Mandriola - 12 String Mandolins

Here are instruments photos and videos from past restoration projects. It is a gallery only, for instruments available for sale please see page "Instruments for Sale"

Old German Mandriola - 12 String Mandolin

Edelklang

Beautiful dome-backed Mandriola restored to fully playable condition. It is branded Edelklang which was a company formed in 1924 Markneukirchen, Germany. From available sources information suggest Otto Windisch as original maker of the mandolins. As the death of maker is quoted as 1935 that would estimate date of instrument to be 1920's-30's

The back and sides are made of flamed maple, some parts stained brown. The black parts of back are made of dark wood but unsure of wood type used. The soundboard is made of Spruce with wooden veneer scratch plate inlaid with Mother of Pearl.

Mandriola is fitted with new set of string – custom made using D'Addario phosphor-bronze strings

Instrument measurements are as follows:

- total length 68.5cm - body width 27cm - from nut to 12th fret 175mm (total scale length 350mm) - Neck width at nut is 34mm, at 10th fret 43mm

Octaviola

12 String Mandola

Mandola with triple course with a lower octave is rather rare instrument from a mandolin family, previously I had only one such mandola under brand Gut Klang which was referred to as Octaviola (see further below) therefore we can assume this may have been a name for this type of instrument at that time. Here no label is present however it is quite easy to tell it was also made in Germany and possibly around 1920-30's. It required full restoration including new thicker fretboard to create slightly more space between top and strings whilst retaining original scale length, bridge replaced with a new one specially designed for this instrument.

Octaviola has a scale length of 418mm and is tuned to Ccc – Ggg – Ddd - Aaa

Instruments measurements are as follows:

- total length 75cm - body width 26cm - body length 38cm - body depth 11.5cm

- from nut to 12th fret 209mm (total scale length 418mm)

- Neck width at nut is 38mm, at 9th fret 48mm

For more photos including a sound sample see video below
Music recorded - Sunset, original piece comosed on this very Octaviola

Antique German Mandriola

"Solid"

MANDRIOLA

WALTHARI MITTENWALD

circa early 20th century

Old German 12 String Mandolin made by Walthari in Mittenwald which was one of the the important places where instruments were made since mid 17th century.

It's body is made of solid woods – Back and Sides made of Maple, Soundboard is made of Spruce with stained maple scratch plate, it has Rosewood Fretboard with 17 brass frets (plus zero fret).

The instrument is now fully restored to playable condition and the following work has been done:

Back slats glued back in place, two splits in head repaired, frets have been levelled and crowned, saddle of the bridge was replaced with cattle bone and brass, old finish stripped then stained and finished with Tru oil throughout.

The playability is very good with action of 2mm at 12th fret, it has compensated bridge and the intonation is good.

It is fitted with new sets of strings which were made of two Martin sets – Bronze M400 Mandolin and M150 Acoustic Guitar

Approximate measurements are as follows:

- total length 67cm

- body width 27.7cm

- zero fret to 12th fret 174.8mm (total scale length 350mm)

- Neck width at zero fret is 35.4mm, at 10th fret 44.8mm

Meinel & Herold

German 12 string Mandriola

Here I decided to go with a combined sets of D'Addario 80/20 Bronze - EJ62 Light Mandolin and EJ12 Medium Acoustic Guitar (octave stings) that do work well as an alternative to Mandriola set such as Pyramid

Mandriola

12 String Mandriola, no label inside so unknown brand but most likely has been made in Germany between 1900-1920s. I got this instrument in an unplayable state with table badly warped, shrunk and glue failed in many place. Body has been dyed and back decorated using decoupage technique to give it more attractive look. Tailpiece has been replaced as original was beyond repair. It is fitted with Pyramid Mandriola String set G gg-d d'd'-a a'a'-e'e"e"

Very unique instrument which is alike a Mandriola but in size of something between Mandolin and Mandola with a scale length of 386mm and 19 frets. Body is made of Maple stained to Walnut and wide grain Spruce Soundboard.

Octaviola is fitted with new Pyramid Mandriola Silver wound string set and tuned to Ccc Ggg Ddd Aaa

Measurements are as follows:

- total length 73cm - width 22.5cm - Zero fret to 12th fret 192.8mm

- Neck width at nut 33.9mm, at 10th fret 43.1mm

Antique German Dome-backed Octaviola

Around 1910'-30's

The label contains following information:

Octaviola

D.R.G.M. Patent

Gut Klang (Brand)

Die Konigin der Mandolinen (The Queen of Mandolins)

Ein Instrument ubertrifft ein ganzes quartett (An instrument that surpasses whole quartet)

Antique Flat Back Mandriola

An antique instrument from Mandolin family – Mandriola, tuned as standard mandolin GDAE with added third course an octave lower making it a 12 string mandolin.

Although the instrument has been previously restored it needed slight correction to accommodate lower octave strings.

Mandriola is fitted with new set of strings made up of two Martin Phosphor-Bronze Strings sets (Mandolin and Guitar).

Instrument dimensions are as follows:

- total length 65.5cm (including strap pin)

- body width 26.4cm

- from nut to 12th fret 162mm (total scale length 324mm)

Neck width at nut is 30.5mm, at 10th fret 39mm