1982 Joseph Kochanski Bowlback Mandolin

The current owner/consignor of this instrument picked it up at auction some time ago as I recall. He dropped it off some time ago as well. It's a pretty thing, this one. Per the article clipping at the end of the photos, it was built by a hobbyist-builder in Adams, Massachusetts. It's totally odd for someone in the States to build a modern bowlback mandolin, really, but here it is.

It's got the vibe of an old teens-era bowlback but the guts of a modern instrument -- slightly heavier bracing and a longer, 14" scale length. It reminds me of the Suzuki bowlback mandolins from the '70s in its heft, though it has a lot better tone, feel, fit, and finish. Its sound is clean, clear, loud, and with ridiculous sustain.

It plays well post-repairs and is visually nice and clean -- with only a little bit of finish wear here and there -- throughout.

The headstock is a large "paddle" shape and it has a neat "curvy" center to its rear. I also really like the inlay choices -- they're both familiar and different at the same time.

Repairs included: fret level dress, bridge compensation, setup.

Made by: Joseph Kochanski

Made in: Adams, MA, US

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid rosewood

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: mahogany

Tone: clean, clear, loud, lots of sustain

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (quick, easy)
String gauges: 32w-9 extra lights

Neck shape: medium-bigger C/soft V

Board radius: flat

Neck relief: light relief but dialed-out via level/dress job

Fret style: small/low

Scale length: 14"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

Body length: 12 3/4"

Body width: 8 1/4"

Body depth: 5 1/2"

Condition notes: it did have a bit of relief in the neck, though I dialed that out of playability concerns via a level/dress of the frets. There are no cracks and the finish looks good -- only minor wear/light scratching here and there. The builder did "botch" the soundhole rosette just a little bit near the high E string but it's not obvious at a glance.

It comes with: a period chip case.