DeMeglio neck construction

[Tavy]

I thought some of the folks around here might be interested in this one: an 1898 DeMeglio Model 1, with a broken neck. It had been previously repaired, but clearly didn't hold:



Time to steam things apart, easier said than done, but once apart you can see why it didn't hold, you can also start to see how this was put together:



This diagram better shows how things go together, 4 piece neck core in softwood with rosewood wrap around the outside:



The old scarf join was such a mess I decided to go back to "good" wood, and graft in new:



Glued back on the neck, the new wood almost disappears:

[Tavy]

While this one was made in 1898, I suspect it was broken and abandoned shortly afterwards judging by the rusted-in screws - every single one broke and/or was rusted solid, still there were just two I couldn't get out - these I had to dig out and insert some more new wood in - thank heavens these are only softwood!



More to follow when the finish is on!

[brunello97]

Great post, John. Thanks! Really good, clear photos as well.

How did you handle the rw veneer on the neck? Remove and replace or did you splice something in?

Mick

[Tavy]

Great post, John. Thanks! Really good, clear photos as well.

How did you handle the rw veneer on the neck? Remove and replace or did you splice something in?

Mick

It was surprisingly hard to remove actually, so I removed about half of it, and just replaced that section, but I suspect I should have replaced the whole lot for the best cosmetic effect - we'll see!

[peterk]

John, thanx for a fine contribution to our understanding the way the DeMeglios , and possibly some other Italian mandolin makers, constructed the necks.

[Tavy]

All finished up now:



More photos and a video in this thread.

[Shelagh Moore]

Hi Tavy,

Thanks for this!

I've just finished working on the restoration of an Albertini bowlback and the neck construction appears to be rather similar to this, i.e. softwood neck components with a rosewood veneer wrap.

Best regards,

Richard

[peterk]

John, that looks beautiful.....I must say I have really become an aficionado of the DeMeglio system. After all, they say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and God knows their system was copied by other makers left and right......there must have been some very good reasons for that.