Herwiga Solist on eBay

[John Craton]

For those who enjoy the big German bowlbacks, there is an excellent buy on a Herwiga Solist currently on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3765795715&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW). Good price, to, and as of this posting no one has bid on it.

I play a Solist as my primary instrument, and they're very nice mandolins. I do recommend stringing them with Thomastiks for the best sound (not sure what's on this one at present -- it just says "good strings"). I don't know the seller, but he has good feedback. This one comes with a case, too. Might want to have a look if interested.

[John Craton]

Dang! Can't you guys take a hint? Nobody bid on it, and now I'm faced with a serious MAS attack. And here at Christmas when I'm all tapped out! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Jim Garber]

So, John, did you get it? Is yours exactly like that one with a maple bowl. The other one I saw on eBay a month or so ago was rosewood bowl.

Jim

[Arto]

John,
how would you describe the sound? More bright, "Italian" (like the instrument´s style would suggest), or "German", like the country of origin would suggest?

I´m, too, suffering from MAS considering this instrument.

thanks, Arto

[John Craton]

Jim: No, I didn't buy it, due more to a shrinking bank account this time of year than anything else. My Herwiga is similar, but not exactly like this one. I have a fancier tailpiece and different pick guard, but it's still an Embergher style. Mine has a spruce top and maple & rosewood bowl. I'll try to post a pic or two if I can find the time today.

Arto: I'd describe the sound as definitely more "German" than "Neapolitan." It is very full with a strong lower register. The highs are still quite bright, though. Overall, a very pleasing instrument to play once you accustom your fingers to the wider neck. (Easy for me with my very long digits. I find playing a Neapolitan instrument a bit cramped, especially in higher positions.)

[Jim Garber]

Does this Herwiga have a radiussed fretboard, John? It is interesting that you mention that it has a wide neck whereas the Emberghers have narrow, but radiussed ones.

Jim

[John Craton]

Does this Herwiga have a radiussed fretboard, John?
No, the fretboard is flat as a pancake. The width at the 1st fret is 30 mm and at the 16th fret is 40 mm. By comparison, my Euterpia Neapolitan-style mando measures 28 mm at the 1st fret and 37.5 mm at the 16th.

I'll try to attach photos of my Herwiga below. (Only posted pix once or twice, so I'm not sure I'll do it right.)

http://www.kiva.net/~kiwi/photos/herwiga.jpg

(What do you think of my glow-in-the-dark irradiated walls? We're talking bargain-basement paint here. Keeps my students from falling asleep during lessons.)

[John Craton]

Jim, I guess I'll need to go to confession, because I lied. My Herwiga fretboard is radiussed. Frankly, I'd never paid any attention to it and always had assumed it was flat like the Euterpia. But after practice this evening I decided to take my glasses off (so I could see) and have a good look. Sure enough, it has a very nice radius, just as you suspected. Don't know why I'd never noticed before. Maybe that's why it's so easy to play.