circa 1920 Stahl Mandocello

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This week’s unusual instrument is a circa 1920 Stahl Mandocello built by the Larson Brothers in Chicago. In the video I mistakenly state that the scale length is 24 ¼” However, the scale length is actually about 24 ½”, same of the Bruno mandocello in my earlier video and slightly shorter than a Gibson mandocello which is about 24 ¾”. The Stahl has maple back and sides, an inlayed pickguard and 24 frets total with the fingerboard extension. It is set up with Thomastik flatwound strings for the video though it sounds fine with phosphor bronze as well. The Stahl is exceptionally easy to play and is well balanced with good volume. I play the Allemande and Courante from Bach’s Cello Suite III.

www.vintagefrettedinstruments.com

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some photos too...