Waldo Bowlback Mandolin info needed

[jhplano]

I found a Waldo bowlback mandolin on an auction site the other day and bought it because of the nice inlay on the headstock/fretboard and the wood on the back. It was really dirty so I cleaned it up some and restrung it to see what it would sound like. There are a few cracks in the top around the F holes and a small crack on the fretboard, but doesn't appear to have any repairs done to it. The headstock says "Waldo" on it and there is a tag inside that simply says "Waldo 473" on it, no date or anything. I play guitar and do not know anything about mandolins and have been able to find very little about Waldo mandolins. Does anyone have any info about these, or can you point me to someone who does?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jeff

[Jim Garber]

Paul Ruppa in Milwaukee is the expert on these. I own one also. it seems like there are few that resemble each other completely. Your headstock inlay is different than any I have seen. The weak point on these is the top between the f-holes which 9 times out of ten has some sort of warpage. I can post some more on this later.

[Bob A]

Use only extra light strings on any bowlback lest ye destroy tbe top and/or neck joint.

[jhplano]

The lightest strings I found at my local music store were these:

MARTIN M400 MANDOLIN SET
Strings are 80/20 bronze, light gauge, 010/010 014/014 024w/024w 034w/034w

Are these too heavy? This is what is currently on it for about a week now.

[billkilpatrick]

the lights i have are .009/013/.022/.032 - interesting looking mandolin.

[brunello97]

That is one of the nicer Waldos I have seen--the headstock and bowl at least place it above some of the basic models. The top looks in tough shape-mine had what seems to have been a not uncommon problem of warpage around the f-holes. Waldos came out of Saginaw, MI of all places. Though when one thinks about it there was probably no better place in the country to get great wood at that time.

Mick