
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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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.

Carlo Albertini e Figlio
SOLD
Antique Lombardic Mandolin labelled Carlo Albertini e Figlio, Fabricatori di Mandolini Lombardi, Mandole e Chitarre, Vicolo S. Vito 3 Milano. Date of make can be estimated between 1890 to 1900's.
Mandolin is restored to fully playable condition, it has been kept in original antique state with original parts apart from a fretboard which was beyond repair therefore replaced with new one made of Ebony, and so is new nut.
Mandolin is fitted with a new set of strings – custom made by Aquila
Nylgut mulitifilament core with copper wire winding G-1.6mm B-1.2mm
Nylgut E-0.97mm A-0.73mm D-0.58mm G-0.46mm
Mandolin comes with one full spare set, same as above plus two extra high G strings.
Restoration included: replacing fretboard, replacing nut, repairing splits between ribs, repairing splits to soundboard (adding re-enforcing patches from below), replacing armrest at tail, adding a light coat of shellac throughout.
Mandolin specification:
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with wooden pick-guard
Bowl –11 maple or cherry wood ribs & 2 side slats
Neck – Round shaped, made of maple
Fretboard – New rosewood with MOP inlay
Nut – new ebony
Bridge – original, possibly maple stained dark-brown
Frets – 20 1.1mm crown width, Japanese Nickel-silver
Instruments measurements are as follows:
- total length 56cm - body width 22cm - body depth 11cm
- from nut fret to 12th fret 150mm (total scale length 300mm)
- Neck width at nut is 41.3mm, at body merge 47.5mm
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Vincenzo Gagliano & Figlio
at £1400 including free UK delivery
About Mandolin:
Round-back Neapolitan Mandolin labelled Vincenzo Gagliano & Figlio, Casa fondata nel 1700, Fabrica di Corde Armoniche e Strumenti da Corde, 48 Strada Monteoliveto, Napoli. As mentioned below articles, Vincenzo was mainly involved in producing strings and cellos therefore Mandolin would have been made by his co- workers or acquired from other luthier specializing in producing this type of instruments which would then be sold at Gaglianos workshop or perhaps made by his predecessors Antonio or Raffaele who also did make few Mandolins. Original label of maker is present but almost entirely covered by Vincenzo's therefore not possible to establish who's it was. Date of make may be estimated between late 1870 to early 1880s.
Mandolin itself was made in a very common style for that period with back made of 25 rosewood ribs, finished with a strip of tulip-wood around sides and clasp. Soundboard made of fine close-grained spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard and sound-hole decorated with Mother of Pearl and wooden purfling strips, edging finished with interchanging pattern of M.O.P. and tortoiseshell bits. Headstock has side slotted tuners which was probably more common on mandolins form late 18th c. as was thicker round neck shape. Neck and head would have been made of maple covered with rosewood veneer.
Restoration work included: replacing fretboard and frets to allow good set up with action set to as low as 1.5mm at 12th fret over treble side and 1.8mm over bass side. New bridge has been made in style of those found on higher models but with modern style saddle allowing to set compensation for G and A strings to improve intonation.
Headstock had many chips and small bits of wood missing, now all filled in and shape brought back to original. Tuners were quite rusty so needed a good clean to get them working smoothly again.
Soundboard was mainly intact with only a shrinkage split in the middle, here spruce joint slat glued from underneath is still in place and holding well, split has been filled using a spruce strip.
Finish on soundboard was gone so after a gentle clean it has been re-finished using light coat of shellac. All missing pieces of M.O.P. replaced around edging.
Bowl had few splits between ribs and some ribs broken near clasp, all carefully glued back together and no longer a structural issue. Here original finish was only lightly cleaned and covered with thin layer of shellac to revive wood grain. Finish on neck and head was replaced also with shellac.
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Mandolin is fitted with premium set of strings - Optima Goldin, Specially Polished 2125.
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Included in price also are, new wooden hard shell Gewa case and a spare set of Optima 2125 strings (same as currently fitted).
Sound sample to follow shortly, should you need more detailed photos please request so via contact form.
Soundboard – Solid Spruce with tortoiseshell pick-guard and M.O.P. inlay
Bowl – 25 rosewood ribs and tulip-wood sides
Neck – Maple with rosewood veneer
Fretboard – New Rosewood with MOP inlay
Nut – New bone
Bridge – New rosewood with bone saddle
Frets – 17 Japanese Nickel silver1.1mm crown width
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Approximate measurements are as follows:
- total length 58cm - body width 19.7cm - body depth 14.8mm
- from nut fret to 12th fret 165mm (total scale length 330mm)
- Neck width at nut is 27.60 mm, at body merge 36.8mm
About maker:
Vincenzo Gagliano (c.1820 – 1886) Son of Raffaele and the last of the Gagliano dynasty, Vincenzo joined the workshop of Raffaele and Antonio Gagliano some years before their respective deaths in 1857 and 1860. His hand is evident in the brothers’ final instruments, especially the cellos. He went on to inherit the workshop but, despite his talent as a maker, was unable to sustain the momentum of the business. Few instruments still bear his original labels today, many having acquired the labels of his predecessors.
An interesting and insightful article found in “Amadeus – Book of the violin”
"Violin making in Naples also developed relatively late, founded by members of the Gagliano dynasty. A romantic tale tells how the excellent violin and mandolin player Alessandro Gagliano (b. ca. 1660, d. 1725 in Naples) came to be a luthier. A member of a noble family, he had killed his opponent in a duel and had to flee. He hid in the forests, during which period he experimented with making instruments. Recognizing his gift for this, he apprenticed himself to Nicolò Amati and later to Antonio Stradivari. He returned to Naples in 1695. His violins, violas, and cellos have a beautiful tone, though craftsmanship and varnish are not always first-rate. On his labels he refers to himself as a pupil of Stradivari. Talent for violin making often seems to have been inherited, so that many dynasties of luthiers emerged. Heredity, constant involvement with the field, and experience gained while young, these were important prerequisites for excellence. The most remarkable example of such continuity is the Gagliano family in Naples. It can be traced back to Alessandro Gagliano (b. ca. 1660), whose offspring are still active participants in violin making. Their family tree includes six generations of luthiers, including the present firm of Vincenzo Gagliano e Figlio. It is not enough to own a Gagliano; now one must know the maker's first name! That, however, is often difficult if the original label no longer exists. Moreover, many instruments were built cooperatively by workers in the same shop. Outstanding members of the family (as reflected in current prices for their violins) were Nicola I and Gennaro, but the high level of workmanship carried over to the next generation. Gradually, however, industrial methods Genealogy of the Gagliano Family of Luthiers were introduced. Giuseppe and Antonio I often worked separately, but labels in the violins they sold read "Joseph et Antonius / Gagliani filii Nicolaj et Nepotesjanuarj F. Neap. 17." Instruments produced by members of the fourth generation, while still retaining characteristics of the family, were labeled "Fabbrica di Violini, ed altri strumenti / armonici dei Fratelli Giuseppe / ed Antonio Gagliano Napoli 18 / Strada Cerriglio num. 37."
Members of the Neapolitan Vinaccia family were mostly active in the second half of the eighteenth century. Instruments by Gennaro Vinaccia (d. 1778) are most highly regarded. Aside from these reasons for the supposed decline in Italian instrument making, we can point to the appearance of highly skilled violin makers in other European countries, and to the growing demand for inexpensive instruments, especially for beginners. Increasingly, a builder's time was needed for making repairs. Thus Pietro Giovanni Mantegazza (d. 1796 in Milan) made few new violins but was much in demand for working on those of del Gesù. Henley says that late in life Antonio (d. 1860) and Raffaele Gagliano (d. 1857), two highly talented brothers, "stooped" to making violins on a commercial basis, "for the sake of money. They neglected their talent and uncritically manufactured instruments of all degrees of quality." This censure may sound very high-minded from our vantage point, but the criticism is unjustified given the reality of the market ca. 1750"
Francesco Salomone
SOLD
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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.
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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.
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Mandolin is fitted with new light set of strings – Optima Silver 2145
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Sound sample available upon request
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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
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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
SOLD
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.
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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 practicing 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