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)
String them up and let your ears make the decision— I have one similar to the one on the left that I display as an accent piece-/ it was going to cost too much to get in playing condition
I was in Porto Portugal this Summer and went to a few music stores and many mandolin family instruments had the tuning system like the one on the right.
The one on the right has a long scale length and apparently had 9 strings. It looks like a Mandola. CGDA (or other tuning) It will have a unique sound. The cracks will be a tricky repair. The one on the left is neat too. They should both be good instruments with a little or a lot of TLC.
Edited by - Maurice Mcmurry on 12/29/2022 10:07:30
Here is web find regarding a modern 9 string with a 18 inch scale length, somewhat similar to the one on the left.
herbtaylor.com/instruments/bouzouki/i084/
I've seen the style on the right. The "peghead" is familiar -- but I cannot remember why?
It reminds me of a Portuguese "fado" instrument (but not sure).
It is not a 'mandolin'. Body scale size is that of a mandola... though probably not a bona fide 'mandola'.
I definitely would contact one of the world's foremost Mandolin Family historians, researchers, and authors:
Graham MacDonald in Australia.
His book "Mandolin: A History" is phenomenal; tracing the heritage back to ancient times.
FWIW: If there is a crack in the top, I would back the string tension off a bit. And neither of these are likely to withstand Medium gauge strings. I would go with Medium-Light or lower.
hyderon, Graham MacDonald occasionally contributes on Mandolin Cafe. If you post these there you will get some good info.
It is in the Waldzither family. Waldzither
Edited by - Maurice Mcmurry on 01/10/2023 05:44:33
