c.1916 Larson-made Stahl Flatback Mandolin

[Jake Wildwood]

Here's one I finished up last night. It's a real gorgeous creature and sounds just as good. Full write-up and more pics available by clicking here (takes you to my blog). (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2012/01/c1916-larson-made-stahl-flatback.html)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omOLS5lnw3U/TwIsrNxYt4I/AAAAAAAARbQ/pyUa0A5gGRI/s1600/stahl1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-deqQhlEC0hM/TwIsq_BI5cI/AAAAAAAARbA/9p707oCBzoc/s1600/stahl2.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUPN2Fi-b9Q/TwIsqsw-WZI/AAAAAAAARa4/EctJ4A3-W8E/s1600/stahl3.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADh9xuX6V_M/TwIsZmAphvI/AAAAAAAARZo/t1gPyT-qSQM/s1600/stahl10.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Go2lv_NAYgI/TwIsYzf6qWI/AAAAAAAARZA/crZ6qhH1lus/s1600/stahl13.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HouRXSnrC2w/TwIsPL3P0kI/AAAAAAAARYo/0YzhechwnJM/s1600/stahl16.jpg

[Jill McAuley]

Oh that is very nice indeed Jake! Thanks for sharing those pix!

Cheers,
Jill

[Tavy]

Very nice looking instrument - love that binding.

[Jim Garber]

Sweet, Jake!

[Jake Wildwood]

Ah, thank-a.

[brunello97]

A sublime mandolin, Jake, congratulations.

I wonder if this wouldn't benefit from a cross listing in the 'flatbacks of note' thread. This is an exceptional mandolin, because for all its 'ordinariness', it is extraordinary. The idea that this quality of mandolin could still be made 2 or 3 steps down from the high end L+H and Gibsons of the day is a testimony to the craft and material of the era. I don't know how prices in the '20s comp with nowadays at this range, but I'll bet these hit pretty high quality/$$ scale. These flatbacks tend to get overlooked, but I guess you don't need me to tell you that. :)

I love the one-piece back-over-neck heel detail. There was some discussion on another thread as to whether that was an inherent Larson detail or not. Nothing was resolved, but I've got no reason to doubt this one. And how sharp is the head stock cut-out? It is a super clean mandolin. I love it.

What kind of strings do you have on it, Jake?

Mick

[Jake Wildwood]

Headstock cut-out is nice and crisp and overall the attention to detail and workmanship is just as clean and precise as most Martin-built instruments from the time.

I think a majority of Larson-credited flatbacks have that overlapping heel join but I've seen it used by other makers. That this is essentially a fancier Leland-style model makes me think Larson, though.

There's a different feel from these compared to similar Harmony/Regal builds even though visually they look similar -- they're heavier and braced more heavily as well, more in the weight and sturdiness-range of a Weymann build, though the top is quite thin so even though it's stiff it's incredibly resonant.

These have to be heard and played to be believed because of the few I've worked on (maybe 3 or 4 including this one?) they've blown all the other flatback designs from the time that I've worked on (many!) out of the water in terms of volume and focus+range of tone.

Strings: I've been using a GHS 32w, 20w, 13, 9 phos. bronze set as my standard vintage mandolin set nowadays and it's perfect on this. I've been finding 34w, 24w, 14, 10 to be too stiff on the D&E and just a tad woofy on the G for most of the bowls and flatbacks from the time, and the GHS set seems to be the perfect compromise.