nice F-4 project on Ebay

[Bernie Daniel]

...I wonder how you could restore this mandolin and still keep it's wonderful modifications!

Charlie Derrington probably could have done it?

[pianoman89]

SO... To answer many of your questions on here, I am the guy who purchased this project. It is well on it's way to being a functional mandolin again. So here is the story as far as I can tell.

First off, the mandolin is an F2, not an F4... lister's error. At some point, the mandolin had electronics installed. Under the large piece of laminate glued to the top (with liquid nail) was a hole drilled for a pot. A large section of the top was crushed in where the pot was, so I suppose the thing got knocked on the pot's knob. The sound hole was chopped out, I suppose to fit a soundhole pickup, and a hole drilled in the rib for the sound jack. Then at some point the thing seems to have been "converted" back to acoustic.... thus the chunk of counter top glued across the soundplate. The peg head destruction was apparently the result of the owner not having the right tuners, and modifying it to fit A model tuners (these were listed in another listing).

So at this point all the paint is gone, the top has nearly been reconstructed, and Im getting things together to rebuild the neck. I will definitely post up some pics soon.

I do have a question for the experienced luthiers on here though. When the top was wrecked originally, it was sanded very thin. I'm trying to decide whether to x brace it for strength, or laminate a thin sheet of spruce inside to build back the original thickness. I have access to 100 year old spruce from an old piano soundboard that should work nicely. I would exact a mold using plaster, steam bend, and press in gluing with hide glue. Which is preferable?

Thanks for any input!

[Bill Snyder]

pianoman89, you may get some responses from builders/repairmen in this thread but you might get more builders to respond if you start a new thread in the Builders/Repairs section.
I think a project of this nature deserves its own how to thread.

[pianoman89]

pianoman89, you may get some responses from builders/repairmen in this thread but you might get more builders to respond if you start a new thread in the Builders/Repairs section.
I think a project of this nature deserves its own how to thread.

Yes I thought of that. I think I'll start a thread soon. Thanks.

[Timbofood]

Strong work, brave soul! I will watch for the progress.

[Ron McMillan]

Well that certainly presents a challenge or two. It makes me feel good about getting a flood-damaged 1917 A2 for considerably less money. It's still in the States, but I hope to get it to where I am in Thailand in a few months and to hand it over to a local luthier for saving.

[pianoman89]

Well that certainly presents a challenge or two. It makes me feel good about getting a flood-damaged 1917 A2 for considerably less money. It's still in the States, but I hope to get it to where I am in Thailand in a few months and to hand it over to a local luthier for saving.

Looks like a nice clean project!

[Timbofood]

Almost "easy" by the bite you have taken there, Pianoman!