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It looks in the 8th photo that there may be a gap in the neck joint. No clues as to manufacturer.

Bring whatever you need to help you feel confident in the decision that you may make. I believe you are talking about a trip to Nashville and those stores and, indeed, any store that has a decent...

Here's some favorites I have discovered over the years:

Irish Traditional Music Tune Index

Traditional Music of Clare

Séamus Connelly Collection of Irish Music

Harp of Tara - Great free...

So sad, a nice guy and excellent musician. He will be missed. I will be listening to his music in the days to come.

I had to ship a $3000 bowlback mandolin to a friend halfway across the country about 15 years ago. I found some excellent padding material from my daughters' old toy chest. They were in high school...

I don’t think it was me. I have little problem with teens Gibsons like the one you are trying out. For years I played a 1919 A-3 and I loved it. However I prefer the tone and neck of my snakehead. I...

Of course anything can be percussive if you want to make it so. I can take a set of mallets to a piano or even a violin. Most of us revel in the multiple sound of mandolins but generally concentrate...

I like Niles raving looney philosophy but I have always been a fan of his approach.

I also play fiddle and guitar so I have the advantages of all three instruments. Plus I have been in many...

BeginnerBill: Some very wise advice above. I wonder if you can supply some additional info about yourself and your playing. Are you or have you in the past taken any lessons on mandolin? Before the...

Interesting (?) truly homemade F-5.



I am still trying to figure out what "spuir" is. The top looks like it was patched—maybe he carved too much?

That is an over-generalization. Yes, if you play a chord on a mandolin and then quickly mute it, that could be considered percussion and that is usually the purpose in a bluegrass band since there...

Some quality makers there including DeMeglio, Peretti, Salomone. Could be decent but looks like all need work.

Sherry: you are on the right track. Play every local one you can for sure. You may find one that excites you. If not you will have a good idea if you do go to Nashville or wherever. I look fwd to...

I am not sure what the standard luthier measuring system should be but I would guess it is better to measure center to center of the width of each string rather than the space between. I would also...

About GC used/vintage: they do have an excellent policy of shipping from any store to your local store. Then you have the option of going to that store and trying it out and you can then return it in...

This could be some variant of the Filipino bandurria which, if so, would be strung in double-string courses, not like a mandriola. Those instruments usually have 14 strings and modern versions have...

When a maker starts out usually they have a few models either named or numbered. Even post-Orville Gibson had a relatively sensible system for the few models of mandolins and guitars. As time went on...

I have relatively small hands for a person of the male persuasion. If I were commissioning a mandolin I would use my 23 snakehead A-2’s neck which is just about perfect for me. Width at the nut is...

Yes, Gibson’s illogical system. Sorta logical up to the 1920s then in the 1930s they started using the retail price to distinguish some instruments. I believe that is what the A-40 and A-50 meant. In...

Just curious: what is the scale length of this mandola?

I agree with Allen about the two strings per bridgepin design.

I have had pretty good experience with Fedex Home (formerly called Ground). They seemed the most accurate and at times got there sooner than they predicted. I did a trade once and the other guy used...

Personally I can stand a chunkier neck vs. one that is wider. I had a mandolin with a 1-1/4” neck at the nut and found it not great for me. OTOH I have played plenty of teens and 20s Gibsons with no...

My main fiddles are completely pointless. :)

Most people, including fiddlers don't even notice that they are odd. I do like they way they sound for fiddling. They were all designed and made in...

I certainly understand the concern about finish checking. I know there is no guarantee but I think checking usually occurs when you shock the instrument with one extreme or the other. If you keep it...

Any info on the label if there is one?