Hi folks!
Here's two old ones from Sweden, made by Levin in Gothenburg.
I don't play much mandolin really but it's fun to play the mando-blues sometimes!
Hi folks!
Here's two old ones from Sweden, made by Levin in Gothenburg.
I don't play much mandolin really but it's fun to play the mando-blues sometimes!
Very cool. You rarely see those over here in the US. I have (I think) am 1950s Model 46 modest flattop and I have seen a few of the AristoKrats.
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I love Levin products. Unfortunately I don't let myself keep too much in my private stable so I never get to keep them!!!
I'd love to get my hands on a 1950s Levin, maybe from '58, the year I was born. One of these days......
Thanks, guys!
Levin did export a whole lot, especially to the US. Most instruments got the name GOYA then.
Their top of the line models are awesome!!
Nice. You can do anything but stay off of my Blue Swede Shoes!
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
A good Levin is a nice instrument.
Yes, the finest Levin models are world class instruments. Even their low end mandolins were solid woods.
And Colin, they sure made some strange shape one's too, haha!
How common are Levin instruments in Sweden, bluesyswede?
I have an old Hagström 12-string (that I found in the Cafe Classifieds!) that is one of the finest instruments I've ever played, so have aways been curious about the Levins, too...
Especially after seeing the Django pic...
Thanks for sharing...
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
Hey Spruce!
In Sweden the Levin istruments are extremely common.
Also in the rest of Scandinavia they're fairly common but in Sweden they're everywhere..
The best of the Levin models are stunning, most however are of simpler construction with less exciting tone and looks.
Take a look at my Levin pages somtime to see some of my instruments:
http://www.bottleneckjohn.com/levin.htm
I do have a few..
I've got a 1939 oval hole Levin I purchased from Bernunzio 3-4 years ago. Someone had refinished the top so it looks aged blonde, and the back is still the darker wood color (birds eye). My avatar is how the top looks. It's definitely got that vintage oval hole sound!
Sheryl --- Me
I have a 1938 near bottom of the line flat-top flat-back Levin mandolin, that looks like it's been through the war. The top was 'repaired' at some point with some kind of dark glue, and the neck has been glued apparently with the same glue. When I got it most of the top and back braces were loose so I took off the back and reglued them, and fixed another crack in the top. The finish was removed at some point (probably by the same person that glued the top and neck) and it looks like back and sides were stained in blotches to imitate figured wood. I was unable to remove the stain easily, so I slapped some shellac over it, intending at some point to finish it dark or even black (never did, though, it isn't really worth the time or effort). It looks like hell, but it sounds pretty good, much better than my Chinese Washburn or any of the cheap mandolins at the local Guitar Center. It sounds more like a decent bowl-back than anything else, actually.
Here's a crummy picture of the top.
Nice one, mcH!
Should be a model 335.
Congrats!! I have one too and you can see that one in the video clip above.
Jim, good one!
Most of the 1930's model are fine instruments. And all are solid woods, cheap but ok!
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