1920s Calvert Parker Teardrop Flatback Mandolin

Calvert Parker (AKA John Henry Parker) was a builder known in Keene, New Hampshire as well as Burlington, Vermont. This was an instrument built while he was in Keene. He's mostly known for weird banjo innovations but his mandolins were nutty, too! Apparently there was a whole family of instruments built in this style -- a small, adorable, teardrop shape that allows uncanny fret access for the time.

It felt like everyone wanted this instrument -- but it was snatched-up locally before I could even get this blog post up. My days have been very busy.

There's so much "cool" going on with this instrument that it's hard to single-out any one thing that makes it special. The body is small, it has a fun pickguard and soundhole shape, the fretboard inlay is cute and folksy, and it has a nice, engraved tailpiece cover. You can play all the way up to the 24th fret  and it has a zero-fret nut!

It sounds a bit like a bowlback mandolin crossed with a bluegrass mandolin -- sort-of clucky and zippy at the same time, but with good "cut.

I didn't have time for measurements, but as I recall the scale is 12 7/8" and it had a 1 1/4" nut or close to it. The top is solid spruce while the back and sides seem to be poplar. The neck is mahogany. 

Repairs included a fret level/dress, compensation and adjustment to the bridge, cleaning, and setup-side work.