I love it! What a cool instrument!
Doug Brock
2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles
Me too! Thinking about putting new strings on it and playing it, LOL
Pull off the resonator. The builder's name might be on the dowel rod. That's the case on my 1930's William C. Stahl banjolin.
It's not a vintage instrument, it was most likely made in Vietnam and sold on eBay. It's similar to this one. Sold by Antoniotsai or Bruceweiart.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Thanks. I could tell it was not vintage, and was pretty sure it was not great quality, but it is a great conversation piece and wall hanger. BTW, it is in great shape, LOL.
Last edited by fflmike; Jan-15-2020 at 9:53pm.
Sounds like the price was right, enjoy it.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Correct, the price was right, LOL. I still may re-string of and try it out.
Considering that the neck's heel extends down the side of the "resonator", seeming to be permanently attached, I'm thinking that maybe the resonator section can't be removed ... ??
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
If you string it up to play, use really light strings.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
I ordered a set of Ultra light strings. Just can't resist hearing it. Actually sounds pretty good with dead strings, LOL
Got the strings and discovered that there is no way to set the bridge correctly. If I set it with the 12th fret, the bridge is so close to the foot that it is scary and the harmonic are still way off. I can get the harmonics correct with the 11th fret, but then the tuning is all off, LOL. Guess it will only be a wall hanger, which is all I was really hoping for anyway. Fun trying though. Maybe it is not really a mandolin.
That's pretty amazing. These things were more for show than go I guess. Believe it or not, prior to WWII and then the Indo-China wars Vietnam was a country that manufactured musical instruments as well as furniture. There is a thread here someplace where someone popped up mandolin made in 1922 when Vietnam was a French colony and it's actually pretty impressive.
Here it is. I thought it was newer than it was.
Most of the stuff we've seen coming out in the last 15 or so years had been very blinged up and odd.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
My wife likes it on the wall better than the old potato bug that I had up there, so that is a plus at least.
Not really sure that "potato bug" is a correct term for the round or gourd back mandolin. Just what my dad used to call them, LOL
The common name is bowlback mandolin. The whole Potato Bug and Tater Bug thing has been around for decades. Gibson used the term when disparaging the design and touting their original design.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
A friend had a mandola by those Viet luthiers. Biggest piece of pearl encrusted junk I ever played. Hopefully yours is more recent and that they may have learned more about construction and seasoning wood.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I'd love to spend a few hours with the people who come up with these designs, and give them to the Vietnamese cottage-industry workers who build them.
"Hey, why don't we make a mandolin that has a banjo body, but a wood top? And inlay it all over with vines and butterflies?"
"Who the heck would buy such a thing?"
"Someone on eBay, for sure. There's a market for any kinda mandolin we build, somewhere."
And this, of course, proves them right.
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
Considering this one isn't even playable it might be interesting. I always say that the day that they figure out how to make a mandolin that actually looks like something that would sell without the bling they will own the bottom end of the industry right or wrong.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
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