What do I have? Is it an Unmarked Neopolitian

**Afuente** · Oct-19-2011, 9:55am

My grandma gave me this in 2001 when she was 85. She listened to her grandfather play it when she was young. I don't know anything about it. I have tried to dig online but get dizzy quickly.

There are no labels or marking I can find.

Any help would be appreciated.

**Jim Garber** · Oct-19-2011, 11:37am

Interesting... The tuners are esp unusual with the plat on the front. Weymann of Philadelphia had that arrangement for their tuners and was one of the few like that. the tailpiece is also unusual but that could have been replaced. It looks like it is in good shape. Make sure to use light or ultralight gauge strings on it.

**Afuente** · Oct-19-2011, 11:59am

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Interesting... The tuners are esp unusual with the plat on the front. Weymann of Philadelphia had that arrangement for their tuners and was one of the few like that. the tailpiece is also unusual but that could have been replaced. It looks like it is in good shape. Make sure to use light or ultralight gauge strings on it.

Thank you I appreciate the info Jim, It does have 17 Ribs not sure if that helps at all, I don't plan on playing it but I will get light strings for it.

**RayMan7** · Oct-19-2011, 12:47pm

Originally Posted by Afuente

I don't plan on playing it but I will get light strings for it.

Are you gonna sell it? Either way man thats a nice beetle back, I love the tuner plate!

**Afuente** · Oct-19-2011, 2:09pm

I have no plans to sell it, once I figure out what I have, I will go from there. Who made it? how old is it? What would it be worth? there is a chip just under the tuner plate that is gone and a small crack at the top of the center hole. Between the strings you should be able to see it.

**Jim Garber** · Oct-19-2011, 2:23pm

Generally, this type of mandolin was common from around the turn of the last century when there were many factories both in the US and in Europe where these were made. Yours looks like a decent instrument prob about low-middle to middle grade. The condition, from what I can tell from your photos is good. I could not see that crack at the center hole from your photos. The bowl looks like rosewood to me.

As to worth, it somewhat depends on where you are located. In the US these used to be completely ignored and nowadays, strange people like myself are among the few interested in these as playing instruments. You can see quite a few in varying conditions being sold on eBay and Craigslist every day. Unless there is some indication that it is made by a desirable maker, I would say one like yours in apparently good shape might be worth a few hundred dollars.

BTW the butterfly is a common inlay on these. There were companies that made pre-cut pearl for the shops that produced the instruments.

**Tavy** · Oct-21-2011, 4:10am

Generally speaking the "no name" instruments are worth next to nothing I'm afraid.

However, that one's in decent condition.... so if it plays well and sounds good that will determine it's value.

As Jim says, the tuners are very unusual - I've never seens those on an italian made instrument - where are you located? That may determine the likely country of origin.