Highland F Style Mandolin

**jared.petry1** · Dec-21-2022, 9:30am

Hi all,
I just picked this F Style mandolin with a scroll design stating “Highland” on the headstock, but I cannot find any info about this maker. I’ve tried looking in the sound holes and cannot find any other markings indicating a model # or an origin. Is anyone familiar with this maker? I’m just looking for info to satisfy my curiosity.

This mandolin needs some work still (new strings, cleaning, and setup) and does have a crack on the face. If anyone has any tips on how to repair that I would appreciate it. Using a mirror, I see the crack goes straight through but stops where a brace is. I was thinking some Hyde glue and a clamp might be enough, but am not sure.

This is my first time posting, so hopefully I attached the photos correctly. Thanks in advance.

Click image for larger version.

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**keith.rogers** · Dec-21-2022, 9:42am

Looks “gold-tone-ish” on my phone (computer down) and does it feel/look like glue has already been applied to the crack? The pic suggests to me that it has.

**jared.petry1** · Dec-21-2022, 10:30am

The break looks clean. I don’t see any glue or residue in it. I’ll post a close up picture of the crack.

**keith.rogers** · Dec-21-2022, 11:39pm

Just saw the added pics. I’d start by trying to hydrate the instrument/room room and see if that crack will close up. It looks too open of a crack for hide glue (or many other types) to be permanent.

**MikeEdgerton** · Dec-22-2022, 8:40am

These were imported into the US under dozens of brand names. The same brand name and logo has shown up a few times here over the years on various instruments. I would assume that your instrument was most likely built in Korea or China. Whoever is using this brand name doesn't appear to be importing large quantities of anything. Most likely a distributor or retailer someplace.

https://www.google.com/search?client...ndolincafe.com

**jared.petry1** · Dec-23-2022, 12:50am

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

These were imported into the US under dozens of brand names. The same brand name and logo has shown up a few times here over the years on various instruments. I would assume that your instrument was most likely built in Korea or China. Whoever is using this brand name doesn't appear to be importing large quantities of anything. Most likely a distributor or retailer someplace.

https://www.google.com/search?client...ndolincafe.com

Thanks for the info! I had seen that post about the bowl-backed mandolin and didn’t notice the font on the headstock was the exact same. Regardless, I like it. Once I get some new strings and do some tweeks to it, I think it will be a great player.

**Richard500** · Dec-23-2022, 4:07pm

Same headstock inlay as a Countryman, also likely one of those multiply-branded Asians, not that it means terrible. That crack seems related to the brace, so is structural; not a candidate for just filling. Go to light strings and it may survive better.

**jared.petry1** · Dec-23-2022, 5:39pm

Originally Posted by Richard500

Same headstock inlay as a Countryman, also likely one of those multiply-branded Asians, not that it means terrible. That crack seems related to the brace, so is structural; not a candidate for just filling. Go to light strings and it may survive better.

Ok. Thanks for the tip. 😊 Do you believe the break is related to the brace because the brace stops right where the crack is? Any suggestions on potential repairs I could try? Or should I just leave it and enjoy it with light strings?

**pops1** · Dec-23-2022, 6:21pm

For cracks that are wide enough that they won't close like this, I like to make a plane shaving of spruce that will fit snugly into the crack when dry. I insert the shaving into the crack and then apply hot hide glue. The glue will wick into the crack and glue the shaving in place. When dry I trim the shaving. If you hydrate to glue the crack when it dries out again it will crack again. This way that will not happen.