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Thread: Is this how it starts?

  1. #26
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    I feel so lucky!

  2. #27
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Congrats on having such a great Strad-O-Lin. They have a great sound. Yours is fantastic. I agree with Jake as to the time period. The valve cover tuners seem to have been popular in '40 and '41. Regal used them on their top of the line guitar.

    May you enjoy playing it for many years. (And it's great Jake put your instrument on his blog. He's got a lot of good instruments there.)
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  4. #28
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Thank you again for the kind words.

    I agree with Jake as to the time period. The valve cover tuners seem to have been popular in '40 and '41.
    Corroboration is good. Jake said those tuners were only made for one year.

    (And it's great Jake put your instrument on his blog. He's got a lot of good instruments there.)
    A little corny, but it sort of feels like when your kid makes the honor role

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  6. #29
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Sue, so glad you're getting such satisfaction out of your Strad-O-Lin. I've owned a couple of them over the last 25-30 years; the first one I bought, badly cracked and with super-alligatored finish, from an 85-year-old NYCity lady who'd kept it under her bed for decades. I paid her either $25 or $50, can't remember, and, once fixed up, it was my go-to instrument to take camping, to sing-arounds, or just to throw in the back of the car "just in case there's some music." I performed with it, recorded with it, and finally traded it in -- on a nicer Strad-O-Lin!

    Strad-O-Lins with their mysterious origin and "knockabout" work-person-ship, have been the Ugly Ducklings of the mandolin world for a long time. People familiar with 20th-century mandolins have long known that they're "hidden gems," sounding much better than they look, survivors from a time when US companies produced excellent entry-and-intermediate-level instruments that were affordable and very playable.

    I have a number of instruments by Lyon & Healy, Regal, Oscar Schmidt et. al. that were built for the general market, not fancy at all, just decently constructed from good materials, with very serviceable designs and excellent sound. I wish that capability still existed in the US, and that we didn't have to rely on imported instruments to fill the lower rungs of the market "ladder." I hope you have found a relic of that era of American instrument production, that will stay with you for a long time.
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  8. #30
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    These are such great instruments, congrats! I have a very similar one (https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...-Serial-Number). I think its a laminate back and sides with solid top but I don't care, it has such rich low end and nice volume. mine has a couple cracks I tried to have repaired but they came unglued. Probably need to take the top off to really fix them. Decided they're just part of the character of the mandolin and am leaving them. Enjoy yours!!

  9. #31
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    I saw yours, jaybp30. It's probably the closest one of all the pictures I looked at.

  10. #32
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    I have a number of instruments by Lyon & Healy, Regal, Oscar Schmidt et. al. that were built for the general market, not fancy at all, just decently constructed from good materials, with very serviceable designs and excellent sound. I wish that capability still existed in the US, and that we didn't have to rely on imported instruments to fill the lower rungs of the market "ladder." I hope you have found a relic of that era of American instrument production, that will stay with you for a long time.
    Beyond perhaps a smidgin of patriotism or nostalgia or the like, this is a big reason I started thinking about older American instruments in the first place. I think about how much tweaking it took to get my Korean Kentucky playing reasonably, and how well the Strad-O-Lin has held up to the tests of time, and how much better it sounds. Both instruments built for the masses.

    Sue

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  12. #33

    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Congratulations on such a great find, Sue! Really nice looking.

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  14. #34
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Another holiday, another mandolin. Suddenly I find myself with the beginnings of a herd

    I hope the Stradolin doesn't get jealous, but I have a new Morris flat top mandolin (maybe you saw it in the Classifieds) coming my way from Oregon in the morning. My thought is I will just have to spend twice as much time playing so that both get the attention they deserve.

    I haven't fully discussed it with my husband yet, but I have in mind what I will say when it comes up. "It's a much more affordable addiction than airplanes." (I did quite a bit of flying a number of years ago)

    Sue

  15. #35
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    ..."It's a much more affordable addiction than airplanes." (I did quite a bit of flying a number of years ago)...
    Yeah, I get that: you think you only need one airplane, then you want a "beater" Piper Cub to take camping, then you think you want something different and larger -- maybe a twin-engine -- then you hear a Lloyd Lear Jet at a fly-in somewhere, and you need that, so you trade in the Beechcraft and a couple million buxx –– and where do you store them all? And you see a pre-war Stinson on eBay; needs restoration, but it's a real historic gem, so you bid sorta hoping someone will overbid you, but no one does (you're not to blame, it was late at night and you'd had a couple glasses of wine)...

    Pretty soon you're in marriage counseling and personal bankruptcy. Stick to mandolins; they all fit in one room (well, two rooms if you count the closet).
    Allen Hopkins
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    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
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    H-O mandolinetto
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    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
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  17. #36
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    True, but sometimes I still think about the Stinson I didn't buy. (I had a Piper Cherokee 180)

    Then there were floatplanes, and IFR equipped travellers.....

    .... Yeah, better to stick to mandolins
    Last edited by Sue Rieter; Sep-07-2020 at 3:31pm. Reason: another idea

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  19. #37
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Way to go Sue, a new Morris in addition to the old Stradolin! So, I guess it is time to modify the title of this thread from a question 'Is this how it starts?' to a statement 'This is how it starts'

    Enjoy!

    Rob

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  21. #38
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    Another holiday, another mandolin. Suddenly I find myself with the beginnings of a herd
    Sue, are you familiar with the resonator mandolin?
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  23. #39
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Here it is, Morris #450 just built last month! So lovely, but in a way that is totally different from the Strad-O-Lin. I like that it is mostly made of wood that Mr. Morris got fairly locally: cedar and silver maple from Oregon, black walnut from Washington. Built just a few hours from where my daughter lives, and by a guy with the same first name as my late Dad and my brother. And the matching fingerboard and bridge are very cool.

    Is it possible to be in love with two mandolins at the same time? These are so different, like night and day. The Strad-O-Lin is like a warm summer afternoon, and the Morris is like late on a moonlit night. (A little corny, but hey.)

    I feel lucky to have two such wonderful instruments!

    Sue
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  25. #40
    Registered User Cobalt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    That does look good. Congratulations!

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  27. #41
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Congrats! The figuring on the fingerboard and bridge is stunning!

    Rob

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  29. #42
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    I feel lucky to have two such wonderful instruments!
    Sue, now that you have reached your third mandolin, it is probably the appropriate time to warn you that one's fifth mandolin typically costs as much as the previous four put together.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
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  31. #43
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Sue, now that you have reached your third mandolin, it is probably the appropriate time to warn you that one's fifth mandolin typically costs as much as the previous four put together.
    I can see from your list that you know what you're talking about!

  32. #44
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Congrats on the Morris. That's a very pretty mandolin. And am betting it sounds good. Like you say, different than a Strad-O-Lin. They should compliment each other quite well.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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  34. #45
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Platt View Post
    Congrats on the Morris. That's a very pretty mandolin. And am betting it sounds good. Like you say, different than a Strad-O-Lin. They should compliment each other quite well.
    It does sound very nice. And very easy to play. The action is amazing.

    I only wish I could play it for you without embarrassing myself. Maybe pretty soon.

  35. #46

    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    "Is this how it starts?"

    Perhaps I missed it, but I didn't see a succinct answer to the original question. The answer is, "Yes!" :-)

    Congrats! The Strad-O-Lin is especially cool.

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  37. #47
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Sue, The center stripe of the neck is (more than likely) Brazilian Rosewood, as are the fretboard and bridge. Brazilian Rosewood was just another available wood in the 40's. Asymmetrical fretboard extensions were used on the better Stradolins so I would get a second opinion to see if the back is solid of laminated.

    How do you like the raised fretboard extension?

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  39. #48
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    Sue, The center stripe of the neck is (more than likely) Brazilian Rosewood, as are the fretboard and bridge. Brazilian Rosewood was just another available wood in the 40's. Asymmetrical fretboard extensions were used on the better Stradolins so I would get a second opinion to see if the back is solid of laminated.

    How do you like the raised fretboard extension?
    Have you ever seen the stairstep before?

    Here's how much I like the Stradolin - if I had to pare my belongings down to what fits in my car, this mandolin would make the cut.
    I'm not sophisticated enough to know what the raised fretboard extension does for the sound, but I do know it looks wicked cool and the mandolin sounds excellent to my ear. It has a good amount of volume and the sound feels full and complete. I like the vibes, visual and aural.

    I like the Morris, too. It looks and sounds really different, with notes that go on and blend together. Right now I alternate which one I play. When I get better and have a bigger repertoire, I will probably choose a mandolin to play according to what best suits the music.

    Sue

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  41. #49
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    When I get better and have a bigger repertoire, I will probably choose a mandolin to play according to what best suits the music.
    Yep, that's how it starts alright.

    A different mandolin for each style of music. And then, for each style, a practice mandolin, a beater gigging mandolin, a fancy-shmancy concert mandolin, maybe another mandolin that records acoustically better than the live ones that have pickups...
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  43. #50
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    Default Re: Is this how it starts?

    [QUOTE=Sue Rieter;1778070]So I have a new mando in my life, a craiglist Strad-O-Lin, advertised as 50's but Mike E says it could be older. I think it's solid wood, at least the top, and even though the action is about the same height as my Kentucky, it plays easier and is really loud. I REALLY like the way it looks. The color is great, the matching pickguard and tailpiece cover are really cool, and it has a cool line down the middle of the back of the neck that I like. The guy selling it was the son of the owner, it was from his estate. Armed with just enough knowledge to be dangerous (thanks, Cafe!), I negotiated him down a fair amount. I paid $275.

    Hi Sue: I started like you from a charango to an older A Kentucky ... then a Flatiron..... and now...many years later with MAS .. I have 6 mandos plus many more instruments..... Also, I had one exactly like yours (see photo link) ...great mando until it was stolen... Anyway, the neck of these Stradolins is chunkier than any of the more recent mandos.... so I suppose it should survive some abuse resting in storage for long time.... More trouble is if that place was affected by humidity and temperature changes.... then you might be in trouble.... Anyway, great acquisition... https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...chmentid=51109
    Last edited by lucho; Oct-13-2020 at 11:03am.

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