Snakehead without top sinkage...

[Isaac Revard]

during my casual sunday morning activities, which of course included browsing everywhere online for mandolins. I ran across this, what caught my attention was of course the price at $1695.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/msg/4988285227.html

I of course browsed the pictures first, noting some top sinkage (not an expert on the subject) and a hack-job on the "new tuners" (note the protruding portion at the bottom, this would really bug me) . Then I read the listing, "no top sinkage..." wondering what some thoughts were on the mandolin. Not sure I could commit to this one, even considering the low-for a-snakehead price

[pianoman89]

looks solid. I think he simply has the wrong replacement tuners for this one, if Im correct they should have the arrow head tips on them (my snakehead does).

[Steve VandeWater]

I saw this one too. Maybe the photo is misleading with the reflection of the blanket and all, but it certainly looks like top sinkage.

[David L]

They may be the wrong replacement tuners, or did he just put them on the wrong side? Switch them and the worm gear would be on top of the post, and screw holes would line up.

[Dan Co1e]

Looks like one of the ears may be cracked or split (top right).

http://images.craigslist.org/00b0b_9...y5_600x450.jpg

[Roger Moss]

I thought I saw a split beginning there too. I notice it says no cracks "on body".

[Isaac Revard]

Of course I'm just playing mandolin detective when I should be practicing...but its rather fun. Also, since most of us couldn't go and look at it. I zoomed way in on the photo using adobe and eliminated the blanket color from the side view. The reflections kinda seem to show some sinkage too. Also that split as seen from the back of the headstock almost seems to be completely through, as seen on the front image.



Just fun to look at these things, mostly because I want one.

[pianoman89]

They may be the wrong replacement tuners, or did he just put them on the wrong side? Switch them and the worm gear would be on top of the post, and screw holes would line up.

You could do that they would just tune backwards...

[Steve VandeWater]

You could do that they would just tune backwards...

Then you could mark it up a couple hundred and advertise it as a customized mandolin for dyslexics!

[Jeff Mando]

Then you could mark it up a couple hundred and advertise it as a customized mandolin for dyslexics!

Precisely! Like the ol' upcharge for lefty's.

[Ray(T)]

It's a 1924 so it may have been built with worm over tuners which have been incorrectly swapped for worm-unders. They look to have been shifted nut-wise.

[kkmm]

I think he simply has the wrong replacement tuners for this one

Yes, the tuners have to be swapped. The tuner button & shaft has to be above the gear, not below. The reason is: the string tension will pull the gear shaft (where the string wraps around) toward the nut, and the gear being below the tuner shaft, will be pressed against the shaft creating good mechanical contact when it rotates.
I am wondering if the tuner turns counter clockwise to tune up ?