New Instruments

This is an old, Italian bowl-back mandolin from the late19th century, made by de Meglio as an entry level instrument. It has a fairly wide fingerboard, and is in good condition after restoration. There is a label which says…

This instrument is now fully restored. The top is sound with a couple of small repairs. It has a 17-piece rosewood bowl back NO repairs. It has the original re-levelled fingerboard in ebony, with original brass bar frets. The tuners, tail, bridge and tensioner are all originals. The top has been lightly refinished with Tru-oil for protection, elsewhere it retains the original French polished finish. It has been restrung with ultra-light GHS bronze wound classical strings, and is now playing well with a rounded, mellow sound with good sustain and fair volume. It has an easy playing action.

Other than cleaning, I have repaired as follows… 1) replaced missing and broken edging; 2) made repairs to the damaged scratchplate; 3) levelled the fingerboard and frets; 4) repaired small shrinkage splits in the top; 5) finished the top for protection with a coat of Tru-oil; 6) repaired and refitted original bridge and tensioner; and 7) strung and set up.

 

Mandolin Specifications (In Millimetres)
Overall Length of Mandolin	605mm
Width of mandolin at widest point	200mm
Approx. Depth of mandolin	155mm at bridge.
Finish	Original finish in good condition. A coat of Tru-oil protects the top.
Belly wood	Good quality, book-matched, spruce top with small repairs. Top sealed with a coat of Tru-oil. Edging renewed.
Scratch plate	Original, some damage repaired.
Sound hole	Oval hole, approx. 70 x 45mm. Also side vents.
Back and sides	17-piece, rosewood, bowl-back, clasp, and sides.
Neck and Head	2-piece, stained head and veneered neck. All original.
Fingerboard	Original ebony with original re-levelled brass bar frets. MOP position markers at 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12.
Machine heads	Original steel and brass enclosed tuners with original buttons. All working.
Tailpiece	Original with 4 string posts.
Bridge/tensioner	Original ebony shelf bridge and tensioner.
Scale Length Bridge to nut	Scale of 330mm
G string height at bridge	6.5mm
E string height at bridge	5.5mm
12th fret to bottom of G string (Action)	1.75mm
12th fret to bottom of E string (Action)	1.25mm
Width of fretboard at nut	30mm
Width of fretboard at widest point	42mm
Sleeve guard	Sleeve guards are available if required