Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 28

Thread: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    https://imgur.com/a/ZGAUVtZ

    Any help would be appreciated. I just bought this and can't find anything on it, or even anything about this shape.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    For posterity:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	StrangeMandolin.jpg 
Views:	274 
Size:	714.4 KB 
ID:	188667  
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  3. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to MikeEdgerton For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Alberta
    Posts
    591

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    To me. By the looks of the carved back. It looks like it could be German made. Like the Roger guitars back in the day. That looks pretty cool.

  5. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    High Peak - UK
    Posts
    4,171

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Doesn’t look that old. Possibly an amateur build by a competent woodworker? The neck is too short for the body. The bridge looks to be in the right place but it’s too far up the body.

  6. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY, USA
    Posts
    1,249

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    I am not sure that is a mandolin. There are several South American instruments that have four double courses of strings and simaler shapes.

  7. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    I suspect the bridge was not original to the instrument but I guess it could be. The F holes are really rough.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  8. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland north
    Posts
    277

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    When I first saw it, it made me think of a Puerto Rican cuatro, but the shape isn't quite right and it's one course short.
    It looks more like a stretched Martin style 2-20.

  9. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    Doesn’t look that old. Possibly an amateur build by a competent woodworker? The neck is too short for the body. The bridge looks to be in the right place but it’s too far up the body.
    I agree with Ray(T). Amateur build. Te guy may have built a violin or two. As for the comment about the neck? I say the body is too long for the neck. Joins at 10th fret but the scale (I am guessing) is probably within mandolin range. I don't think it is a South American instrument.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  10. #9
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    I was wondering what the green thing is, and how much resonance (tunable or not) could be obtained from the strings on the ‘wrong’ side of the bridge.

  11. #10
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    North CA
    Posts
    5,020

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon DS View Post
    I was wondering what the green thing is, and how much resonance (tunable or not) could be obtained from the strings on the ‘wrong’ side of the bridge.
    I often put a piece of material to kill the resonance between the bridge and tailpiece. It's just a string damper.

  12. The following members say thank you to DavidKOS for this post:


  13. #11

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    I often put a piece of material to kill the resonance between the bridge and tailpiece. It's just a string damper.
    Yeah, it's just a piece of felt to keep the strings off the body.

  14. #12

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I agree with Ray(T). Amateur build. Te guy may have built a violin or two. As for the comment about the neck? I say the body is too long for the neck. Joins at 10th fret but the scale (I am guessing) is probably within mandolin range. I don't think it is a South American instrument.
    This adds up. I live in Southwest Virginia and there is a ton of bluegrass fiddle/guitar/mandolin playing and likely some fiddle/guitar/mandolin making around here. When I picked it up from the guy, he told me it wasn't mass produced, but not much else. Then i had it in my front seat and went through a drive through and the older lady working the first window asked if i played. I told her i just picked it up to practice on and had never seen a mandolin this shape. She said "I have, but it's been a long time."

    Sounds like this could be a local product that shows a luthier skill set from making fiddles and maybe mountain dulcimers.

  15. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    My only problem with that story is the slot head tuners. The tailpiece is a common US product, he had to work to get those tuners. I'll be honest, if I bumped into that and the price was right I would have bought it just because it's got a certain cool factor.
    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Sep-21-2020 at 10:01am.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  16. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:


  17. #14
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Could you post a picture of the tuning machines from the side?

    That double nut makes me wonder if this neck had a zero fret at one time.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  18. #15

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    My only problem with that story is the slot head tuners. The tailpiece is a common US product, he had to work to get those tuners. I'll be honest, if I bumped into that and the price was right I would have bought it just because it's got a certain cool factor.
    I'm with you, what's going on from the nut up keeps me from settling on that story. The tuner style and nut material match a few Mexican made instruments i have seen.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20200920_113855707.jpg 
Views:	166 
Size:	228.3 KB 
ID:	188681

  19. #16
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by skitfin View Post
    I'm with you, what's going on from the nut up keeps me from settling on that story. The tuner style and nut material match a few Mexican made instruments i have seen.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20200920_113855707.jpg 
Views:	166 
Size:	228.3 KB 
ID:	188681
    OK, I suspect that it might have been made in Mexico or at least the neck. The tuners look decent but they just aren't real common in the US. Maybe someone can ID those. I can't. Whoever built it was ambitious but not real clean in their execution.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  20. #17
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Have you looked inside with a dental mirror and flashlight for markings?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  21. #18
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I'll be honest, if I bumped into that and the price was right I would have bought it just because it's got a certain cool factor.
    Absolutely.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  22. #19

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Have you looked inside with a dental mirror and flashlight for markings?
    I'll have to get myself a dental mirror.

    I bought thiis as a modest investment to flip. I'm in the process of moving and shouldn't be acquiring new things. This weirdo mandolin will likely end up on Reverb before too long.

  23. #20
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Please put it up on the Mandolin Café classifieds. I don't really want to do business with anyone else.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  24. #21

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Those double dots were used on Ermelinda Silvestri guitars in the 1950s- possibly other Catania made instruments. I am not suggesting this mandolin was made in Catania but it may have been made by someone from Sicily.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	672-2010827173851_468x382.jpg 
Views:	83 
Size:	11.9 KB 
ID:	188718

  25. #22
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    If it was made in Italy all would make sense except for that Waverly tailpiece. The dots could certainly be a connection or at least an influence. If I bought this I would make myself crazy trying to clean up the F holes.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  26. #23
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Ann Arbor/Austin
    Posts
    6,281

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    Not much about this suggests Catanese or Sicilian build. The double dots are a red herring. Though Silvestri at least used them on this mandolin.
    Mick
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Sylvestri Mandolin.jpg 
Views:	118 
Size:	411.9 KB 
ID:	188726  
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
    ______________________

    '05 Cuisinart Toaster
    '93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
    '12 Stetson Open Road
    '06 Bialetti expresso maker
    '14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig

  27. #24

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    I wrote that it might have been made by someone from Sicily and by that I meant an emigrant to the USA as that cloud tailpiece suggests it was made in North America but those tuners are a bit of a mystery. The double dots are a stylistic device that Silvestri used in the 1950s and suggest perhaps an era when this mandolin was made but overall I agree there's very little to go on that can make any real headway to discovering its true origin.

  28. #25

    Default Re: Need Help Identifying Strange Mandolin

    I now see that inside the body, up at the neck, written in ball point pen is "Dan Fitzer, Sept. 1970".

    I can find no record of a luthier named Dan Fitzer.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •