Mak'in Bacon

[TDMpicker]

My latest ebay find and restoration project. This is a 1921 Bacon Orchestra model mandolin banjo. Fred Bacon was a talented and popular banjo player in the teens and 20's and began manufacturing his own banjos in 1920. This orchestra model is quite rare, with only a few made between 1920 and 1921. An expensive instrument in 1920, costing around $50 and was played by dance band musicians. I made a new bridge, nut and cleaned all the hardware and wood. The frets and fretboard had no sign of wear. The cal skin is probably original. It sounds good!

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[billhay4]

Nice job, Terry. I'd like to hear this one.
Bill

[Jim Garber]

I like the bridge you made. Was it at all copied from an original one? Originally it prob was maple, right?

[TDMpicker]

The bridge is a copy of an original that is on my other mandolin banjo, A 1915 Weymann & Sons. I also have seen Jake at Antebellum use some ebony bridges similar. These heavy ebony bridges + a little foam mute pad under the bridge between the neck stick and the skin really tame these instruments down and produce a nice "mellower" sound.

[TDMpicker]

For those who are interested in hearing the sound of this instrument I've created
an MP3 sound sample.

1921 Bacon Orchestra 2 SN5649 Sound Clip (http://crystalforestmandolins.com/sound/Bacon1921SN5649.mp3)

[billhay4]

Thanks for the sound sample, Terry. The bridge and foam do tone them down, don't they? Nice sounding instrument.
Bill