Mandolins For Sale

2. Old Italian bowlback mandolin (874) @ 100 euros

Old named Italian bowlback (874)

This is an old, Italian bowl-back mandolin probably from the early 20th century and is in good condition after restoration. There is a label which says…

LFC (Luigi Fenga' Company)

Fabbrica Italiana di Strumenti Musicali a Corda

Marca di Fabbrica

Italia

This instrument is now fully restored. The top is sound with 2 small repairs. It has a 20 piece rosewood bowl back with 1 long seam repair. It has the new fingerboard in rosewood, set on shim to aid playability with 17 new frets. The tuners, tail and bridge are all originals. The top has been lightly refinished with Tru-oil for protection, elsewhere it has been refinished with shellac and tru-oil. 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) repaired a long open back seam; 2) made and fitted a new ebony concert fingerboard on a shim to allow bridge room; 3) replaced some missing MOP edging and inlay; 4) finished the top for protection with a coat of Tru-oil and touched up finish around repairs; 5) refitted original bridge; and 6) added anti-vibration felt, strung and set up.

Mandolin Specifications (In Millimetres)
Overall Length of Mandolin	600mm
Width of mandolin at widest point	195mm
Approx. Depth of mandolin	150mm at bridge.
Finish	Refinished throughout with shellac and tru-oil varnish. A coat of Tru-oil protects the top.
Belly wood	Good quality,book-matched, spruce top, close-grained at the centre, with a short shrinkage repair each side of the f/b. Top sealed with a coat of Tru-oil. Small edging/inlay repairs. Purfling in good condition.
Scratch plate	Small repair to the original T/S scratch plate.
Sound hole	Oval hole, approx. 65 x 40mm.
Back and sides	20-piece, rosewood, bowl-back, clasp, and sides. Repairs to I long seam separation, reinforced inside.
Neck and Head	Stained one-piece head and neck in good condition.
Fingerboard	New f/b in rosewood set on a shim. 17 new modern frets. MOP position markers at 3, 5, 7 and12.
Machine heads	Original steel and brass strip tuners with original buttons. All working.
Tailpiece	Original in brass with 4 brass string posts. Fitted with a period strap attachment.
Bridge/tensioner	A period German silver adjustable bridge fitted.
Scale Length Bridge to nut	Scale of 330mm
G string height at bridge	6.5mm
E string height at bridge	6.5mm
12th fret to bottom of G string (Action)	2.5mm
12th fret to bottom of E string (Action)	2mm
Width of fretboard at nut	25mm
Width of fretboard at widest point	38mm
Sleeve guard	*Sleeve guards are available if required*
Case	*I have some re-conditioned bowl-back cases available for purchase.*

Larger photos are available on request.