12-string mandolin?

[Eddie Sheehy]

On Ebay:
Unusual Mandolin

[brunello97]

Eddie, if I am not mistaken, the M&S logo on the strikeplate is for Menzenhauer-Schmidt, a short lived partnership that predated Oscar Schmidt building and marketing mandolins under his own name. I have seen many 12 string mandolins on the ebay with the superimposed O & S logo of Oscar Schmidt. The Menzenhauer-Schmidt versions are obviously scarcer.

After years of wondering, I finally got a chance to play a Schmidt 12 string earlier this fall. I'll admit to being underwhelmed. But if the price stays low, it might be worth acquiring for the true curiosity of it. I think Jim Garber or someone suggested stringing the low triplets as octaves, which I'd bet would be quite an interesting coloration. With twelve tuners and some creative nut-making, I'd bet some interesting alternatives might be attempted. The rosewood back on this one looks quite juicy reminiscent of the contemporary Washburn mandolins. Where did all that great wood go?

Mick