1910s Larson-made Mayflower Bowlback Mandolin
I've worked on lots of bowlback mandolins over the years. My favorite American-made ones are Larsons (like this guy) or Vegas. Both makers almost always finagle their bridge over the more-fragile lower part of the soundboard where it's unbraced (but supported by the "upper deck" and cant) and this move -- combined with the extra-fine quality of their builds -- is what makes them sing like no other American makes of bowlback. They're full, rich, clean, loud, and have a sweetness to their upper-mids and highs that keeps them from being "spidery" or "shrill" in the way many other makes can be.
This one sounds just as good as I describe in general, and after work it plays like a champ, too. It's a more-basic model with simple dot inlay and an unadorned pickguard, but the materials are right -- a Brazilian rosewood bowl (of many ribs), an ebony fretboard and bridge (with bone insert), spruce top, and gorgeous headstock cut with recessed, high-grade tuners.
While I can't absolutely confirm it's a Larson-make, I've handled dozens of bowlback mandolins with all the same features under confirmed Larson brands and unconfirmed ones. I hunt for these Mayflower-branded ones and the Ditson-branded Larson builds as they're less-well-known as other "house brands" the company built for. This has the usual Larson-style bridge, bridge placement, design style, blackened neck, and stamped serial number on the upper-bout-ladder-brace.
Repairs included: cleats and sealer for the single hairline crack on the top (longer one, obvious), a fret level/dress, side dots install, compensation of the bridge saddle, tuner lube, replacement tailpiece cover (an original Waverly one from my parts-bins, era-correct), cleaning, and setup.
Setup notes: it plays perfectly with hair-under 1/16" action at the 12th fret. The saddle can be adjusted via thin shims up/down to taste. The neck is straight and the string gauges are 32w, 20w, 13, 9 -- the GHS A240 set meant for bowlbacks and lighter-built old mandolins. It's perfect on this. The frets one these are bar stock and low/narrow right from the factory. This gives a great feel for slides and melody playing, but some folks used to modern (taller) frets for chording might not enjoy them as much. Clearly they're not bugging me in the demo, though!
Condition notes: aside from the somewhat-ugly repaired crack on the top, it's otherwise in good shape and all-original save one tailpiece mounting-screw and the replacement tailpiece cover. It shows the usual finish wear-and-tear for an old instrument with minor scratching throughout and finish weather-checking.
This one sounds just as good as I describe in general, and after work it plays like a champ, too. It's a more-basic model with simple dot inlay and an unadorned pickguard, but the materials are right -- a Brazilian rosewood bowl (of many ribs), an ebony fretboard and bridge (with bone insert), spruce top, and gorgeous headstock cut with recessed, high-grade tuners.
While I can't absolutely confirm it's a Larson-make, I've handled dozens of bowlback mandolins with all the same features under confirmed Larson brands and unconfirmed ones. I hunt for these Mayflower-branded ones and the Ditson-branded Larson builds as they're less-well-known as other "house brands" the company built for. This has the usual Larson-style bridge, bridge placement, design style, blackened neck, and stamped serial number on the upper-bout-ladder-brace.
Repairs included: cleats and sealer for the single hairline crack on the top (longer one, obvious), a fret level/dress, side dots install, compensation of the bridge saddle, tuner lube, replacement tailpiece cover (an original Waverly one from my parts-bins, era-correct), cleaning, and setup.
Setup notes: it plays perfectly with hair-under 1/16" action at the 12th fret. The saddle can be adjusted via thin shims up/down to taste. The neck is straight and the string gauges are 32w, 20w, 13, 9 -- the GHS A240 set meant for bowlbacks and lighter-built old mandolins. It's perfect on this. The frets one these are bar stock and low/narrow right from the factory. This gives a great feel for slides and melody playing, but some folks used to modern (taller) frets for chording might not enjoy them as much. Clearly they're not bugging me in the demo, though!
Scale length: 12 7/8"
Nut width: 1 1/8"
String spacing at nut: 15/16"
String spacing at bridge: 1 9/16"
Body length: 12"
Lower bout width: 7 3/4"
Side depth at deepest: 5 1/2" +/-
Top wood: solid spruce
Back/sides wood: solid rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany (blackened)
Fretboard: ebony
Bridge: ebony, bone compensated insert
Neck feel: flat board, medium C-shape
Condition notes: aside from the somewhat-ugly repaired crack on the top, it's otherwise in good shape and all-original save one tailpiece mounting-screw and the replacement tailpiece cover. It shows the usual finish wear-and-tear for an old instrument with minor scratching throughout and finish weather-checking.
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