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Classical Mandolin Archive

eric@mandohangout.com — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:58:09 CST

?? Classical Mandolin Archive

mandolinarchive.org

Classical Mandolin Archive is a non-commercial, open-access digital project dedicated to preserving and sharing the heritage of the classical mandolin

mandolinarchive.org

. It gathers high-quality photographs and detailed information about mandolins from makers past and present—spanning historical European luthiers to contemporary artisans worldwide

Mission & Purpose
The archive's primary goal is to serve as a centralized reference resource to assist musicians, collectors, researchers, and musicologists with the identification, dating, and attribution of classical mandolins

mandolinarchive.org

. By documenting instrument craftsmanship across eras and regions, it supports scholarship, appreciation, and informed collecting.

What You'll Find

?? Over 800+ documented mandolins with multiple photographs per instrument

mandolinarchive.org
?? Searchable by maker, model, tag, or collection
?? Global scope: Italian, Japanese, American, and other traditions
?? Open contributions: Luthiers and collectors are invited to submit instruments for inclusion

mandolinarchive.org
?? Clear copyright and attribution guidelines for educational use

Built for Community
Powered by Omeka, the archive emphasizes ethical sharing: all images remain copyrighted by their original photographers, and proper credit with a link back to the site is required for any reuse

mandolinarchive.org

. It's a living, growing resource—strengthened by contributions from the global mandolin community.

Explore the collection. Share your instrument. Help preserve mandolin heritage. ??

Knobelsdorf Mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:47:53 CST

Saw this recently on the ROKU Antiques Roadshow channel. Surprised to find a clip:

thirteen.org/programs/antiques...0-aeeepf/

1911 Gibson A4

eric@mandohangout.com — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 12:18:51 CST

Hello mando world. This is my first post here. It may be a bit of a long story.
My brother inherited my Grandfather’s mandolin. It was the above mentioned, 1911 A4. It was in pretty good shape. It had a pick guard and the lovely inlay on the tuners. I’m sure it was in the original case.
Unbeknownst to me, he sold it. Sadly, he passed away a couple of years ago without telling me whom he had sold it to.
He lived in Tucson Arizona but liked to buy and sell items on EBay so, there is no telling where it may have ended up.
Have any of you wonderful people encountered such a mandolin with the same back story?

Unknown Enigma

eric@mandohangout.com — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 09:43:09 CST

Just recently bought this mandolin. Very well built, No idea who built this or where it came from. Any thoughts would be helpful.

1947 Gibson A - 50?

eric@mandohangout.com — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 18:41:26 CST

Hi! It’s exciting to be posting here for the first time.

About two weeks ago, I was given a Mandolin as a gift from a friend. Since then I have been trying to identify the model and production date of the instrument. My best guess after doing research says it’s a 1947 Gibson A - 50.

The only identifying Mark is in pencil, and can be seen through the F hole on the bass side, written right on the wood.
It reads: 4G6650

Can anyone add any information that might help identify this mandolin?

Thanks for any help!

Fender FM61SE Electric Mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:44:47 CST

I have just bought myself a Fender FM61SE Electric Mandolin. Does anyone know what years they were made, I have searched for info on the instrument , but I am not finding much?

Identify

eric@mandohangout.com — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:53:06 CST

I have my grandpa's resonator mandolin I'm trying to identify it. It has alot of Nick's and scrapes on it . But it about 100 years old and it got played alot . I think its normal were and tear. It has a patent number on the bridge it also says other pat.pend .the number is : 1808756 . I hope I gave you the info you need to help me Identify this mandolin. Thank you for your time.

Identify

eric@mandohangout.com — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:27:22 CST

I need help identifying my grandpa's resonator mandolin .I can't find any markings on it .

Identification help

eric@mandohangout.com — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 20:31:46 CST

Any ideas on manufacturer of this one?

Whirle Banjo Mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 04:14:08 CST

Hi. Could anyone please provide me with information regarding this instrument. Many thanks

Bizarre mandolin-banjo

eric@mandohangout.com — Thu, 4 May 2023 13:43:27 CST

Can anyone ID this, please? I'm new to this site, so apologies if this is in the wrong place.

100 Years of Loar

eric@mandohangout.com — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 03:42:15 CST

Happy Birthday on this day -- February 26, 1923 -- to all my sisters...
and best wishes to my Centennial Cousins in the coming year!

Tom morici

eric@mandohangout.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2023 13:51:37 CST

I was recently given a mondolin by Tom’s step son. It’s in great condition but the neck came loose so I’m having it repaired. Is it worth having repaired or is it a wall hanger. Any advice or value would be greatly appreciated. I hope I can post this pict

The Weber-signed Gibson Mandolin Registry

eric@mandohangout.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 11:48:36 CST

Hello All!

As the proud owner of a Bruce Weber signed 1994 Gibson F5L, I've been intrigued over the years re: the quality, character, & nuances of these Gibson Montana instruments. Consensus as far as I can tell is that they are well made, good sounding & playing instruments, with some owners believing them to be outstanding!

The purpose of this thread is to catalog these instruments in so far as there is an interest. All are welcome to post pics, videos, stories etc. as desired. As a side note, on the F5L model, Bruce told me that during his tenure as Head Luthier at Gibson, that he personally graduated the tops on what was then the top of the line model. Below are general specs of Montana Gibsons (F5L). Next post will be my instrument...

Cheers!

F5L specs

Top: Sitka Spruce
Sides/Back: Maple
Neck: Maple
Neck Joint: Tenon-Mortise with screw
Headblock/Tailblock: Mahagony
Nut: Mother of Pearl (MOP)
Fingerboard: Ebony and flat, with MOP position dots and elevated extension
Bridge: Two piece ebony
Binding: white-black-white grained ivoroid.
Tuners: Schaller with their original large diameter bushings, gold-plaited with pearloid buttons
Headstock Inlay:"The Gibson" inlay seemed somewhat large, and the script (a late '20s open style as on recent Ferns) not an accurate copy of older scripts
Finish: Cremona style lacquer
Endpin: Ebony
Bracing: parallel
Tuned sound chambers
Tailpiece: 20's style gold plaited

Big Muddy Mandolin Serial Numbers

eric@mandohangout.com — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 07:16:57 CST

Mid Missouri Mandolin Co. & Big Muddy Mandolin serial number and model information (regarding Octave & Electric Mandolins, Mandocello & Bouzouki).
mandohangout.com/group/midmiss...blog/1357

Mandolin Store Burgled: BOLO for these

eric@mandohangout.com — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 18:59:14 CST

Re-posting this from the Banjo Hangout, where I spend a fair amount of time:

Sad story about a bad thing happening to a good family already dealing with tough issues. It's hard enough to run a specialty retail stringed instrument store without this crap: https://local12.com/news/local/mandolin-crime-thefts-instrument-music-store-camera-thousands-worth-of-instruments-stolen-from-music-store-days-before-opening-in-tri-state-money-thief-rare-business-saudi-arabia-community-lebanon-cincinnati-ohio

Two of the four instruments stolen -- for a total stated value of $11,000 -- were left-handed, so should be pretty obvious if they come up for sale.

Neapolitan mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:06:47 CST

Back in 1963 my Dad and I went and picked up this bowl back mandolin, a banjo mandolin and an ancient string bass that top was made with 3” strips of wood.
I was then taking plectrum banjo lessons and my Dad was studying on this mandolin. I heard it played and played on it all of my young life.
I play mando and have a couple of nice A models but I starting trying to make this playable again. It needs some major work, part of the top has lifted, I fashioned a new nut and just trying to get it playable again. This was the first mandolin I ever played on. I got the bug in 71’ when Maggie May came out. I really do like bowl backs, my Italian friend had a fantastic playing one but since her Aunt played it she wanted to keep it.
ID, it has no label, I see the headstock matches Weymanns but the tortoise shell shape (guard), headstock, pearl around the body looks like an simple Mannello. I’ve seen another one with an eagle on the body but none have the headstock star inlay. I wonder if it was made for Bruno?

Help indendify bowl mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:55:09 CST

Was given this, found no brand, has patent pending on end plate think its pretty old. Would like to play it. One of the e tuners is was hard to turn needs oil or something
Thanks John

Any idea what this is?

eric@mandohangout.com — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:02:30 CST

Hello! I am looking for a new to me mandolin. I found this one online as well as a Gibson mm - 20 but wanted to see if anyone knew what kind of mandolin this is?

How to Date an Ibanez Mandolin

eric@mandohangout.com — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:49:13 CST

Article about dating Ibanez Mandolins through their serial numbers

2 old madolins

eric@mandohangout.com — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 07:09:18 CST

Just been given these two mandolins
Are they worth keeping
never seen machine heads like the one on the right ( which has a 2 splits in the body top and bottom)

New Christmas Toy - 1932 Martin AK

eric@mandohangout.com — Sat, 2 Jan 2021 11:04:05 CST

Got this over the holidays from my brother. Traded him a Martin 1-C concert ukulele from between 1947 and 1961 (no serial numbers in Martin ukes; can only date by changing features). While there were 13,853 style A mandolins (spruce top, mahogany back and sides) made between 1914 and 1994, only 1279 AK mandolins (koa top, back, and sides) were made between 1918 and 1937. This 1932 is the last year before they put the Martin logo on the headstock. In 1932, Martin made 50 AK mandolins.