Incoming Projects

Mostly you folks get to see "done" photos. Here are some "before" ones. This is an Italian "Il Globo" mandolin, that due to hardware and case style, I'm placing at about c.1900-1910. It's finely crafted out of some nice spruce, a mahogany neck, and a great rosewood bowl. I like the compensated bridge, too!

All appears fine save the split pickguard...

...but the mandolin's top is split down the center, and under the pickguard are a series of little cracks that all need to be cleated. The rosette is dropping, too, and it will need reinforcing. In addition, the binding is separating from the top and the gaps will need to be filled.

Frets need general dressing.


And the headstock-to-neck joint seems (annoyingly) a bit loose. Will have to see.


Here's a tiple I'm restoring for a customer. Looks alright save the bridge is missing, except...


...here play-wear has done some work to the top: there are a couple of hairlines that need gluing here. In addition the neck needs to be set.


The fretboard has been filed or something at the 1st and 2nd, too, and it's missing a nut. Bizarre.


Here's a c.1930s or 1940s P'mico ukulele. I thought it was birch when I bought it but under all this grime is some close-grained koa (or really red mahogany... though my bet is koa, the grain looks it).


Headstock.


Rosewood board and position dots.


Back crack. In addition, the back is pulling off in a couple of places.


Here's an attempt at a repair previously...


And here, too.