Bought this on Ebay, HANDMADE J.W BRADFORD

[Binkoba]

I bought this on ebay, looks really nice, but cannot find any information on the builder J.W. Bradford.
What do you all think?

[Binkoba]

I now know who built it,

https://kirbysmithrogers.com/tribute.../obituary.html

[Rdeane]

Very cool design. Close enough to traditional but enough creativity to be very attractive. I love the elegant line from the body to the neck.

[Cotatigirl]

I saw it too! Couldn’t find the builder but it definitely had me stop and look at it as closely as I could. Let us know how it playsRegards, Jan

[Mark Gunter]

Good looking mandolin. How does it sound?

[Mike Scaggs]

Thats kinda cool looking... Love to hear it

[Binkoba]

I will keep the thread updated when it arrives.

[Binkoba]

I will keep the thread updated when it arrives.

I received it, although it is a beautiful piece of work the action is too high at the bridge end of the fretboard, and that is with the bridge bottomed out. It needs too much work for me.

[Denny Gies]

Very nice. I'd be careful about the strap looped around the large scroll on the headstock. Remember what happened to Bill Monroe's Loar.

[Mark Gunter]

I received it, although it is a beautiful piece of work the action is too high at the bridge end of the fretboard, and that is with the bridge bottomed out. It needs too much work for me.

Oh man, that is sad to hear. Can you tell whether or not the neck is in a decent position, and the joints are sound? Also whether the neck is straight? Use a straight edge to check the neck relief.

If all is well, trimming the bridge down may be an option. Apparently there is no truss rod in that instrument.

[Jim Garber]

I received it, although it is a beautiful piece of work the action is too high at the bridge end of the fretboard, and that is with the bridge bottomed out. It needs too much work for me.

If this is indeed a decent hand-made instrument—I saw that the seller accepted an offer under $350—it might be worth it to have a competent luthier reset the neck. Unless you think it is a piece of junk. An Asian-made factory instrument could cost more than $700.