c.1920 Oscar Schmidt? Regal? L&H? Flatback Mando

**Jake Wildwood** · Sep-07-2011, 8:52pm

Here's a cutie. Just finished it up late last week (in the dark while the power was out). Great little player, nice tone, and has that worn-in charm. Probably either OS or Regal built -- really I get confused as the features overlap from each maker at this point in time. Any hints? I would have guessed Regal or L&H at first but the pickguard and general shape as well as the rosewood board's color is SO very OS-made.

Click here for the full blog post/more pics.

**Grommet** · Sep-08-2011, 3:02am

Looks like a sweet player. Nice work!

Scott

**usqebach** · Sep-08-2011, 8:00am

Jake,

You really have a knack for finding the neatest, coolest instruments.

Can I just arrange for a direct deposit of my paycheck to your account and have you pay me an allowance out of whatever is left over?

Alternatively, if you'd ever like free room and board in Georgia....

Keep up the great work!

Jim Sims

**Jake Wildwood** · Sep-08-2011, 12:12pm

Thanks guys!

And yes, Jim, that can be arranged... :D

And just to let you know... soon pics of a c.1900 rosewood/spruce bowlback, c.1930 Portuguese Guitar from the Azores, and c.1935 Regal a-style archtop mando will be popping up...!

**Jim Garber** · Sep-08-2011, 1:19pm

Is that the original bridge? I wonder if it would sound even better with a thinner bridge.

**Jake Wildwood** · Sep-08-2011, 7:46pm

Jim: Not the original bridge, and probably it would sound a bit brighter, for sure. I was thinking of swapping out to my usual bone bridge that I put on when these things go missing.

**brunello97** · Sep-08-2011, 8:52pm

Looks great, Jake, as usual. I'm sure it sounds good as well. BTW I just put some Calace strings on a friend's 20s-ish Haregalmony flatback. Yikes, worth every penny for squeezing the tone out of these nice old instruments.

Is that faux grain painting on the back or real rw?

Mick

**Jake Wildwood** · Sep-08-2011, 10:19pm

Totally faux.

And I agree that the better the string, the better the performance. Usually I think the standard 34w to 10 80/20s aren't ideal. They sound fine, but for me are only a starting point to pick my tone chase route.

**brunello97** · Sep-09-2011, 9:13pm

Very cool, Jake. I love faux wood graining--instruments, furniture, wall trim etc. Same with faux marbling. Used to do some of that work on furniture back before I sold my soul. Comp that to the (lickable) wood on the Howe bowlback you posted elsewhere-and particularly the quality of rosewood on even the modest L+H AC label and Vega mandolins. Both ought to charge up any mandolin player. (I know I am preaching to the choir, vato.....)

Mick