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Thread: Need advice for repairing/restoring FAB banjo-mandolin

  1. #1

    Post Need advice for repairing/restoring FAB banjo-mandolin

    I have "most" of an old Favilla Brothers banjo-mandolin. I would like to put it back together again but need replacement parts. I am not expecting this to turn into a perfectly restored instrument, just looking for it to be complete and playable - no expert here. That said, I really know very little about its value, so if it is worth fixing properly, somebody tell me!

    It is missing all of the lugs around the head, the tailpiece, the nut, the bridge, some fret bars and some of the mother-of-pearl inlays on the neck (and of course will need a new head and strings) and maybe something else I don't know should be there. There are two cracks in the arched rim on the backside, one all the way through, but it is still attached to the shell. Otherwise, it seems solid. I'm pretty handy and will do as much as I can myself if I can find the parts, but my area of expertise is in band instruments, so I don't know what I don't know about this. Where could I find the parts I need and some advice?

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  2. #2
    Dan Scullin dscullin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need advice for repairing/restoring FAB banjo-mandolin

    For metal parts try Sullivan Banjos website:
    https://sullivanbanjo.com/collections/metal-parts
    Dan Scullin
    Louisville, KY

  3. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need advice for repairing/restoring FAB banjo-mandolin

    Another source: http://smakula.com/Partslist.html

    Bob has both new and vintage parts and know banjos well and can advise you on a proper head and hardware.

    For inlays, try DePaule Supply: https://www.luthiersupply.com — for some reason I can't get their site to load but you can contact them through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/depaule.supply/
    Jim

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  4. #4

    Default Re: Need advice for repairing/restoring FAB banjo-mandolin

    Thank you, Dan!

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thank you, Jim!

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