1920s Supertone (Harmony) Flatback Mandolin

I used to work on these cool old Supertone mandolins at least a few times a year "back in the day." This particular one is Harmony-made and from around 1920-1925. It's got a solid spruce top over solid birch back and sides and features a neat, bowlback-style inlaid pickguard and some pretty purfling/trim throughout the top's edges.

I find that these instruments tend to be pretty loud and proud when they're done and often they can be a little woofy in tonality. This one's nice and clean and crisp, however, though still with plenty of low-end response. It's got a short scale length so it's best not to pound on these unless you want to be tuning-up all night, however, as the string tension is a little lighter with the reduced scale.

Repairs included: a fret level/dress and seating, replacement neck binding, replacement bracing, replacement bridge (compensated), much cleaning, setup, etc.

Weight: 1 lb 8 oz

Scale length: 13"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

Neck shape: medium V

Board radius: flat

Body width: 9"

Body depth: 2 1/4"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid birch

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebony with bone insert

Fretboard: ebonized maple

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 36w-10 lights

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: it has oodles of wear and tear to the finish but is crack-free throughout and has a good neck angle. The bass side neck binding is replaced. The two main ladder braces on the top are replacements (I used really old fir bonded with a thin slice of carbon fiber so they could be really light). The bridge is a replacement but an older one from my parts-bins. Aside from these bits, it's otherwise all-original. It used to have a really beat old Supertone label in the soundhole but that shredded into confetti (unfortunately) when I cleaned-out the interior. Oops! It did need cleaning, though -- it was nearly black with grime and dust in there.