Mystery Mandolin Oddity!

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Hi everyone! I made an impulse eBay purchase on a very strange mandolin that I know nothing about. I've never seen anything like it, and wonder if anyone has. Here she is:







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA7f...ature=youtu.be


It's not a bad sounding or playing little thing, and will be much improved with a new nut and bridge!

Thanks,
Baron

[William Smith]

Hey I think its pretty sweet, and has a 5 scale! Great score!

[Mike Buesseler]

I guess you won’t be needing that beat up Ellis anymore, huh, Baron?

[Gunnar]

Looks like an awesome travel mando. Looks good, sounds great! Congrats on getting an interesting new toy!

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Hey I think its pretty sweet, and has a 5 scale! Great score!

Whats a 5 scale? Does that mean short scale? It is indeed about 1 fret shorter than a standard mandolin.

Thanks!
Baron

[Gunnar]

Whats a 5 scale? Does that mean short scale? It is indeed about 1 fret shorter than a standard mandolin.

Thanks!
Baron

I thought it meant long neck, like the original F5 as opposed to the F4, or A models. But I might be wrong?

[Bob Bass]

When WilliamSmith refers to a "5" scale, I think he means an F5 scale, where the neck joins the body at the 15th fret, instead of the 12th fret joint used for the F2, F4, F7, F10 series instruments.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

Ah, that makes sense!

[yankees1]

Actually doesn't sound too bad !

[Randi Gormley]

that's pretty entertaining. my first thought was it was a travel mando.

[William Smith]

Yes that's what I meant, frets meet the body at the 15th fret like an F-5/A-5. Nice, What did you pay if you don't mind saying as I would've paid a fe bucks for that beauty!

[Baron Collins-Hill]

it was about $175 shipped. I'm fairly happy considering I had no idea what I was going to get in terms of playability.

Thanks,
Baron

[MikeEdgerton]

I believe that would qualify as a Piccolo Mandolin. Many newer ones have three courses of strings, many older ones have four. I've never seen one like this. It looks American made and I'd date from circa 1930 just looking at it. It sounds good.

Also called a Pocket Mandolin.

[William Smith]

I agree with Mike, the looks and hardware-tuners style of sunburst I'd say early mid 30's! What I find, I would've bought that little feller for 175 also as its very KOOL! And actually sounds pretty sweet from your demo!

[Gunnar]

I believe that would qualify as a Piccolo Mandolin. Many newer ones have three courses of strings, many older ones have four. I've never seen one like this. It looks American made and I'd date from circa 1930 just looking at it. It sounds good.

Also called a Pocket Mandolin.

I thought piccolo mandolins were tuned up a fourth from a mandolin, an octave above a mandola