NMD: Gonna Be Sentimental Today

[andvari7]

Good evening,

I went to help my parents remove their kitchen countertops on Sunday, in preparation for the granite countertops they received, and had installed, this morning. While I was there, I was asked to take a bunch of stuff home, including a Christmas tree (mine is falling apart), and a mandolin. This mandolin belonged to an old friend of the family, who died five years ago. He was a major patron of the arts in Madison, and I was always in wonder when I would visit him.

It belonged to his wife, who predeceased him by more than a decade, and was, herself, a gifted musician. It was made sometime in the early Twentieth Century, and it was probably a student model then, if the finger position markers on the fingerboard (some cardboard strips on the board) are any indication.

The case is basically cardboard and canvas, and is useless. It is, however, original to the mandolin, and I inherited it from a high end art and antiques appraiser/dealer, from back when that was a viable industry. I will be buying a proper case, but bowl-back mandolins are a motherfucker.

I am a player, not a collector, so it will get use. I MIGHT replace the tuners, but, again, antique, so I would keep the stocks with the case. The frets are still decent, but will eventually need replacement, as will the nut and bridge. I replaced the strings a few years ago, but I will get a fresh set when I go back home.

I will post pictures, again, when I get home.

Thank you.

[GuitarBilly]

Nice man. I know how these sentimental gifts are. Try to keep as stock as possible. Maybe find someone that specializes in restorations.

[greatmutah]

That’s pretty sweet, dude. Look into someone who does restorations for sure. And definitely okay that thing. It deserves to be played.