For the last few weeks and in spite of the pandemic, I've had a welcome visitor in the house... a prototype mandolin built by Todd Cambio (Fraulini Guitar Co.). Todd is a guitar builder with a deep interest in the intertwined history of Italians and instrument building in the US. The Caterina that has been visiting with me a beautifully made instrument that's inspired by the bent-top, flat back instruments of the early 20th century, and you can include Vega cylinder-back instruments in that group as well.
Some specifics:
Top: European Spruce
Back and sides: Maple
Fingerboard: Unbound Ebony
Bridge: Ebony
Binding/Pickguard: Faux tortoise
Scale length: 13 7/8"
Body width: 9 1/2"
Depth: 3"
Pics tell a better story:
The more generous depth meant that he also had to create a custom case for it - quite a production for a prototype!
The mandolin plays and sounds great - it's "wet" sounding in the way you might expect from a bent-top instrument - sweet and kind of rich sounding. It has the effect of seeming loud to the player. There are some physical things about the mandolin that I would change just in favor of ergonomics, but they're quibbles.
These days, I'm mainly playing Italian music, which is probably why Todd sent it to me to try out. Here are a couple of videos that might tell the story of how it sounds a bit better than a bunch of prose. The tunes are all from Giovanni Vicari, which are all WAY over my head, musically, but I did have fun playing guitar on them!
Anima Solitaria (Valser)
Alcamo Marina (Mazurka)
Una Notte A Catania (Mazurka)
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