>I've seen in Martin and Embergher bowlbacks a small "stiffener plate" of wood reinforcing the top between the topmost brace and the neck joint. I've been adding one in on all my bowlbacks as a precautionary measure.
Nod. Most of the better (or at least better preserved) makes had those.
You can also add small longitudinal braces either side of the sound hole to prevent (further) crumpling without impacting on the sound - indeed many builders like to add reinforcement around there to improve the sound!
The original ad does state "Tortoise Celluloid Guard Plate." I don't know if this model was made by L & H or was made by Regal for the company. Certainly, Regal made very similar looking instruments and L & H did sell out to Tonk Bros in the late 20s. At $25 it was not a cheap instrument- neither was it a super expensive one but I am sure it has merit if in playable order. I bought a very cheap Regal on eBay that needed plenty of work. The photos were not great but I have to admit that when it arrived, it had the most enormous warp on the top which did not show. I have told my luthier, that if he thinks what I bring around to him is real junk, then I have something very special to show him, one day if he's really unlucky. One of the sides is also warped and although I know he could fix it, it would be a waste of his time and I have more appealing and worthy boxes that need treatment. Yes, I was also hoping it was made of Koa but it is birch made to look like Koa but it did have a nice rope style binding to add to the deception! Here is one that is photographed so you can see it is birch!
The original ad does state "Tortoise Celluloid Guard Plate."
The craigslist ad I linked to says "Real Tortoise Shell Pickguard" - that would indicate real, natural shell - but that is incorrect, because the mandolin has a celluloid plastic "imitation tortoise" guard plate. The celluloid isn't too bad yet, for approaching the 100 year mark, but we all know that it will continue to degrade now.
BTW, seller has lowered the price to $150 now. Still a bit high for me in its condition, but closer to reason now.
Very interesting to read the text below where Washburn is still offering bowlbacks in their 1924 catalog.
I would have thought they were done making them long before then. Maybe they kept up limited production into the '20s or perhaps this is NOS.
The ad copy is worth repeating:
"To the many Mandolin players....who believe that the Bowl Shaped Mandolins possess a quality of tone all their own, we take pardonable pride in offer the following.....
We sincerely believe that the further improvements we have made in the New Series instruments will establish them more firmly in the favor of lovers of fine instruments the World over.
......and the wonderful tone quality and absolute correctness of scale will appeal to all who take pride in performing on a really superior instrument."
>
You can also add small longitudinal braces either side of the sound hole to prevent (further) crumpling without impacting on the sound - indeed many builders like to add reinforcement around there to improve the sound!
That's what I know, John. I've seen these on Emberghers and have added them on numerous bowls myself. Small bit of work but it offers a bit of peace of mind.
* Add a brace over that area if there isn't one already to stop the problem from reoccurring.
Originally Posted by brunello97
I've seen in Martin and Embergher bowlbacks a small "stiffener plate" of wood reinforcing the top between the topmost brace and the neck joint. I've been adding one in on all my bowlbacks as a precautionary measure.
Mick, Tavy: Would a sound-post sort of dowel be helpful in that location in a flat back instrument like the one in OP? Would it be very detrimental to sound? Would it add too much stress to back plate?
A sound post should not be tight and is not for support per say. I would go with the stiffener recommended. I have done this for an octave mandolin and it worked well, and wasn't that hard to do.
>Mick, Tavy: Would a sound-post sort of dowel be helpful in that location in a flat back instrument like the one in OP? Would it be very detrimental to sound? Would it add too much stress to back plate?
Aaaaaaaah, please no!
Sound posts are for violins, they kill the sound from mandolin style instruments, if you're going to do it, do it properly
Jim, thanks for posting the advertisement!
I really love the simple terminology especially
“Dull finish”
None of this “Satin” or “Matte” or “Low Gloss” nonsense! It’s just Dull. Pretty easy to imagine really.
The old catalog pages are such fun to read, the gentle self promotion, the elegance. No big hype, just the Joe Friday take.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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