Simple taterbug restoration

[David Newton]

Hi guys.
The question is: is this American made? No label, and a painted brown interior.

This one came to me from a neighbor who cleans out old houses, and because I have a guitar nailed to my tree out front, he figured I was the one to take it to.

It is uncracked and original, except for the flaked off printed paper "tortoise" pickguard. Neat metal button tuners. The fretboard is pretty flat rosewood rather than ebonized wood, and the frets are almost unplayed.
I'm going to figure out something to replace the pickguard with, either a matching rosewood veneer, or a piece of celluloid.
Oh, the bridge is missing, but I have a correct replacement.

[Jim Garber]

Get some Tortis for the pickguard, David. it looks American to me also and pickguard shape is reminiscent of something but the round soundhole is unusual as is the decorative touches around it and the rosette. It does have the true tater bug look with the alternate woods on the bowl ribs.

[pfox14]

You nailed a guitar to a tree??? What happened? Did it claim to be the messiah and you crucified it?

[David Newton]

You nailed a guitar to a tree??? What happened? Did it claim to be the messiah and you crucified it?

It is my sign on the street.

I am in awe to the unintended consequences of what I write.

[mlbex]

The back looks like a Washburn to me. The headstock does not; it should be concave on top. But the dark and light stripes (taterbug) are characteristic of Washburns CA 1900 or so.

[allenhopkins]

Yeah, I have a Washburn mandola from that era with alternating maple and rosewood ribs on its bowl. Also has a concave headstock as mlbex has mentioned.

I have an (unsubstantiated) theory that there was a single US manufacturer -- possibly Lyon & Healy -- building maple/rosewood mandolin bowls and selling them to various other mandolin builders. I've seen similar bowls on instruments by Stathopoulo, Waldo, and this mandola marked Ditson.

[mlbex]

That looks a lot like my Washburn. The pick guard, headstock, and all look like they came from the same place. Your "factory mandolin" theory is looking more likely.

mlbex

Yeah, I have a Washburn mandola from that era with alternating maple and rosewood ribs on its bowl. Also has a concave headstock as mlbex has mentioned.

I have an (unsubstantiated) theory that there was a single US manufacturer -- possibly Lyon & Healy -- building maple/rosewood mandolin bowls and selling them to various other mandolin builders. I've seen similar bowls on instruments by Stathopoulo, Waldo, and this mandola marked Ditson.

[mlbex]

I forgot to mention… mine has the thinner stripes, but I had one that was identical except for the fat stripes like these (the mandola and the OP). I sold it a long time ago.

[David Newton]

I finished fixing it up, but it seems hardly worth the trouble of selling it for what they go for.
Maybe I'll donate it to the local artists club for a still life subject.

[Jim Garber]

I finished fixing it up, but it seems hardly worth the trouble of selling it for what they go for.
Maybe I'll donate it to the local artists club for a still life subject.

Either that or donate to a poor student who would like to play it.

[David Newton]

Or a poor Art student who could draw it, AND play it.

[David Newton]

So how do you like it?

[Bill Snyder]

David if it plays as good as it looks it is a winner. Good job.

[Randi Gormley]

How does it sound? You did a lovely clean-up job on it.

[David Newton]

It sounds pretty good for a small bowlback, it probably needs to be played a bunch to wake it up.
Thanks.
I replaced the tail piece with a nice vintage "shell" that I had in my stash, fit perfect.