View Full Version : Does anyone have any idea what make this old Mandolin on eBay is?
your_diamond
Aug-15-2014, 12:16pm
I have seen one similar many years ago.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique-Mandolin-/261561538812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce64858fc
Jim Garber
Aug-15-2014, 2:17pm
These were made by Regal of Chicago and are usually called reverse scroll mandolins. They often sold in batches wholesale to retailers who often put their own brands on them.
darrylicshon
Aug-15-2014, 2:24pm
I have been watching the same one on ebay i was thinking about bidding if it didnt go to high. And since i live in atlata i could pick it up so it wont have to go thru the mail
MikeEdgerton
Aug-15-2014, 2:33pm
They are eBay weekly in various conditions.
darrylicshon
Aug-15-2014, 2:49pm
Does anyone know how they sound
MikeEdgerton
Aug-15-2014, 3:27pm
They came in different grades. The fancier highly trimmed models have been attributed to the Larson Brothers but I think they were actually built by Regal. They should all be solid woods but most of them sold were entry level mandolins. Buy one for the cool factor but if you're looking for tone you're rolling the dice.
MikeEdgerton
Aug-15-2014, 3:30pm
Here's (http://www.google.com/patents/USD46366) the patent for these mandolins.
greisy
Aug-15-2014, 3:40pm
There is another one on ebay, (and its pretty beat up) that is labeled as "ANTIQUE VICTORIA B&J MANDOLIN FOLK INSTRUMENT W/ CASE"
allenhopkins
Aug-15-2014, 9:31pm
"B & J" is Buegeleisen and Jacobson, big NYCity distributors since the late 19th century. "Victoria" was one of their labels; I have a B & J Victoria bowl-back, almost certainly a Chicago product. B & J sold instruments by many manufacturers; clearly Regal reverse-scroll mandolins among them.
Paul Hostetter
Aug-15-2014, 11:16pm
Does anyone know how they sound
Not very good, frankly.
your_diamond
Aug-16-2014, 4:55am
Wow, you guys are thorough.
Thank you all for the info.
I'll keep looking for a pre-Loar Gibson A.
I don't know what I was thinking... must be a little ADHD
I disagree on the sound, I've had 2 and they sounded pretty good though they do not sound like a Bluegrass mandolin. They have more of that tubby oval hole sound. They are not particularly well made and are prone to top sinkage.
allenhopkins
Aug-16-2014, 11:08pm
Well, the Regal reverse scrolls have a certain clunky coolness about 'em. I have several Regal instruments and they were serviceable if not elegant. And the current bid on this one is $36, which isn't much money, for sure.
So...
barney 59
Aug-17-2014, 1:30am
That's what I thought at $36 or even $136. I have one of those --solid spruce top and it's not great but it's not bad either. Mine plays and sounds ok,great conversation piece and you can take it to the beach, leave it out around drunks at the BBQ, go for a canoe ride, go mountain biking,dust a carpet, let the 2 year old mess around with it. Everyone needs something like that!
your_diamond
Aug-18-2014, 9:26am
So, the Regal (at $38, with 2 days left on the auction) MIGHT have a better sound FOR THE MONEY than this Norlin Gibson Lump Scroll...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/gibson-mandolin-/261560662031?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce63af80f
MikeEdgerton
Aug-18-2014, 3:24pm
So, the Regal (at $38, with 2 days left on the auction) MIGHT have a better sound FOR THE MONEY than this Norlin Gibson Lump Scroll...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/gibson-mandolin-/261560662031?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce63af80f
Perhaps in someone's dreams.
your_diamond
Aug-18-2014, 6:37pm
Perhaps in someone's dreams.
Ouch! I did say "FOR THE MONEY".
Mike, I will find a mandolin that will make both you, Jim and me, proud. The quest continues.
Jim Garber
Aug-18-2014, 7:49pm
That one listed in the OP will prob go for considerably more than $38. It is lovingly photographed in golden lighting. the last minute snipers are waiting to pounce. I have warm place my heart for these mandolins with the odd design and the smurf headstock. Of course, you are quite correct: your lot in life is to make Mike and me proud of your next mandolin acquisition. :)
Paul Hostetter
Aug-18-2014, 8:52pm
That one listed in the OP will prob go for considerably more than $38. It is lovingly photographed in golden lighting. the last minute snipers are waiting to pounce. I have warm place my heart for these mandolins with the odd design and the smurf headstock.
Bingo! Me too. ;)
I disagree on the sound, I've had 2 and they sounded pretty good though they do not sound like a Bluegrass mandolin.
Bluegrass schmoograss. It's a mandolin. They sound like themselves. No one in their right mind would put one of these and bluegrass in the same sentence!
They have more of that tubby oval hole sound.
Tell that to John Duffy.
They are not particularly well made and are prone to top sinkage.
Now there's a sales job! The Larson Brothers made some epic iterations of this mandolin, the others are low-budget mail-order catalog stuff. That said, somewhere in the world there's a recording of me playing one of these, but with a birch top:
http://www.lutherie.net/harmony.a.jpg
And it was really fun to play and sounded great in the recording. Birch über alles. It's less about the instrument and more about the music.
brunello97
Aug-18-2014, 9:19pm
.....It's less about the instrument and more about the music.
Bravo, Paul. That's what I know.
Mick
MikeEdgerton
Aug-19-2014, 8:10am
That one listed in the OP will prob go for considerably more than $38....
It's up to $42.00 with 1 day and 5 hours left! You're right it will. :cool:
MikeEdgerton
Aug-19-2014, 8:11am
Ouch! I did say "FOR THE MONEY".
Mike, I will find a mandolin that will make both you, Jim and me, proud. The quest continues.
For the money a $50.00 Rogue with free shipping from Musicians Friend will probably be better than both, for the money. :)
Jim Garber
Aug-20-2014, 2:19pm
That one listed in the OP will prob go for considerably more than $38.
It's up to $42.00 with 1 day and 5 hours left! You're right it will. :cool:
$96.99... still if it is in decent shape I have seen these go for more, like $150-200.
bart mcneil
Aug-22-2014, 2:38pm
I have one of those and love it. Its tone is weak to say the least but it is such a great looking mando that it will remain one of my favorites. Mine has the headstock label "Lyra". on it... one of many lables on these. They generally sell on eBay for less than $100 depending on condition. I paid roughly $60 for mine (if I recall} but it was in pretty ugly condition with a very poor attempt at a refinish.
darrylicshon
Aug-26-2014, 10:33pm
Looks like it maybe a Perfacktone a catlog page was just posted about another mando and i think this mando was on the page
http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?107849-Need-help-in-identifying-my-old-mandolin-please!
bart mcneil
Aug-27-2014, 6:28am
Sold for just under a hundred. A fair price I think, for one in good condition.
If its in good condition it will make someone very happy.
Bill Snyder
Aug-27-2014, 9:49pm
I am surprised no one has posted a photo of the mandolin being discussed.
123180
your_diamond
Sep-22-2014, 12:05am
Of course, you are quite correct: your lot in life is to make Mike and me proud of your next mandolin acquisition. :)
I would like to thank Jim Garber, Mike Edgerton & Allen Hopkins and all the others for their help answering my numerous questions and I hope you approve of my acquisition. It's not as shiny as a $50 Rogue, and I went over budget (paid $250) but it will have to do. :mandosmiley:
124096124097124098
MikeEdgerton
Sep-22-2014, 9:33am
What you bought is a Strad-O-Lin genre mandolin, built by whomever (unknown really) built the Strad-O-Lins and private labeled for Orpheum. I've owned a few branded that way. It's circa the 1930's and that's a pretty good price for a really decent instrument (as long as it was playable). There is a Strad-O-Lin Social Group here on the cafe. Please add pictures of your mandolin to it. You may see a few more that are similar.
MikeEdgerton
Sep-22-2014, 9:37am
By the way, yours has the same pickguard and tailpiece cover mine has. It was a branded Strad-O-Lin that somebody rubbed the name off. It's still visible if you hold it in the right light.
JeffD
Sep-22-2014, 11:19am
You did well. Now comes the fun part.
JeffD
Sep-22-2014, 11:22am
"for the money" is a tricky concept. Due to the mathematical anomalies of division by zero, a beat up mandolin shaped object found in the men's room of the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City will sound better, for the money, than anything for which you paid $40.00.
your_diamond
Sep-23-2014, 12:45am
What you bought is a Strad-O-Lin. There is a Strad-O-Lin Social Group here on the cafe. Please add pictures of your mandolin to it.
Mike, I always wanted a Stradolin and It's all your fault I own one! Well, at least partially. I've been a member of the Stradolin group for a while and saw several of your collection there. Bought this off of ebay & it will arrive soon & I'll let you know if it's as nice as it looks. I think I'll be telling you thanks for talking me out of everything else. Best regards, Michael
your_diamond
Sep-23-2014, 12:58am
"for the money" is a tricky concept. Due to the mathematical anomalies of division by zero, a beat up mandolin shaped object found in the men's room of the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City will sound better, for the money, than anything for which you paid $40.00.
Jeff, To quote a discounted Oscar Wilde, I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best... as long as it's not a Gibson.
your_diamond
Sep-23-2014, 4:43pm
Jeff, To quote a discounted Oscar Wilde, I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best... as long as it's not a Gibson.
Not that there is anything wrong with a Gibson mandolin. However, at a fraction of the cost of a Gibson and with a raised fretboard a Stradolin seemed like an interesting option.
your_diamond
Sep-23-2014, 9:38pm
By the way, yours has the same pickguard and tailpiece cover mine has. It was a branded Strad-O-Lin that somebody rubbed the name off. It's still visible if you hold it in the right light.
Mike, I noticed the bridge on your Stradolin looks different from mine. Did you replace the original with that one? Who made it? Where did you get it? I also like how you put the strap under and around the neck.
your_diamond
Sep-27-2014, 11:48am
She came with this nifty song book! Dated 1935
124250 124251
She is loud & bright sounding even with the old strings.
MikeEdgerton
Sep-27-2014, 1:38pm
It's the standard bridge for Strad-O-Lins, I didn't change it. Take a look at this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?30705-No-strap-button-no-problem) thread to answer the strap question. The "case candy" is sometimes as interesting as the instrument.