How to care for vintage mandolins.

[Rob Gerety]

I am about to be the new owner of a 1916 Gibson A4. The instrument has obviously been very well cared for throughout its life thus far and I want to continue with that and do whatever I can to extend its life as long as possible. Do any of you have any tips or suggestions for a new vintage owner - help me avoid mistakes and maybe even do some things that will enhance this lovely instrument and extend its life. I understand humidity levels and temperature swings etc. What else is there to know? String gage? Store in or out of case? Treat fingerboard? Polish finish? Is it best to play the instrument daily - my current plan, or should it be left alone?

[Michael Gowell]

Play it by all means - the old ones often sound great. Use light strings (GHS silk & bronze sound good on my F-2) to minimize stress - experiment for the sound that pleases you best. Store it in the case when not playing...good protection & easier to maintain humidity. I lightly clean my instrument's body occasionally (maybe 2x/yr) with a very lightly soaped & well wrung out washcloth, ditto the fingerboard when I change strings. I have no experience with commercial polishes but "first, do no harm" is my guiding motto...better an occasional smudge than a finish scratched or worn thru due to overzealous polishing.

[danb]

You shouldn't need to worry about using medium gauge strings, even my 1909 F4 has been cleared for use with j74s. I keep it in the case when I'm not playing, wipe the dust off gently with a soft cloth, and generally keep it out of harm's way. I would also avoid using any polish on the finish, just a damp soft cloth very occasionally to clean it if necessary

[Bob A]

Consider an armrest; it'll protect the finish from sweat and wear, and also make the instrument more comfortable to play.

[JeffD]

Originally Posted by Rob Gerety

I understand humidity levels and temperature swings etc. What else is there to know? String gage? Store in or out of case? Treat fingerboard? Polish finish? Is it best to play the instrument daily - my current plan, or should it be left alone?

I have a rule that all my family and friends know:

Instruments not being played are in their cases.
Cases are closed.
All close cases are latched.

I never store my instruments out of their cases - in fact the phrase "wall hanger" has always meant (to me) "too beat-up to play or fix but pretty enough to look at".


I would say its best to play the instrument about four or five times a day. Failing that, play it as often as you can. Oftenner when possible.

[JFDilmando]

Interesting points made on "in case" storage... I understand the issue of protection from physical damage that a case provides, but all things being equal, if you can provide a secure area for "storage" AND if you can control humidity to an appropriate level, I have always thought that open storage is better for an instrument than "in the case".
Better air circulation etc.... how many of us have opened a case with an instrument that has been stored for an extended period and met with musty dead air smell, and "case wear"...
Thoughts ?

[fatt-dad]

I keep my instruments in their cases. I really only have a few "vintage" instruments that I've owned for any appreciable amount of time - my 1929 Gibson guitar, my 1920 Gibson A3, my Acme Professional 5-sting and my old fiddle. I had to buy a proper case for the banjo, but otherwise, they all remain in their cases unless I'm noodling on them.

I don't wash or otherwise polish them. I rarely have all the strings off of them ever. I take good care of them, but don't baby them at all. I'm just careful.

f-d

[Bob DeVellis]

I keep all mine out of their cases, in a room with good humidity and temperature regulation. I like being able to grab 'em when the impulse strikes and they're nice to look at (he said, glancing over his shoulder). They all get to resonate along when any one of them is played, too. They're out of harm's way in this particular room and the cases are all stored in a double-closet in the same room. Other than occasionally losing track of which case goes with which instrument (I should have labeled them initially, I know), I see no down-side. If we had kids in the house or my pooch were less respectful of property (or in that room more), I might feel differently. But having them out works for me. Other people's circumstances would be a different matter, of course.

[JeffD]

I would guess that if you have a handle on the temperature and humidity, and the direct sunlight, its probably ok to leave em out.

I don't know that it is ever "better" to leave em out, except that they are nice to look at and may get more playing.


I just know that in their cases, out of harms way, and I can relax.

[danb]

Originally Posted by Bob A

Consider an armrest; it'll protect the finish from sweat and wear, and also make the instrument more comfortable to play.

I'd advise against that. I've seen damage from them (they clamp in place), both from clamp pressure on varnish finishes and sometimes interaction between the padding material and the finish.

An armrest is more suitible for a lacquer finished instrument (post 1925 or so) as that finish is more resilient to pressure or less likely to interact with the padding material of an armrest

[Bob A]

Without the armrest, the varnish beneath would have been trashed decades ago. (only got central air 18 years ago: D.C. summers are disgustingly hot and humid. It was getting whitish and cloudy, but has stabilised.

Needless to say, I adjust the tension to a reasonable level. BTW, violins, much more delicately constructed, seem to be almost universal in their use of the clamp-on chinrest, which of course uses the same clamps. If it's good enough for a Guarneri, it's good enough for ol' Orville's products.

[woodwizard]

I am currently useing an armrest on my 1919 A4 simply because of the sweat & wear that could occur. On one hot hot sweaty muggy day in Arkansas while picking away on the ole' A4 ... afterwards I noticed that where my arm rests was a milky color on the finish from the sweat/moisture I guess. By the next day it had faded away but right then and there I put the arm rest on. I occasionaly take it off and do light cleaning and a inspection on it. No harm so far but I can see if you don't keep an eye out and check it out every once in a while ...damage could occur. The cork could sort of bond to the varnish from all the heat/sweat & mosture that goes on. Guess I decided that the arm rest would cause less damage then playing without one. Mines a player ... it's going to get played alot.