mdavis00
Dec-06-2013, 3:40pm
A 1916 F2 was recently passed on to me, and I've been trying to assess the instrument's needs. Unfortunately, the previous owner doesn't know much about how the F2's condition has altered over the past couple decades (he mostly kept it in storage). Despite sitting in its case for years, it came out nearly in tune and played beautifully on old strings - it made the beat-up Martin I've been playing sound and feel like a dog by comparison.
Sadly, when I investigated inside, I found that the top brace had come loose about 3/4 of an inch on the bass side:
110228
I took it to the local shop yesterday, whose staff luthier is young but has been recommended here before. He was willing to re-glue the brace with hide glue, but commented that the mandolin would probably just pop it loose again. He thought that the arch had sunk a little. After pressing gently on the top with his thumbs (while I cringed), he commented that it felt "spongy," which is a terrifying word. I have some doubts about his judgement, but this is probably denial. The Handel tuners were new to him, so I don't know how many teens-era Gibsons he's seen.
I've been combing the internet for information (like this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?88635-Gibson-top-sinkage)) and photos to try and determine what a healthy arch looks like and where, and how badly, mine is flattened. Here's a comparison photo of two supposedly-healthy Gibsons (stock of vintagemandolin.com on the right) and my own (two photos on the left):
110229
What do you think? Obviously smooshed arch? Is there an easy way to tell? If the instrument plays nicely, then does this heavily impact its value?
And a parting question on a very different problem. Here is a photo of where the neck meets the heel button -- you can just make out sunlight between them:
110230
That space is too small to slip a sheet of paper into. On one side of the neck joint only, there is a (literally) hairline crack in the finish. Local repair-guy tugged on the neck some (more cringing from me) and seemed satisfied. Failing neck joint? Or just 98-year-old mandolin?
Should I be de-tuning or removing the strings on this old lady until I get that brace glued down (taking into consideration that, as far as I know, it has been stored with full tension for the better part of its life)?
As always, thank you all for your wisdom and experience.
110231
Sadly, when I investigated inside, I found that the top brace had come loose about 3/4 of an inch on the bass side:
110228
I took it to the local shop yesterday, whose staff luthier is young but has been recommended here before. He was willing to re-glue the brace with hide glue, but commented that the mandolin would probably just pop it loose again. He thought that the arch had sunk a little. After pressing gently on the top with his thumbs (while I cringed), he commented that it felt "spongy," which is a terrifying word. I have some doubts about his judgement, but this is probably denial. The Handel tuners were new to him, so I don't know how many teens-era Gibsons he's seen.
I've been combing the internet for information (like this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?88635-Gibson-top-sinkage)) and photos to try and determine what a healthy arch looks like and where, and how badly, mine is flattened. Here's a comparison photo of two supposedly-healthy Gibsons (stock of vintagemandolin.com on the right) and my own (two photos on the left):
110229
What do you think? Obviously smooshed arch? Is there an easy way to tell? If the instrument plays nicely, then does this heavily impact its value?
And a parting question on a very different problem. Here is a photo of where the neck meets the heel button -- you can just make out sunlight between them:
110230
That space is too small to slip a sheet of paper into. On one side of the neck joint only, there is a (literally) hairline crack in the finish. Local repair-guy tugged on the neck some (more cringing from me) and seemed satisfied. Failing neck joint? Or just 98-year-old mandolin?
Should I be de-tuning or removing the strings on this old lady until I get that brace glued down (taking into consideration that, as far as I know, it has been stored with full tension for the better part of its life)?
As always, thank you all for your wisdom and experience.
110231