John E, Dallas mandolin

[Charles E.]

I am not too excited about the mandolin but I am really digging the tailpiece and bridge!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mand...item231f85b309

I guess James was not the first to cross his strings.

[brunello97]

An ongoing conversation about it here on this thread:

Dallas Flatback

including another example of the bridge/headstock setup on the page following.

John Dallas made interesting mandolins. A lot of mandolin before (and after) bluegrass showed up.

Mick

[mrmando]

These are nice classical mandolins and this one is in really good shape. David Stone's violin shop in Seattle has another one on consignment for $1,000, but without the fabulous tailpiece. John Dallas apprenticed as a violinmaker with the illustrious Hill & Sons of London, but branched out into mandolin-family instruments (he made them all, including mandobasses!). One doesn't often see a Dallas instrument outside the UK.

[brunello97]

That is interesting, Martin. I checked David Stone's website and unfortunately no image of the Dallas mandolin. Do you know if any pictures of it are available? I wonder how (and when) it found its way to Seattle?

I like his work and design aesthetic. The odd asymmetrical oval holes on some of his mandolins remind me of the eclectic set that the Melonious Quartet use.

Mick

[mrmando]

Melonious' instruments were made by Andreas Sakellarides in Marseilles.

[Jim Garber]

I guess James was not the first to cross his strings.

but Winslow double crossed his; at the headstock as well. Yikes!

[mrmando]

That dirty double-crosser. I wonder if this makes crosspicking any easier?

[Dobe]

[QUOTE=mrmando;1069573]That dirty double-crosser.

(spew coffe !)

[Jim Garber]

Makes it easier to play those boney-part tunes, you know... Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine and Bonaparte Crossing His Legs.