Flatbacks of note

[peterk]

Mick, I like this sort of a stain "burst" done by Gregg Alf: a copy of "Lord Wilton" Del Gesu.

[brunello97]

Nice looking violin. Still seems like an attempt for faux tiger, flame or a mighty-big-bear claw maple. Often desired for backs, as I understand it.

Maybe I'm just accustomed to thinking about the term 'burst' in relation to mandolin--and guitar--(sun)bursts on Gibsons, etc.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Something we've seen from bro' Jake?

That is what I thought, too. Check out this page on JW's blog.

[brunello97]

Yup. That's it. I thought I'd seen it with Jake. Maybe the Ebay seller is the feller that Jake fixed it up for. I'd be surprised if he got the 6 Cs for it but the prices on these nicer flatbacks have been moving up.

Mick

[peterk]

Mick, I was just kidding. That's what happens when an amateur violinist becomes a dilettante mandolinist.

[Jim Garber]

Here is a real oddball. German flatback covered with MOTS. Looks normal from the front but then you look at the back... Yikes!

[Tavy]

Is that a mandolin or a frying pan???

[peterk]

A chestnut roasting pan ?

[Jeff Hildreth]

When an accordeon and a mandolin "get together".

[Bob Clark]

That back reminds me of a 1960's toilet seat lid.

[Jim Garber]

That back reminds me of a 1960's toilet seat lid.

Hence: Mother-of-Toilet-Seat (MOTS)

[brunello97]

When an accordeon and a mandolin "get together".

Which they regularly do at our house, but they are strictly chaperoned....

Mick

[ajr]

G'Day Mick,

Just came across this post.

I have the other one of these Oscar Schmidt Mandos which appears in a slightly earlier post of Jake's.

It is all but exactly the same as this one.

It actually isn't a faux finish. Either that or they have done the stripes on the inside as well exactly matching the outside.

It's a lovely little Mando and I feel fortunate to have her.

I always enjoy your posts.

All the best

[brunello97]

Thanks, Alex. I'd love to see some photos of your OS. Can you post some?

Jake's still looks pretty faux to me, but that isn't implying anything about yours. Of course, I could be wrong about the back on Jake's. Can be hard to tell without the instrument in hand.

Mick

[ajr]

Thanks, Alex. I'd love to see some photos of your OS. Can you post some?

Jake's still looks pretty faux to me, but that isn't implying anything about yours. Of course, I could be wrong about the back on Jake's. Can be hard to tell without the instrument in hand.

Mick

G'Day Mick,
I'm not a great photographer at all and I am relying on my phone camera at the moment, but I have taken a shot down through the sound hole and you can see the stripes on the inside of the back.

For other photos, Jake has a blog entry for my Mando on September 1st last year, which would have better photos than I think I could deliver. I'm happy to try to get some more though if you would like me to.

I must admit that from the photos, I would think that it is faux as well. Apart from the lack of a Moustache Bridge, the only real difference I detect from the one you have shown is a slightly different shaped heel and of course the pick wear on the pick guard.

Now to attempt to attach a the photo. This may or may not work.

Hmmm. It didn't. Any suggestions?

All The Best

[billkilpatrick]

oddity on ebay.fr this morning - bet it sounds "woody" in the worst possible sense:

[Jim Garber]

Anybody else see this in the Classifieds? Looks gorgeous! (NFI)

http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/70147

bratsche

It is back in the classifieds: Martin 45-AK Mandolin

[brunello97]

That thing hurts my eyes.

Mick

[Rob Norton]

I've looked at that, and I think it's very cool. I'm a bit fan of Martin flatbacks, and if I were rolling in dough I'd be tempted to buy it.

My taste in them, however, has moved over the years toward the plainer models. I owned a Style E once, and also a C, but the only one I've kept is a "Bitting Special" from the teens, which is a very understated little fella (somewhere between an A and a B in ornamentation).

I feel for the owner of this one. He's obviously got a very special instrument (like the man says, find another!), but I suspect you could count the universe of people who might want to buy -- and could afford to buy -- this on the fingers of one hand.

[Bob Clark]

My taste usually tends to run toward instruments with simple ornamentation, but this one really appeals to me. There's just something about it I find very attractive. I sure would love to own it.

Like Rob Norton, I also feel for the owner. He has a real treasure for someone, but the problem is finding that 'someone.' I hope he does find someone with the necessary desire and resources, because it is a shame to see it languishing here in the classifieds.

[Jim Garber]

This is an old thread, but I found another example of one recently on eBay UK of these oddball Frederick Winslow-labeled mandolins. These are sort of bowlback or not. i guess there were at least two versions.

Take a look at this one earlier on this thread (a flatback) or this one (sort of bowlback) even earlier

[brunello97]

Muy cool, Jim. Some very nice and some very weird detailing.

Looks like the top has a considerable amount of doming to it. A lot to like in terms of the proportions as well. Okay, the bridge is pretty clunky looking--may just a bit thick. I like the inset compensated saddle which I do hope that is bone instead of ivory.

The strange criss-crossed stringing geometries look consistently strange.

The UK-USA shipping is stunning or I'd find myself venturing a bid. Maybe this is something John M would like...

Mick

[billkilpatrick]

oddness abounds - looks like it was made by a boat designer ... a dinghie.

[Tavy]

The UK-USA shipping is stunning or I'd find myself venturing a bid. Maybe this is something John M would like...

Interesting for sure, but in all honesty I find it pretty ugly... sorry!

[Jim Garber]

It is a fascinatingly-designed instrument but the bridge and the tailpiece are way over the top. I kind of like the simpler thinline armrest but the rest is too much. It is funny but this sort of reminds me of a beautiful woman who has to wear dental appliances -- it is difficult to see the beauty, assuming there is some. It is currently at 111.00GDP plus 85 for shipping.