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Thread: 1890 5 course bandurria

  1. #1
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    I wonder if that is the soprano member of the bandurria family. It looks like it might be smaller. How does it compare to a standard 12 string one? Also would that have been strung with gut strings?

    Rare Antique 19th Century Mandolin Circa 1890
    Beautiful very rare Good quality instrument.
    Great pear shape lovley wood work,
    rare with 10 strings
    Size: Full length 55 cm, Body size: 28 cm long,
    26.5 cm wide.
    Jim

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  3. #3
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I wonder if that is the soprano member of the bandurria family. It looks like it might be smaller. How does it compare to a standard 12 string one? Also would that have been strung with gut strings?
    The bandurria had only 5 courses, and was strung in gut before it got a 6th course. These older ones are nowadays generally called the baroque bandurria. 1890 seems very late for a 5 course one though as far as I'm aware. It doesn't give a scale length, but using an image editor to estimate it after scaling to the measurements shown for the width and length I end up with a scale length of 26-28cm, which is normal for a bandurria. Having said that, modern bandurrias do tend to have wider bodies than the baroque bandurria.

    Here are some pictures of a reconstruction of a baroque bandurria for comparison:

    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  4. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    When are your dates for baroque bandurrias? Would they have been stung with gut or metal?
    Jim

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  5. #5

    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    i noticed this one as well. very cute little instrument, although i can't see myself playing it.

  6. #6
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    When are your dates for baroque bandurrias? Would they have been stung with gut or metal?
    During the baroque period (1600–1730), and they were strung with gut. In fact I've just found on Wikipedia this original 6 course gut-strung bandurria from the 18th century:

    So yeah, 1890 seems very late for 5 courses. To me, the fact it has an tailpiece suggests the strings go from there through the fixed bridge, like a modern bandurria, and suggests steel strings. Assuming that tailpiece is even original! It also doesn't have the 'shoulders' of the baroque bandurria shape. So this instrument seems an interesting anomaly.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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  8. #7

    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    i wonder if the back and sides are brazillian rosewood??? might be worth salvaging for a mandolin.

    the one pictured above is a beauty

  9. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1890 5 course bandurria

    The 1890s in Europe seems to have been a time for retro or looking back to older times musically. I have a single strung 6 string Italian mandolino made in Firenze in that decade.
    Jim

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