Building a "Mandolino" A. Stradivari, Cremona 1680

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-24-2012, 4:52pm

Hi All,
Just started building a replica of that instrument,
Enjoy the process...
Regards,
Yaron Naor

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**Pribar** · Jun-24-2012, 5:34pm

Interesting choice, can't wait to see what you do with it. I always love to see the techniques you use cause I steal them shamelessly

**Jim Garber** · Jun-24-2012, 9:18pm

Very coo, Yaron. Is yours based on the one in South Dakota? It looks like the rosette is different.

**sunburst** · Jun-24-2012, 9:38pm

Looks good already! Those of us who see (and look for) lines can already appreciate what's happening here.

**TijnBerends** · Jun-25-2012, 1:29am

I wonder though, why are there 9 holes in the headstock?

**Tavy** · Jun-25-2012, 3:25am

Originally Posted by TijnBerends

I wonder though, why are there 9 holes in the headstock?

Me too

Nice looking work though.... I want to see more!

**Tavy** · Jun-25-2012, 3:30am

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Very coo, Yaron. Is yours based on the one in South Dakota? It looks like the rosette is different.

And has 10 strings, to Yaron's 9. The only other Stadivari is from 1706, and I haven't found an image on the Net

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-25-2012, 5:41am

Thank you all for your words of encouragement! appreciate it, the project is getting along very good!
I base my instrument on a Mandolino" Coristo" that A. Stradivari made in Cremona, and I do 5C (9 strings)
see the images, It is a bit different from the South Dakota (Mabe Alex can put some light on this issue)

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More images soon
Take care
Yaron Naor

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-25-2012, 5:44am

Originally Posted by Pribar

Interesting choice, can't wait to see what you do with it. I always love to see the techniques you use cause I steal them shamelessly

Thanks! If you have the gut, come visit me at my studio (-: (I have many more endemic techniques you can have without shame)
Cheers
Yaron

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-25-2012, 3:23pm

Another progress... the body is attached to the neck and the rosette...

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Enjoy,
Yaron Naor

**Jim Garber** · Jun-25-2012, 4:34pm

wow, Yaron, your are zooming! Looking good! That rosette is lovely.

**mrmando** · Jun-25-2012, 4:52pm

So it's five courses but with a single bass string?

**Marty Jacobson** · Jun-25-2012, 7:49pm

Yaron,

Very nice craftsmanship. Clamping those staves must be a nightmare.

Going off topic perhaps, but seeing this makes me want to ask a lot of questions.
What is the bracing scheme? What are you aiming for when you are voicing it.. and do you use tap tuning?
Is the top completely flat, or do you thin it toward the edges somewhat? Catgut strings?

Nice glue pot, btw.. I need to get one like that.

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-26-2012, 1:06am

Originally Posted by mrmando

So it's five courses but with a single bass string?

No, It will be 5C with single treble string (Cantino), 1 and 4x2, this is like the other early musical instruments and the information I collect from musicians.
Yaron Naor.

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-28-2012, 8:08am

Here are some more images - the case is not painted yet ...

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**Jim Garber** · Jun-28-2012, 9:01am

Very cool Yaron. Is this a commission or do you just build for fun or for yourself?

**Yaron Naor** · Jun-28-2012, 9:37am

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Very cool Yaron. Is this a commission or do you just build for fun or for yourself?

Thanks Jim!
I build instruments for musicians, this one is not ordered but there are some people interested...
Yaron Naor

**Tavy** · Jun-29-2012, 3:20am

Originally Posted by Yaron Naor

Here are some more images - the case is not painted yet ...

Yaron, even the case is a work of art - very cool!

**Matt the Mead Maker** · Jun-30-2012, 9:52am

Beautiful work, Yaron! Thanks for sharing and keep at it!

**Eugene** · Jul-02-2012, 11:46pm

Lovely! I believe the original was the same piece that inspired Barber & Harris' "Own design", although they also build more faithful reproductions of the original. The couple Stradivari mandolins remaining are interesting, but just so small and quirky compared to later pieces to have survived. I'm keen to read more of this build as it develops, Yaron.

**Jim Garber** · Jul-03-2012, 8:27am

I wonder if these surviving mandolins are playable at all and if anyone has played them. I believe Richard Walz has been out to the National Museum in SD and has at least looked at that one.

**Eugene** · Jul-03-2012, 10:10am

I believe Richard has played the "Cutler-Challen" mandolin by Stradivari at one time or another too. I even believe he tried to arrange a tour with the piece that never came together. It's been a while, but I think the issue was that the bridge had popped off, which alarmed the curator. The one in SD is pretty extensively restored. The only pre-restoration photos I've seen of the "Cutler-Challen" mandolin were in Tyler (1981). It did not originally have a shield-shaped finial:

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(Tyler, J. 1981. The Italian Mandolin and Mandola 1589 -1800. Early Music 9(4):438 - 446).

I don't know if the other Strad, the one discussed here, is playable. I believe this is the one that originally came to light when bought at auction by Peter Biddulph some decades ago.

Even if not the Strads, others are in playable condition. For example, there was an early 18th-c., 5-course Smorsone restored to playability by UK luthier Bruce Brook; you can still see a couple unlabeled before and after shots here. However, I don't know of any original 18th-c. pieces that are routinely played. All the recordings of which I'm aware, e.g., are on reproduction instruments.

**Eugene** · Jul-03-2012, 10:17am

...And hopefully Richard will happen by here to add a little clarification as well.

**Graham McDonald** · Jul-03-2012, 5:08pm

Originally Posted by Eugene

The only pre-restoration photos I've seen of the "Cutler-Challen" mandolin were in Tyler (1981). It did not originally have a shield-shaped finial:

.

I have a couple of photos taken by Stephen Morey in 1988, before the mandolin was bought by the SD museum and restored. I will post this evening (my time)

cheers