1910s Bacon Professional FF Banjo-Mandolin

Bacon Professional FF instruments are definitely on the rarer side. They feature a "double rim" design with a "sound chamber" between the rim proper and its inner wall. Multiple tiny soundholes are cut into this both for decoration and to let sound escape from this chamber. This one has the usual "donut tonering" fit at the top edge of the rim, too, which gives it a volume boost and a clear, clean, sweet voice.

I'm not sure on the maker of this Bacon. This is pre-Groton and so it could be a Vega or Lange product. It has the "rounded heel cap" that I associate with Lange-made Bacons built just before the company set-up shop in Groton but the headstock shape, tuner choice, and other details suggest a Vega build to me. No serialization and "folksy" detailing in the finish, dowel stamp, and rim marquetry-style inlay, however, confuse me, as the Vega-built ones tend to have flat, Vega-like heel caps and serialization of some sort. Either way it's a nice-quality instrument.

It's also entirely original save a new, compensated ebony bridge. My guy Tim did most of the work on this (though I did the dowel reset and helped him dial things in) and he made an attractive ebony bridge that fits in with the style of the instrument to replace a missing original.

The original skin head is chock-full of signatures and emblems of college life in the '20s. I'm pretty sure this instrument dates to the 1910s (there's no serialization, unfortunately) but searching for information about the names and inscriptions on the head suggests that this was used at Winona State University in the '20s as "The Agony Trio" comes up in some old publications online in relation to the school. It would take a little more digging to really figure it out, though.

Anyhow, post-repairs it plays spot-on, has great looks, and sounds the biz. It's a nice example of a rare form, too.

Repairs included: dowel reset, fret level/dress, cleaning, new compensated bridge, setup, etc.

Weight: 5 lbs 7 oz

Scale length: 13 3/4"

Nut width: 1 3/16"

Neck shape: medium soft V

Board radius: flat

Head diameter: 10 3/16"

Depth overall at rim: 2 1/2"

Rim wood: dark-stained maple

Tonering: donut

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: dark-stained maple

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall(fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 32w-9 GHS extra light

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: it's all-original save the bridge and in good health. The finish is in good order and only shows mild wear here and there throughout. The original skin head is covered in signatures and mementos of college life in the '20s and Tim kept it serviceable by patching a few small pinholes on the back.

It comes with: an original chip case in a dilapidated state.

Consignor tag: PA