1900s Oscar Schmidt Bowlback Mandolin

May 13, 2019

1900s Oscar Schmidt Bowlback Mandolin

If the "OS" monogram in the pickguard didn't convince you that this is an Oscar Schmidt built, this instrument's narrow profile, hefty neck, and extra-hefty bracing and kerfing on the inside might. A local customer brought this in for work and it has some odd features that deviate from "normal" Schmidt profiling -- the headstock has a curious "volute" on its rear and an odd shape and the detailing on the edges and binding is a little more upscale than normal.

Said binding was missing a lot of its white celluloid inlay, so I replaced a bunch of that and then blended it in during repair. Other work included side dots install, a fret level/dress, regluing of seams and braces along the treble side top edge, compensation and recutting of the bridge, general cleaning, and a good setup. It has a straight neck and plays bang-on at 1/16" at the 12th fret, strung with the GHS A240 32w-9 set of strings.

Scale length: 13 1/4"

Nut width: 1 1/4"

String spacing at nut: 1 1/16"

String spacing at bridge: 1 5/8"

Body length: 12 3/4"

Lower bout width: 7 1/4"

Side depth at endpin: ~5 1/4"

Top wood: solid spruce, canted

Back/sides wood: solid Brazilian rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Bracing type: ladder

Fretboard: rosewood, very plain