repair old stradolin or just buy a new mando?

**acunate** · May-13-2012, 12:05am

Hello all! I am a recent mando convert (merged from drums and guitar, to banjo, to mandolin)

I've been playing my grandfather's stradolin. It isn't in amazing shape. Action is high. wood has shrunk, was at one time reglued where the back came apart from the body.

Anyway, I took it to a local luthier, who quoted 80 bucks to make it more playable, he advised leaving the previous glue job be and let good enough be good enough. Which is fine by me.

There is some sinking in the top. The luthier would be shaving down the bridge and doing work on the nut.

I am tempted to go through with this repair, as the only mandos I would consider buying cost at least 500 bucks. It'd be nice to fix er up anyway.

I just worry that I'll still be unsatisfied with the mando after the repair. Though I could bang around with it and save for a new one in the meantime.

Any thoughts or opinions welcome. Thanks!

**Mike Snyder** · May-13-2012, 12:43am

Fix it, play it hard and often, save up for a new one with which you will (eventually) be unsatisfied with. Such is the nature of our obsession.

**Rodney Riley** · May-13-2012, 12:48am

Originally Posted by acunate

...my grandfather's stradolin. That makes the instrument repairable!

Anyway, I took it to a local luthier, Is this person a skilled repairman or just a builder? And have they worked on mandos?If the person has only worked on guitars... run away fast!who quoted 80 bucks to make it more playable, he advised leaving the previous glue job be and let good enough be good enough. Which is fine by me. (I wouldn't be satisfied if it's noticable)

There is some sinking in the top. The luthier would be shaving down the bridge and doing work on the nut.This doesn't compute... if top is sinking, strings should be closer to the fret board. Shaving the bridge would make it worse. Has the neck moved?

Any thoughts or opinions welcome. Thanks!

If it was my Grandfathers... I would ask here on the Cafe who they would recommend in your area, or close to your area, to restore it. Like Big Joe or Gail Hestor.

And have you thought about both. While the Strad-o-lin is being repaired, go out and test drive a few. MAS (Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome ) has already started since you are asking "or just buy new".

Could you add some pictures? That helps here with the quality of responses you will get.
OK. That's my 2 cents worth of Ts & Os.

**acunate** · May-13-2012, 12:57am

thanks both.

I'm near Boulder CO. Woodsongs is the shop I took it to. Have heard good things.

Seems a shame to not repair it either way. I'm sure I'll end up with another eventually.

I've been around some shops and playing. Really enjoyed the eastmans I played. I don't share all the opinions on the kentuckys I keep reading, everyone I've played, even the nicer models have had finish flaws and other issues.

I've gone from gas to bas and now to mas. haha. Really run into problems once you play really nice instruments, they make the rest seem subpar.

**Paul Busman** · May-13-2012, 6:40am

Most definitely fix it. Strads are not bad mandolins, and this one was your Grandfather's which give it mojo that you just can't buy at any cost.

**MikeEdgerton** · May-13-2012, 7:05am

It sounds like your local luthier has a pretty good handle on what he's looking at. I'm a fan of Strad-O-Lins but we all have to realize that these are inexpensive instruments. Chances are those repairs kept it going for your grandfather, they'll keep it going for you. Make sure you post some pictures in the Strad-O-Lin Social Group here on the Cafe.

**Ed Goist** · May-13-2012, 7:31am

I think this is the kind of question one has to answer for oneself.
There are many subjective things (things beyond tone, playability & market value) that go into the personal value we place on our instruments. Each person needs to account for these 'personal values' for themselves.
So, my answer is: only you can answer this question.
That said, I will point out two factors to consider:
* Down the road, if you decide you want a different mandolin, your Stradolin will be easier to move (and at a decent price), if it has been professionally repaired.
* You've mentioned twice that it would be a "shame to not repair it". It seems that's what your gut is telling you to do.
When it comes to things like one's instruments, I think that following one's gut is almost always the wise decision.
Best of luck whatever you decide. Keep us posted.

**Jim** · May-13-2012, 7:34am

Fix it, $80 isn't much of an investment, you can save for another while you play this one. Interesting that there is " top sinkage" but the action is high and the bridge needs shaving. Those 2 don't usually go together , however , Woodsongs is a good shop and I think I'd trust them. I too would leave the bad glue job as long as it holds, in fact my Strad-o-lin has one where somebody glued the back , there's a little overlap but it holds unde string tension.

**arigato** · May-13-2012, 8:08am

Jusrt a theory, If the action is high, and the top is sinking, then perhaps the original (shorter) bridge was swapped out for a taller one, increasing the downward force on the top plate, causing excessive load on the top plate. Maybe originally the top plate was ok, but with time the top plate has sagged some. Shaving the bridge down to fix the action and sinkage sounds like a a good way to go to me. let us know how it goes.

**acunate** · May-13-2012, 10:40am

Originally Posted by arigato

Jusrt a theory, If the action is high, and the top is sinking, then perhaps the original (shorter) bridge was swapped out for a taller one, increasing the downward force on the top plate, causing excessive load on the top plate. Maybe originally the top plate was ok, but with time the top plate has sagged some. Shaving the bridge down to fix the action and sinkage sounds like a a good way to go to me. let us know how it goes.

Seems strange to me too. Unless the reason for installing the higher bridge was that the sink made the original bridge (if the bridge there now isn't original) to low.

also, thanks everyone! I'll be taking it in for the repair. I'll post pics in the group thread once it is back in my hands

**bmac** · May-14-2012, 7:30am

If your budget for a new mandolin is around $500 you will be hard pressed to fine one at that price to surpass your Stradolin, tone wise. I have a bunch of lower end mandolins but my two Stradolins are by far my favorites. Mine are both solid wood with no plywood. I would suggest you either pay to have it fixed or fix it yourself.... You won't find a better sounding instrument at anywhere near that price range, in my opinion.

Your grandfather was not so dumb.

Photos please,,, as Mike E. suggested.

**JeffD** · May-14-2012, 10:13am

repair old stradolin or just buy a new mando?

yes.

Get that stad into shape and enjoy it, and keep in mind that you also really want a new mandolin, which you are allowed to get. You will enjoy either one or both for a very long time.

**bmac** · Jun-16-2012, 8:20am

I think you will also find that the Stradolin has a sound of its own. A new mandos at the $500 level may have good tone but it will likely be different than the Stradolin. As a player of stringed instruments I think you will appreciate the difference in tone and want to have both.... But if you could only afford one, I would tend to favor the Stradolin. But whatever you do you will learn something and that is what is important.

**bmac** · Jun-20-2012, 8:22am

Another comment on Stradolin construction. ... I seriously doubt is there is any top sinkage on your Stradolin... I suppose if it was subject to excess moisture it could change shape but in general they are very strong and not likely to sink, as a carved top might on a more expensive hand carved instrument. Unlike a flat top the arched, steam pressed top and bottom on a Stradolin are amazingly strong and are more likely to break under extreme force than bend permanently out of shape.

There is no truss rod in the neck of a Stradolin so it is possible that the neck could be slightly cupped and that could cause high action. i had cupping in the neck of one of mine which I was able to correct by flat sanding the neck with the fretboard off. The repair worked fine.

I think once your instrument is repaired you will be hard pressed to find a "better" sounding instrument for what you have spent on your Stradolin. I had the opportunity to compare one of mine against a new $2000+ Weber and it stood up well with almost as much volume and in fact a better bas. Even the Weber owner agreed that the sound was outstanding and he wanted to buy my Strad from me.

**Dobes2TBK** · Jun-27-2012, 9:17pm

I was in the luthier repair shop, dropped off my Strad for some intonation issues, hairline separation, plus a 2 point GOK for tailpiece reset & bridge & neck work. I'm listening to the quotes and second guessing myself... "if I took what the initial cost was, plus repairs, even without adding in the cost of a recent wall-hanger, I could have had me a nicer new mando." It finally dawned on me. This is the same/similar with the semi-vintage car fixer uppers. By the time you add up the initial cost, parts, labor, body work, paint job, you could about have a decent NEW vehicle. BUT, there wouldn't be the satisfaction of restoring something to it's original function. Yeah, you could get some conversation out of a 2012 Ford. But a restored '74 Ghia? Whole 'nother story.