Filipino Bandurria

I just got this as an eBay find. Listed as a bandurria but I thought not a Spanish one. The scale is about 14.25 inches, longer neck but 12 strings. After receiving it today, I think it is a variant on a Filipino bandurria but it looks like the builder made it for 12 strings not the more usual 14. The tailpiece, tho, has holes for 14 strings and looks like other tailpieces I have seen for these instruments whereas the nut has slots for 12. The top looks like a black lacquer with interesting orange inlays (not paint as I first thought) and the back looks like some sort of bookmatched rosewood.

cool find Jim! So is it 6 courses or what? I've seriously thinking I need a Charango but trying to hold off lest I start a whole new MAS or CAS I guess it would be.

It looks like the nut is cut for 6 courses of two. The 14 string ones have some with triple courses -- I guess they want even more volume. This one looks like it had some funky repairs on the back and the finish is messed up but i think with a bridge of some sort if could be stringable and see how it plays. Has a slight radiused fretbooard. I have a set of Spanish bandurria string that seem to be the right gauge so I can try those and see how it works after I figure out what I would use for a bridge. There is an outline of the original bridge on the top.This is a little different than the Spanish variety since there is a floating bridge and tailpiece as opposed to a fixed bridge and tailpiece.

Dave Apollon's whole band (which he called his Philippini Boyfriends!) was a rondalla from the Philippines.

http://www.lutherie.net/apollon.band.jpg

Their instruments, however, were all made by L&H. Have you seen any of the films of this mob in action?

I posted this photo in the old photo thread:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/at...ntid=26335&d=0

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/at...ntid=26337&d=0

"Their instruments, however, were all made by L&H."

Paul, did L & H really make bandurrias and laudes, too?

There is a catalog cut of a Spanish bandurria in (I think) 1912 catalog. There was one on eBay a few years ago. I have not seen Filipino instruments in the catalogs but that does not mean that they did not make them.

L&H loved Apollon because he was hot stuff in the performing world, and wanted to get him off his F-5 which was still in action, as you can see in Jim's presumably earlier photos. They did the whole band's set of instruments, including the bass, as a custom order.

I'd love to see a big fat scan of that photo! I've seen the movie clip.

I will send you a nice lipose-infested one, Paul. I probably scanned it higher and can send it to you tonight.