New roman instruments

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 5:40pm

Hello all,

As said in another topic here, prices of vintage instruments of the Mandolin family made by the old Maestros like Giovanni Battista Maldura, Luigi Embergher, the Cerrones and Pasquale Pecoraro, will probably not be influenced by new made instruments by contemporary makers, but new ones will create the possibility for people who prefer the characteristics of Roman mandolin to obtain a healthy new made instrument with a direct linkage to the instruments made by the old Maestros mentioned above. Especially when the new instruments are of high quality this is a very welcome development.

Sofar only Takusari (see 1st photo) was producing Roman concert mandolins after Embergher' examples and although I am not 'up to date' with the price for a 5bis mandolin of his hand, I think it will be somewhat around 3500-4000 Euro. And that is also about what one has to pay for an excellent Lippy or Van den Broek. And for one of the Liuteria Romana, I think.
Sofar Hendrik van den Broek is only making 5bis mandolins.

And that Lorenzo Lippi is already making a great variety of models.
There are his Orchestra models from 1 till 3, with prices from 1.700 up to 3000 Euro. Soloist model No. 5, 5bis and 6, and the more artistic sculpted No.7 from 3250 to 6000 Euro. The same numbers are available for the Mandola and Mandoliola. The Mandoloncello can be had in the Model No. 1, 3, 5, and 5bis.

Best,

Alex

Photo: Takusari mandolin.

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 5:42pm

And a photo of a Lorenzo Lippi Orchestra model

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 5:45pm

Could not find a photo of mr. Lippi's Model No.3 other than a photo of the two of us together and me holding that beautiful instrument.

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 5:50pm

And here is an example mr. Lippi's 5Bis concert mandola

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 5:52pm

and the Mandola's tuning mechanics.

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 6:09pm

And the 5 bis Roman concert mandolin recently made by Hendrik van den Broek.

**Alex Timmerman** · Jan-08-2008, 6:12pm

And the copied - and still beautiful - Luigi Embergher tuning mechanism on the headstock of van den Broek's mandolin.

Enjoy!

Alex

**Jim Garber** · Jan-08-2008, 8:33pm

Thank you so much, Alex, for posting these photos. It is also nice to know that Sr. Lippi has a lower-priced orchestra model, tho I have to admit my ideal would have to be the number 3. As I recall Het Consort has quite a few of those.

**Pietrobono** · Jan-08-2008, 11:19pm

Hello Alex

Best wishes for the New Year to you for your family and all your projects !
Nice idea to make such a thread. Is Takusari still active ? If yes, what is his postal address, I could not find it ?

Thanks in advance

**surfandstrum** · Jan-09-2008, 1:28am

"Beautiful" is the only word that comes to mind for me...thanks for the pics...

**angelouself** · Jan-09-2008, 1:48am

I believe I played on the same mandolin that Alex is holding on the picture, at Cremona Mondomusica. It's a nice instrument and I think he was preparing a copy of an Embergher 5bis. Sounds promising

**vkioulaphides** · Jan-09-2008, 10:58am

I can dream, can't I?

Beautiful instruments, one and all!

Cheers,

Victor

**Bob A** · Jan-09-2008, 11:44am

Truly gorgeous instruments, each and every one. Many thanks for the pictures.

Are they the sonic equivalent of the instruments they seek to emulate? (Bearing in mind, of course, that they are NEW instruments, without the benefits of aged wood and years of playing).

**Dan Cohen** · Jan-10-2008, 11:32am

Please don't kill me for the dumb question. #What is the history of the little square thing on the end of the headstock? #The Pandinis have them and some of the above pics have them. #I've seen scrolls and other ornamentation but the square just looks odd to me. #

I think it's probably not a TV or electronic tuner screen so I'm slightly less than totally ignorant.

**Eugene** · Jan-10-2008, 11:51am

It's a decorative finial, just an eye-pleasing way to cap off the partial scroll at headstocks to use them. It was common to the gut-strung mandolins of the baroque era (e.g., click here). Now the headstock of an F style, that's hard to decipher.

**brunello97** · Jan-10-2008, 6:43pm

Originally Posted by (Eugene @ Jan. 10 2008, 12:51)

It's a decorative finial, just an eye-pleasing way to cap off the partial scroll at headstocks to use them. #It was common to the gut-strung mandolins of the baroque era (e.g., click here). #Now the headstock of an F style, that's hard to decipher.

Beauty definitely being in the eye of the beholder. (As I think in the case of both of Eugene's examples.) Neither of which seem to function for me either in the eye-pleasing or bottle-opening capacity. Maybe a slight edge to the -bis models on the latter.

But the maple bowls look absolutely lick-able. (Trust me Alex, if we ever meet, I won't try it.)

Mick

**JeffD** · Jan-10-2008, 9:32pm

DanC has a good idea however. Permenantly mount a little intelli tuner screen there - then it will be functional as well as cool looking.

**JEStanek** · Jan-10-2008, 9:41pm

Those are beautiful, so elegant. Thanks for posting them.

Jamie

**Alex Timmerman** · Feb-13-2008, 6:13pm

Hello Friends,

Thank you all for your replies. Indeed these are very elegant and beautiful instruments. Ànd - most important of course - instruments with an excellent sound!

Some weeks ago Sr. Lippi finished another Roman mandolin after an original Luigi Embergher example. This time a Model No. 5-bis Soloist mandolin which in my eyes is an absolute superb mandolin in every sence.

Here are some images of Mr. Lorenzo Lippi's mandolin to enjoy.

**Alex Timmerman** · Feb-13-2008, 6:14pm

The back and head

**Alex Timmerman** · Feb-13-2008, 6:16pm

And the beautiful and refined rozet.

Best,

Alex

**Eugene** · Feb-13-2008, 8:33pm

Very nicely done. To my eyes, the mature soundbox refined by the Embergher shop is the most elegant achieved by mandolin kind.

**Bob A** · Feb-13-2008, 9:35pm

What Eugene said. And to my eyes and ears maple is the perfect medium for mandolin construction. A most pleasurable confluence of material and sculptural sensibility; and they sound nice too.

**Jim Garber** · Feb-13-2008, 10:01pm

Thanks, Alex, once again for posting those. I hope to hear the beautiful music from the lucky owners of these Lippi mandolins. Anyone we know, perhaps in Het Consort?