1920s Supertone Style 360 Flatback Mandolin
Oh, gosh, I worked-on and/or sold this mandolin many moons ago. Over time it's had a number of repairs and a K&K Twin Spot pickup installed. The customer who owns it isn't using it anymore and so it's up for consignment.
This one is an odd duck because I really can't place the manufacturer. Most Sears Supertone instruments were Harmony-built, and this one may well be made by Harmony, but I have the nagging suspicion that it's not. It may be another Chicago maker or an Oscar Schmidt (Stella, Sovereign, et al). There are odd details -- a radiused fretboard, finish that's weathered like an Oscar Schmidt, and a more medium-thickness C-shaped neck that throw me off.
The radiused fretboard gives it a more modern feel, though, and it has a spruce top over rosewood which gives it a sweet, full tone that feels a little "wider" than most period flatbacks. The sound is clean, though, and would easily sit-in with a smaller jam group. I think the tone is more suited to folk, old-time, and Celtic stylings, however. The pickup under the hood makes it an excellent gigging machine, too. I love me some K&K!
Repairs included: a before-my-time neck reset (glued) plus old bolt and now hidden internal bolt reinforcement, minor hairline crack repairs on the back (all good), fret level/dress, cleaning, pickup install, side dots install, replacement (but same-period) ebony bridge with compensated top, and setup.
Setup notes: the neck is straight and it plays perfectly with 1/16" action at the 12th fret overall. I have it strung with 32w-9 GHS A240 strings, but it can probably take 34w-10 just fine.
Condition notes: it's all-original with the exception of the vintage replacement bridge, side dots, and K&K pickup installed at the 3/4 position. There's also a new strap button at the tailpiece. There's general wear-and-tear throughout with plenty of weather-checking and pickwear around the soundhole. The frets are in good order, though, and will last a good while. The tuners work fine, too. The hairline cracks are smaller, filled/repaired by me or others, and all located on the rear. There's a small patched divot on the back of the neck's heel where and external neck-reinforcement bolt used to be.
It comes with: a newer hard case in good order.
This one is an odd duck because I really can't place the manufacturer. Most Sears Supertone instruments were Harmony-built, and this one may well be made by Harmony, but I have the nagging suspicion that it's not. It may be another Chicago maker or an Oscar Schmidt (Stella, Sovereign, et al). There are odd details -- a radiused fretboard, finish that's weathered like an Oscar Schmidt, and a more medium-thickness C-shaped neck that throw me off.
The radiused fretboard gives it a more modern feel, though, and it has a spruce top over rosewood which gives it a sweet, full tone that feels a little "wider" than most period flatbacks. The sound is clean, though, and would easily sit-in with a smaller jam group. I think the tone is more suited to folk, old-time, and Celtic stylings, however. The pickup under the hood makes it an excellent gigging machine, too. I love me some K&K!
Repairs included: a before-my-time neck reset (glued) plus old bolt and now hidden internal bolt reinforcement, minor hairline crack repairs on the back (all good), fret level/dress, cleaning, pickup install, side dots install, replacement (but same-period) ebony bridge with compensated top, and setup.
Setup notes: the neck is straight and it plays perfectly with 1/16" action at the 12th fret overall. I have it strung with 32w-9 GHS A240 strings, but it can probably take 34w-10 just fine.
Scale length: 13"
Nut width: 1 1/8"
String spacing at nut: 15/16"
String spacing at bridge: 1 5/8"
Body length: 12 1/2"
Lower bout width: 9"
Side depth at deepest: 2 1/8"
Top wood: solid spruce
Back/sides wood: solid rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany
Fretboard: ebony, bone nut
Bridge: non-adjustable ebony, compensated
Neck feel: medium C-shape, ~12" board radius
Condition notes: it's all-original with the exception of the vintage replacement bridge, side dots, and K&K pickup installed at the 3/4 position. There's also a new strap button at the tailpiece. There's general wear-and-tear throughout with plenty of weather-checking and pickwear around the soundhole. The frets are in good order, though, and will last a good while. The tuners work fine, too. The hairline cracks are smaller, filled/repaired by me or others, and all located on the rear. There's a small patched divot on the back of the neck's heel where and external neck-reinforcement bolt used to be.
It comes with: a newer hard case in good order.
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