Just got a Strad-o-lin as a gift...

[Elliot Luber]

Cool. A friend was cleaning out his uncle's apartment and he came across an old Strad-o-lin A-model mandolin, no inside label. Knowing I play, he just gave it to me hoping it would either be played or sold to someone else who would play it.

It certainly needs a full set-up and maybe a set of tuners (or maybe just the low G tuner repaired). It has some "mojo" scratches on the front with some bridge marks and some belt scratching on the back, but it looks like one I see being sold online for about $350 as VG.

Is that value in the ballpark of what it's worth and what should it cost to fix the tuners and overhaul it a bit, assuming no other damage shows up? Anyone have a recommendation for fixing a mandolin on Long Island? I have someone in mind, but looking for other options too as he can be expensive. Thanks for any insight you can add here.

[Elliot Luber]

Watching this to see how it's done.

[MikeEdgerton]

They never had internal labels. On occasion they do have a date penciled inside the top. Please add pictures to the Strad-O-Lin Social Group.

[Eric Platt]

There might be a date stamp on the back near the center, also. That's where mine is.

And I'm not sure about those tuners. They've either had the gears replaced and reinstalled backwards or they are replacements. The shafts should be above the gears.

And congratulations on getting it. Really like mine.

[Elliot Luber]

Thanks. There may have been something on the inside, but it's long-since worn out.

[MikeEdgerton]

There might be a date stamp on the back near the center, also. That's where mine is.

And I'm not sure about those tuners. They've either had the gears replaced and reinstalled backwards or they are replacements. The shafts should be above the gears.

And congratulations on getting it. Really like mine.

The tuners appear to be installed upside down from the scarring above the plates.

[William Smith]

WoW what a nice friend and gift! Enjoy as those Strad O's I think are really KOOL and have some serious tone! Well at least all the ones I've tried out and played. NICE and a blonde, can't complain about that gift.

[Elliot Luber]

I'll probably replace them, but thanks for pointing this out

[Elliot Luber]

WoW what a nice friend and gift! Enjoy as those Strad O's I think are really KOOL and have some serious tone! Well at least all the ones I've tried out and played. NICE and a blonde, can't complain about that gift.

If it does outplay my Eastman when renovated, I'll have to consider keeping it. Depending on the cost of renovation I may sell it or see about donating it, but let's see and hear how it goes through renovation and what hands-on experts tell me.

[Randi Gormley]

I think my luthier just replaced my strad's old tuners with something straight out of stew-mac; if you're up to it, you might be able to do it yourself. and the price you've quoted for the instrument is about right, from what i remember. nice gift!

[Elliot Luber]

A childhood friend was cleaning out his uncle's apartment and came across the mandolin. Knowing I play, he figured I would know what to do with it; I would be honest if it was something like a Loar (it ain't), and however I disposed of it would give it the best chance of being played rather than turned into a lamp or something. His uncle played it as a kid, but he was kind of a horder so he had a lot of "stuff."