I have been given a bowl back which I hope to fix up and then give away to a player. It is by Gennaro Rubio, dated 1897, who I gather made reasonable quality mandolins in Naples. This is definitely an entry-level model, but rings out nicely when tapped with a knuckle.
The only real issue I can find is that the braces (the brace aft of the sound hole and the brace at the cant) have come unglued at their left-hand ends (as viewed in the pictures). Because it was left strung up, the top has sunk.
Easy enough, as hide glue appears to have been used and the braces are firmly glued for over half their length.
Except ...
The top has taken a set into the dip, and I can't force the loose ends of the braces to the soundboard using finger and thumb. I could put a clamp on each of them of course, but I foresee a loud cracking noise as I tighten the clamps.
So ...
Am I being a wimp, and clamping alone will work?
If not, is there a way to try to remove the set? My guess would be applying heat, as if for bending, and then using clamps and cauls. If that might work, the pick guard will need to come off, and I think its very thin celluloid, so any tips for that?
The fretboard lines up with the top nicely, so it looks as if the action would be fine if I could achieve this. Then I'd just need to fettle the tuners and do a general cleanup to make this back into a player.
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