INSTRUMENTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE
If you are interested in one of my instruments for sale please drop me a message through contact form.
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Intarnational postage depends on destination so please leave me a message for a quote.
Due to Brexit Import Duty fees now apply to EU Countries in a same was as Non EU Countries
As a musician I understand that choosing an instrument just by looking at photos is quite difficult therefore I accept returns with no problems in case the instrument didn't appeal to you, although the return cost would have to be covered by the buyer.
Francesco Salomone
RESERVED
at £320 including free shipping - UK maninland
Antique Italian Mandolin labelled Francesco Salomone, Fabbrica di Mandolini, Napoli via Chiara N.16 Date of make not present but may be estimated to early 1900's.
Mandolin is in fully playable condition with new fretboard, bridge and nut, set up to low action of 1.5mm over treble side and 1.9mm over bass side making it very comfortable to play. Bridge is made in traditional Italian style but with a modern saddle allowing string compensation to provide correct intonation.
Soundboard is made of solid spruce, beautifully decorated with lots of Mother of Pearl around it as well as inside the tortoiseshell pick-guard. Soundboard has some age related wear but has no splits or cracks.
Bowl is made of 26 Rosewood ribs with addition of Tulip-wood strips on sides. There were two splits between ribs and one rib cracked, all now repaired.
Original finish was mainly intact therefore only refreshed using shellac to revive wood grain.
Tuners and tailpiece cleaned of rust and lubricated, all working fine.
Fretboard has been replaced with new thicker ebony to allow better set up and to increase a gap between soundboard and strings, it is fretted using narrow 1.1mm Japanese Nickel-silver fretwire.
Mandolin is fitted with new light set of strings – Optima Silver 2145
Sound sample available upon request
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard and M.O.P. inlay
Bowl – 26 rosewood ribs & 2 side slats, ended with tulip-wood strip
Neck – V shape, made of maple with rosewood veneer
Fretboard – New Ebony with MOP inlay
Nut – New bone
Bridge – New Ebony with bone saddle
Frets – 17 Japanese Nickel silver1.1mm crown width
Instruments measurements are as follows:
- total length 60.5cm - body width 19.2cm - body depth 14.3cm
- from nut to 12th fret 166.5mm (total scale length 333mm)
- Neck width at nut is 29.5mm, at body merge 38.2mm
Marco Rebora
at £260 including free shipping within UK mainland
Antique Italian mandolin labelled Marco Rebora, producer of mandolins and guitars at Via Roma, Napoli. Date not present on label but style of make suggests late1890s to early 1900s.
Mandolin is restored to fully playable condition and set up for nylgut strings (see further down for details). Action is set nice and low – 1.6mm over treble side and slightly higher over bass side. Neck is slightly wider than usual which would be an advantage for players requiring more space for fingers.
Restoration included – replacing fretboard with new thicker rosewood, fretted with narrow 1.1mm fretwire. Replacing nut and bridge, cleaning of tuners, re-finishing of soundboard using shellac. Bowl had only one split between ribs, now repaired and one of the ribs is protruding slightly.
Soundboard had to be removed in order to correct it's shape around soundhole and near tailpiece, there was only one minor crack which has now been repaired and
re-enforced. Tail block has been replaced for slightly larger one to provide more gluing surface of soundboard near tailpiece.
Finish was mainly intact so only cleaned and touched up with shellac to revive wood grain while keeping aged appearance.
Tuners and tailpiece cleaned up, pegs turn easily and work fine.
Mandolin is fitted with new nylgut set of strings – Aquila M1Red Series
This type of strings have very low tension compared to steel strings therefore are very soft which makes playing more effortless and long hours of practising scales less painful.
Mandolin with Nylgut strings sounds more gentle and delicate, has less volume which is also good where a loud instrument isn't needed. For a sound sample please drop me a message.
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard inlaid with M.O.P.
Bowl –27 rosewood ribs & 2 side slats
Neck – U shaped, made of maple with rosewood veneer
Fretboard – New rosewood with MOP inlay
Nut – new bone
Bridge – New rosewood
Frets – 17 1.1mm crown width, Japanese Nickel-silver
Instruments measurements are as follows:
- total length 60.5cm - body width 19cm - body depth 14.6cm
- from nut fret to 12th fret 166.5mm (total scale length 333mm)
- Neck width at nut is 31.6mm, at body merge 41.8mm
Felice Arpino
Napoli 1912
SOLD
Round back mandolin made in Naples but exclusively sold by Giuseppe De Bernardi music shop based in Genova. Label states model name as “Amor”, hand signed and dated 1912.
Design of this mandolin differs from typical Neapolitan mandolin, suggesting that in 1910's luthiers were looking for innovations and to attract buyers something new had to be offered.
Mandolin has been restored and is now in a fully playable condition, set up for Nylgut strings.
Restoration included – reconditioning of fretboard and frets. Replacing bridge, cleaning of tuners. Repairing of crack on soundboard near fretboard, treble side and replacing missing tulip-wood pieces of binding. Pickguard had many chips which have been filled in. Bowl had only one minor split between ribs, now repaired, here finish was only cleaned and touched up to revive wood grain while keeping aged appearance. Mandolin has a new bridge made of Brazilian tulip-wood with added Purple heart saddle.
Mandolin is fitted with new nylgut set of strings – Aquila M1Red Series
This type of strings have very low tension compared to steel strings therefore are very soft which makes playing more effortless and long hours of practising scales less painful.
Mandolin with Nylgut strings sounds more gentle and delicate, has less volume which is also good where a loud instrument isn't needed.
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard inlaid with M.O.P. and Silver, rounded with Tulip-wood edging
Bowl –15 rosewood ribs & 2 side slats
Neck – V shape, made of maple with rosewood veneer
Fretboard – Original Ebony with MOP inlay
Nut – bone
Bridge – New Brazilian Tulip-wood with Purple heart saddle
Frets – 27 Brass
Instruments measurements are as follows:
- total length 62cm - body width 19.5cm - body depth 14.5cm
- from nut fret to 12th fret 166.5mm (total scale length 333mm)
- Neck width at nut is 28.3mm, at body merge 34.8mm
Edelklang
SOLD
Round-back mandolin made in Germany under brand Edelklang, only a stamp is present so exact date is not known but may be estimated to 1920-30's.
Mandolin has rather uncommon sound hole shape and general construction clearly shows this was an attempt to create something new and isn't just another copy of popular design. Its bowl is made of 28 figured maple, elegantly finished with a strip of rosewood binding. Soundboard made of high quality spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard and two small holes complementing unique design.
Mandolin had previous repairs to back where some ribs were splitting but all holding very well and no further repair was needed here. Soundboard is in very good condition with very small hairline crack near soundhole (treble side), also repaired.
Old finish was rather dull and scratched so back and neck has been fully re-finished using shellac to highlight beauty of flamed maple, soundboard though was only cleaned and retains original finish.
Fretboard and frets were renewed (re-levelled and crowned) so good as new. Tuners have been cleaned and work very lightly but one side have been replaced at some point as there is a slight difference in design of engraving on them. Mandolin has a new rosewood bridge with compensation for G & A strings to improve intonation.
Combination of maple back and large sound hole gives mandolin a deep, bright but very rich and strong tone with plenty of sustain.
Low action of 1.6mm at E string and 2mm over G string at12th fret makes it very easy to play and compensated bridge ensures mandolin plays in tune well. It has quite narrow V shape neck so would be better for players preferring smaller neck.
Mandolin is fitted with Optima Silver light set of strings
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard
Bowl – 28 maple ribs & 2 side slats
Neck – V shape, Maple
Fretboard – Original Rosewood with MOP inlay
Nut – Original bone
Bridge – New Rosewood
Frets – 23 possibly silver
Instruments measurements are as follows:
- total length 60.5cm - body width 20cm - body depth 14.5cm
- from nut fret to 12th fret 166mm (total scale length 332mm)
- Neck width at nut is 24.5mm, at body merge 34.7mm