Three recent fixes, all fun!

[Jake Wildwood]

Fanciest of the batch is this 1910s-20s deluxe Oscar Schmidt flatback (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2013/09/c1920-oscar-schmidt-high-grade-flatback.html):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4WnDklcXt0/UiPYcksGdwI/AAAAAAAAnio/h_zEuRZtK7o/s1600/oslin-1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i_LQNXzNPJY/UiPYgPnGuoI/AAAAAAAAnjI/Jz3rb8Ud4gU/s1600/oslin-2.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Egem8GJ1Z4g/UiPYi7NeVaI/AAAAAAAAnjc/Tt82tyaJXRo/s1600/oslin-4.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3vIBvJWkpo/UiPYk_TsmxI/AAAAAAAAnj0/2F3ZBM1J74c/s1600/oslin-9.jpg

Next comes an 1890s? L&H-maybe? bowlback mando (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2013/08/c1895-unmarked-bowlback-mandolin.html):

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPgMRPIqtLo/UiEAmUBD38I/AAAAAAAAnbY/Tnulrs8XxTM/s1600/bowlin-1.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Culp03Khee8/UiEAocKArgI/AAAAAAAAnb0/pDtJuZBbkZw/s1600/bowlin-2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GF7Vqj-S2oE/UiEArXwlt1I/AAAAAAAAnco/RnpHj-uOSOs/s1600/bowlin-9.jpg

And last a funkified-but-rescued teens-era Gibson H-1 (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2013/09/c1915-gibson-h-1-mandola.html):

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3ggldhHkuk/UiPGvppiuOI/AAAAAAAAnhQ/bsHxVkjm5H8/s1600/gibdola-1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6x89ThF7OI/UiPGvR8lTuI/AAAAAAAAnhI/I9HcU0c_NsE/s1600/gibdola-2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--cejxvsz0L8/UiPGyp5IxfI/AAAAAAAAnh4/KBiCeWjtdGQ/s1600/gibdola-6.jpg

[Kerry Krishna]

Jake, your work inspires me. I wish I had about three times the the amount of TIME that I DO have. Thanks for posting these.

[Gary Flye]

Beautiful instruments! Thanks for rescuing these treasures of the past.

[Jake Wildwood]

Jake, your work inspires me. I wish I had about three times the the amount of TIME that I DO have. Thanks for posting these.

Thanks Kerry -- but you work on your KKs on the side, right?

This is my main dish as far as work, goes... :D

...and I STILL wish I had more time!

[F-2 Dave]

Very nice, Jake. I like all three, but the Oscar Schmidt is really a beauty.

[Jake Wildwood]

Dave: Yeah, it's a real nice'n!

As an aside: the bowlback is actually going to a classical musician so it'll be nice to see it wind up in the hands of someone who will do it justice.

[EdHanrahan]

Ya got me grinnin' one more time, Jake. Thanks!

[JEStanek]

Nice work. That fancy flatback is some serious eye candy.

Jamie

[brunello97]

I dig the OS, Jake. Is there a shot of the label you have? That is a curious mandolin. I'm wondering if it isn't something from the Sovereign side of the OS production-rather than their boiler plate work? I've seen OS Sovereign bowls with that Washburn-esque headstock, but this is Frankensteiny in a very good way. The double binding is muy cool. The spruce top / hard back (rosewood or maple) make a great pairing. To rank this up there with the Martins is no surprise to me. I love them but they can be a bit mushy. Now the Martin Bs are another story....

Mick

[Tavy]

Love the over-the-top decoration on the OS. Even the Gibson with the - non-original? - black finish looks really nice!

[Jake Wildwood]

Mick: It's totally like their Sovereign stuff but even a cut above. I love the flamed maple on it -- really gives it a more refined character vs. the typical OS spruce over hog variant. And yeah, that binding is SLICK. It's on its way to Australia this afternoon!

Tavy: Yup, very unoriginal finish. That poor thing was mistreated with sprayed-on black and a funky satiny topcoat. Makes it look a little like plastic but from a few feet away it doesn't hurt the eyes... :)

[Charles E.]

That head stock inlay on the OS has to be the prettiest I have ever seen.

[F-2 Dave]

Jake, you're obviously a gifted repairman, but I'm equally impressed with the quality of the photos of your work that you post here on the cafe. Have you ever thought of compiling some of those along with their stories into a book?

[Jake Wildwood]

Jake, you're obviously a gifted repairman, but I'm equally impressed with the quality of the photos of your work that you post here on the cafe. Have you ever thought of compiling some of those along with their stories into a book?

Sure have -- I've been planning for the last 2 years to sit down over our January in-store break (we close the store to conserve heat as it's dead quiet around here) and do it. Maybe this year!