another F5 of his that a friend has been test driving. Both are very nice mandolins! #

Anyway, I was opening cases and showing off my toys. #I handed Fletcher my 1920 whiteface A3 and he gave it a strum. #It was all wildly out of tune, and my heart sank instantly. #Turns out the back near the neck has completely separated. #It seems to be a clean seam separation so I have much hope it can be fixed, and Fletcher will likely take on the repair. #Still...

AARRGGHH

Chip


edit: hm, guess I put this in the wrong category

[theBlood]

What were the conditions that led to the problem? You mentioned it being in its case. Are you subject to a lot of changes in humidity? I have a couple of old ones and would be likewise upset to find that kind of development.

[Chip Booth]

I bought it from a fellow in Southern California about 4 months ago. I live in the high desert of Idaho where we have very low humidity. I kept it in the original case with a humidifier. I wasn't perfect about filling it up, but payed more attention to it than I usually do. Other than just a case of drying out, the only other potentially odd thing is that I have radiant floor heat. Cases left on the floor, such as this one, can get warm sometimes. Never hot, but warmer than the air tempurature.

[Doug Edwards]

Sorry to hear about the A3. Humidity is never a problem here. Often we have to wring out the instruments when we take them out of the case. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Nice CD, BTW.

[Ken Olmstead]

Sorry about the Chip. That sucks! The upshot is Fletcher is the best guy and such a talent. He'll do it up right!!

[JEStanek]

Bummer, Chip but at least it's fixable by a guy with some skills!

Jamie

[mrmando]

So Fletcher moved back to Idaho?

[Chip Booth]

Yeah. Fletcher has been bouncing between Seattle and Sun Valley as long as I have known him. He seems to settled back here, for a while anyway. It's nice to have his wonderful instruments being built down the street!
Chip

[TomTyrrell]

If that's the first time the back has popped in 88 years I'm impressed. No big deal other than the shock to your system.

[Zigeuner]

Sorry to hear this. I have a 1917 A-3 with the natural top and cherry-stained back and sides. 91 years old and still in one piece. It's been in relatively high humidity areas since it was born in Kalamazoo - places such as Columbus, OH and Sacramento in Northern, CA.

I'm sure that yours can be mended as good as new. They are a great little mandolin.