Warped sound hole

[melpomene]

I was wondering if someone could help me. I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to the mandolin so bear with me. I have found something resembling a mandolin in our garage and I was hoping I could resurrect it (these things are meant to be played). I haven’t changed anything on it yet and I am having trouble tuning it. I do not whether this is a) me doing something wrong b) incorrect stringing (which I think is the case as there is a string missing and it does not look right) c) a warped body around the sound hole or d) something I have not thought of. Anyway, I thought I would double check before proceeding to buy new strings in case it may be impossible to get it going again. I have included pictures of the head and where the warp is. Ignore the mushroom it has always been there.

The maker’s label inside says:

G. Puglisi Reale & Figli
Catania
Anno 1913 – 14

Plus on a separate label: Depose Geschutzl

Thank you

melpomene
http://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/stringssm.jpghttp://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/warp1sm.jpg

[Chris Baird]

I tried, but I just can't ignore the mushroom.

[Keith Newell]

Wait! That mushroom gave me an idea around the "Flowerpot issue".

[melpomene]

LOL, you lot are nutters! (Looks like I'll fit in then)

[Dolamon]

If you could post a full picture, front and back and one which shows the side of the instrument - showing the heel of the neck, the strings etc. a computer guesstimate would be a bit easier.

It looks like it could be a pocket mandolin from the pictures and if it's been stored in a garage for any amount of time, it probably is really dried out. These old instruments CAN be really nice playing and sounding but ... can also be difficult to repair if it's very dried out.

The Amanita Muscaria must have meant something in a previous lifetime. I wouldn't know about that ... or at least can't remember.

[melpomene]

Here are the new pics for computer guesstimate. As you can see there is clearly a string missing.
http://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/fullfrontsm.jpg
http://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/fullbacksm.jpg
http://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/heelsm.jpg


In regards to being a pocket mandolin, I think you are right as I measured it and found it to be 24 inches.

Regarding the Amanita Muscaria, I try not to ask too much about my ancestors’ use of various substances, but I’ve done some research on this and may have found something. This mandolin has come from the German line of the family, and there is some evidence that the Santa Claus myth (sorry kids he doesn’t exist) originated somehow associated with Amanita Muscaria. Red clothes, white trim, like the mushroom. One side of my family being German and the Santa Claus myth essentially being German it may somehow tie together. Perhaps one of my ancestors WAS santa claus? There may be hope for santa yet.

Consider the prospect that Santa and these mushrooms are linked. As Tom Volk says on his site “reindeer flying around.. a whole lot of ‘ho ho hoing’…little elves making toys at the north pole… kinda makes you think doesn’t it?”


I always wondered why I got rubbish Christmas presents.

Check out:

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/dec99.html

[Martin Jonas]

It's of course always difficult to say without seeing the instrument, but from your first photo I strongly suspect that the neck has bent around the neck joint (which in turn is responsible for the distortion of the top around the soundhole). This is a common hazard for old bowlback mandolins. They are designed for very light gauge strings, which for many decades have been difficult to get hold of, especially in the US. Bluegrass-gauge strings (which is what you will more than likely get if you go into a shop and just ask for mandolin strings) have a much higher tension and will destroy these instruments.

From you first photograph, it looks like the action at the end of the fretboard is well over a centimetre. If so, this is unplayable and the cost of any repair (assuming you find a repairperson willing to touch a bowlback, which require completely different skills from repairing flatback mandolins) is likely to greatly outstrip the value of the instrument. To confirm this, measure the action (i.e. the distance from bottom of string to top of fret) at the 12th fret. It should be 2mm to 3 mm for a playable instrument. Anything up to 5mm might be fixable by lowering the bridge, anything above is likely to mean a write-off. Likewise, if you look along the neck and notice anything more than a very slight bend or curve, you probably won't be able to get the instrument into a playable condition.

By the way, I don't think this is a "pocket" instrument -- looks like normal dimensions for a bowlback, which are always somewhat shorter and narrower than flatbacks. I also think I can shed light on the mushroom -- I grew up in Germany and these funky mushrooms were an inevitable part of our christmas tree decorations, being put on the lowest branches around the base.

Martin

[melpomene]

Thanks, that was very informative. I've included a close-up of "mushy" for the enjoyment of the 'users' of this messageboard.
http://www.christanorman.com/photos/mandolin/mushysm.jpg

[vkioulaphides]

Indeed, as Martin writes, this is a more or less standard-length bowlback, no pocket-mandolin.

Puglisi is one of the most reputable shops of Catania, Sicily— that's the good news. Now, for the bad news: It looks like the top has sunken considerably. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Luthier Vandross]

That can be rebuilt. Take the top off, heat it flat, repair the cave-in area on the neck joint, and put the top back.

Sounds like a project!

M

[bobskiebudgie]

Take the top off using a knife but be careful!

[Jim Garber]

bobskie: this is a 7 1/2 year old thread. I don't know what ever happened or if the original poster (OP) ever fixed it or even looks at these forums any more.

[bobskiebudgie]

oops!

[Jim Garber]

That is all right. Everyone does it!