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Thread: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

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    Default Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Found this vintage mandy for $75CAD can anybody tell me anything about it? Maybe how old? No brand or anything

    https://imgur.com/a/TnbIO

  2. #2
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    German/Eastern European, from the slotted headstock and the large marquetry pickguard; maybe mid-20th-century?

    Rough, rough shape. Not sure if there are any actual cracks, but this one's been pretty badly abused. Can't really assess the string height from your pics, but I wouldn't put out $75 for it. At least, not without getting a pro instrument tech to look at it.

    Just my 2¢.
    Allen Hopkins
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  4. #3

    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Plays beautifully and the rough shape adds character imo, I'm not really a purist at all

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    Registered User bbcee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by MathewFerrari View Post
    Plays beautifully and the rough shape adds character imo, I'm not really a purist at all
    Well there you go. Enjoy it.

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Nice guard man, them old mandolins really have the pickguards going on I think, very nice, People took some serious pride in the guard inlay work back in the proverbial "day"!

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    "Rough shape adds character" but subtracts value, IMHO. At least there don't seem to be cracks...

    There were companies that made pickguards only, and sold them to instrument builders. You find some really elaborately inlaid examples on bowl-backs from the early 20th century. When hand-work was cheaper, lots of low-paid people employed doing inlay and ornamentation, not just on musical instruments. Not so much now.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

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  9. #7

    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    "Rough shape adds character" but subtracts value, IMHO. At least there don't seem to be cracks....
    Not looking to make money on it, just wanted something interesting to carry around camping and $75CAD is pretty cheap.

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  11. #8
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage Mandolin - Any Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by MathewFerrari View Post
    Not looking to make money on it, just wanted something interesting to carry around camping and $75CAD is pretty cheap.
    Well, as a "beater," if it's playable and IYHO interesting, you've got a bargain.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

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