1917 Weymann Style 15 Mandolute Mandolin

Update 2019: I originally sold this back in 2013, but the owner upgraded to a Larson flatback and now this Weymann is available. I've completely updated the blog post with new pics, a video, and new text.

Weymann products are nice-quality and were built in Philadelphia, PA. This was their basic mandolin at the time but it's a lot nicer than your average flatback for the mid-teens. While most of the Mandolute line features "violin-style" raised edges, this one has flat edges like most instruments. It still has the Mandolute design features, however, including a severely tapered body shape (swelling around the bridge front-to-back and then contracting at the neckblock and tailpiece), bent-over-the-braces arched shape, and high-quality fittings.

Their tone is interesting -- it's quite-midsy but has excellent sustain, clarity, and an overall sweet voicing. These are not the typical "tubby flatback" you expect of the teens and '20s -- it's more like a good bowlback mandolin in response. They work well for Celtic-style playing and quieter old-time sessions but are not poppy or punchy-enough for rowdy affairs. The player also doesn't hear as much of the sound of these instruments as the audience does. The sound goes out. It can be a little disconcerting but this makes perfect sense for the period application of these instruments -- they were intended for mandolin ensembles and orchestras where the voice was supposed to mesh with others as a whole.

The serial number at the headstock's top edge corresponds to 1917 per modern Weymann serial charts.

Work included: previous seam repairs and a new, compensated bone bridge, two new hairline crack fills (there's enough bracing that they don't need cleats) to the top below the bridge, a fret level/dress, side-dots install, newer bone nut, and setup with 32w-9 gauges. The neck is straight, the frets have some life left in them (but they're the usual tiny original frets), and it plays with spot-on 1/16" action at the 12th fret.

Scale length: 13 7/16"
Nut width: 1 1/8"
String spacing at nut: 1"
String spacing at saddle: 1 5/8"

Body length: 12 1/2"
Body width: 9"

Side depth overall: 1 3/4" to 3"

Neck wood: mahogany

Top wood: solid spruce

Back/sides wood: solid maple
Fretboard: ebonized maple

Neck shape: flat board, medium C/D rear

Bridge: replacement bone, fully-compensated

Nut: replacement bone

Condition notes: two repaired hairline cracks in the lower-bout top, general usewear, replacement nut, bridge, and older (1930s) replacement tailpiece. Otherwise it's all-original. Note also that when the tuners were installed at the factory, the holes were a little overdrilled on a few shafts. It's odd but poses no issue.

It comes with: a Tacoma mandolin gigbag.

I love that rosewood veneer at the headstock and the aluminum-buttoned tuners.

The board has pearl dots.

The pickguard is set-into the top and is tortoise celluloid.

I was making new bone bridges for mandolins at the time (2013) and I like the fast response and clear tone you get from them. They're also durable.