Mandolinetta 911

[Matt the Mead Maker]

I've got a Mandolinetta that's in need of major repairs with cracks in the both the front and back. My dilemma is: can I get away with just taking off the back or do I need to take off the fretboard/top as well?

All advice is greatly appreciated.

[Rick Turner]

You should be able to do it all by taking off the back.

Any brand name on it?

And they're usually called "mandolinettos" except for the Howe Ormes which probably came first and were copied. Howe Orme made mandolins, tenor mandolas, octave mandolas, and cello mandolas...their designations.

[MikeEdgerton]

Is the Harwood that was on eBay?

[Matt the Mead Maker]

Is the Harwood that was on eBay?

Yup. I got the seller to relist at a lower price with a "buy it now" option when it didn't sell at $75.

Thanks to everyone for their advice here. I've built a mando and a guitar but this will be my first major repair job. Should be a learning experience!

[brunello97]

Wow Matt, is the scratchplate that asymmetrically placed or is it the angle of the photo? Looks like a one-piece back, is that so?

I appreciate Rick's plug for the masculine.......

Mick

[MikeEdgerton]

Another Harwood.

[brunello97]

Another Harwood.

Very nice, Mike. Would this be considered a 'parlor guitar'? I like the overall size.

Mick

[MikeEdgerton]

That would indeed be considered a parlor guitar.

[Matt the Mead Maker]

Thanks again for the info, everyone. Mandolinetto it is .

I've found plenty of tutorials for repairing small cracks but what do you do when the crack runs the length of the back or front? Would you still use small cross-grain cleats or use a longer strip instead?

I'm also planning on re-hydrading the wood a bit in a simple home made humidifier before I mess with it. Seems like there's been some shrinkage due to dessication and I'm worried about the wood being brittle.

[Matt the Mead Maker]

Wow Matt, is the scratchplate that asymmetrically placed or is it the angle of the photo? Looks like a one-piece back, is that so?
Mick

Good eye! Yes, it's a one piece back and yes, the scratch plate is a little off due to what appears to be wood shrinkage. The scratchplate is actually inlayed into the top, rather than being simply placed on top of the wood.

[KanMando]

Matt, for more info on your Harwood instrument, there is a Harwood thread on the Cafe that I started a while back.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ns-and-guitars

Bill Graham and I have done extensive research on the Harwood line, and have most of the questions about these fine instruments answered. Bill hopes to publish an article soon.

Please post some more photos when you get your mandolinetto fixed up.

Bob Jenkins

[KanMando]

That would indeed be considered a parlor guitar.

This Harwood "concert" size guitar is identical in size to the Martin "0" guitars. It is considered to be a parlor guitar, but slightly larger than a true parlor guitar.

[Matt the Mead Maker]

Thanks for the info, KanMando! I'll be sure to post some pics of the restored mandolinetto down the line. Take care!