Stradolin

**Peter LaMorte** · Mar-18-2008, 12:47pm

Had this mandolin for twenty five years and always wanted to fix it up. So a couple days ago I fixed a couple of cracks, re glue the top to the rim, gave it a re-fret job and here you have it. Strange thing is I sat across from mandolin players looking at them with that "weird" instrument in their hands. After fixing this up and playing it for a week, I'm completely enchanted with the mandolin. It's got some strange hold over me, I can't put it down. Here is a photo my the guitar I built, I'm working on getting a mandolin build going.
Peter

**Peter LaMorte** · Mar-18-2008, 12:50pm

Here's the guitar.
Peter

**Bill Snyder** · Mar-18-2008, 1:11pm

I like the guitar. What plan did you use for it?

**Peter LaMorte** · Mar-18-2008, 1:24pm

Bill,
Actually, it was a Kit from John Hall at Blue Creek Guitars.
Thanks
Peter

**grassrootphilosopher** · Mar-18-2008, 1:49pm

Yessir, have fun with it. Ive got one like it. I believe these are from the thirties. Mine sounds very fine also. On a festival I sat jamming by my tent with a couple of buddies and we were giving some tunes a good whipping. Some internationally known mandolin picker walked over from way over the other end of the campground (soccer field) and commented on the Strad-O-Lin that it sounded just like an F mandolin. I´ve had numerous people remark on the very nice sound quality of the mandolin. Sounds really vintage and really good not only to my ears. It records pretty well also. I´d never give it away. Here it is (unfortunately there´s no better photo on my computer):

**grassrootphilosopher** · Mar-18-2008, 2:12pm

Looking at your post title, I found out that I misspelled the mandolin brand. Yes, I pick a Srad-O-Lin too.

**MML** · Mar-18-2008, 2:46pm

Nice Strad. I have found that the early ones with that style of segmented f holes are awesome. I believe the later ones went to the round hole segment style instead of what looks like a comma '

**Peter LaMorte** · Mar-18-2008, 3:01pm

Olaf,
Too funny I hadn't realized that the spelling was wrong. That's not the first spelling error I've made today #

Peter
PS I heard the srad guy made some pretty nice violins

**JEStanek** · Mar-18-2008, 10:51pm

I edited the title of the thread to Stradolin to aid in searches for later on.

Jamie

**MikeEdgerton** · Mar-19-2008, 7:19am

Originally Posted by (MML @ Mar. 18 2008, 15:46)

Nice Strad. I have found that the early ones with that style of segmented f holes are awesome. I believe the later ones went to the round hole segment style instead of what looks like a comma '

From what I've seen that might not be a way to distinguish them. I've seen early ones with round holes.

**grassrootphilosopher** · Mar-21-2008, 4:28pm

Peter,
your ps is absolutely correct. I found that that srad guy was also building electric instruments. Vintage ones fetch a ton of money. That fella must have access to some potent powers since he´s been around for centuries.

**gemini1** · Apr-05-2008, 4:58pm

US Strad ... Does anyone have information on a "US STRAD" brand of Stradolin? I am told this is a 1950's
Stradolin, but I have never seen this US STRAD marking before. Thanks

**gemini1** · Apr-05-2008, 5:11pm

Here's the back view of the US Strad

I was told the following: U.S. Strad was a brand name used by New-York based Strad-O-Lin Company, operated by Hominic Brothers ...this is a vintage 1950's 'A' style mandolin, 13 1/2" long and 10 1/2" wide, solid spruce top, maple back and sides

**Bill Snyder** · Apr-05-2008, 7:21pm

I am going to state the obvious but the 13 1/2" length must be refering to the body and not the overall length. It does however appear to have an extremely short neck.

**MikeEdgerton** · Apr-05-2008, 11:15pm

The Hominick thing has never been proven. US Strad was the last name I've seen on Strad-O-Lin genre mandolins. They may have been from later than the 50's.