1920s Orpheum (Lange) No 1 Banjo-Mandolin

Overview: What a pretty face, huh? Lange knew how to impress. This one has pretty inlay in the headstock and up and down the fretboard and it has nice, multi-ply trim along the sides of the neck and minor decorative touches around the rim as well. These are heavy-duty, pro-grade instruments and all of the hardware is rugged, functional, and well-thought-out. This has a fairly wide head for a banjo-mandolin and an archtop tonering which gives it some kick and clarity.

Tone: It's clean, poppy, and direct with a bit of lingering warble to it from that skin-head sound.

Feel: It's got a very-typical mandolin-style neck from the time with a medium-heft, soft-V shape and slightly-wider nut width. The board is flat

Interesting features: Well, the inlay is pretty! It's also got a larger diameter rim than normal for a banjo-mandolin, a big old archtop-style tonering, and excellent fittings throughout.

Repairs included: It's had a level/dress of the frets, new bridge fit, cleaning, and setup work (thanks, Tim!) and it's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 6 lbs 6 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/16"
• Neck shape: medium C/V
• Board radius: flat
• Head diameter: 11 1/4"
• Depth overall at rim: 2 3/4"
• Rim wood: maple ply
• Tonering: archtop
• Bridge: ebony/bone mandolin-style/compensated
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 32w-9 extra light GHS A240 set
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/narrow

Condition notes: It's all-original except for a replacement ebony/bone compensated bridge in mandolin fashion. I find that these longer, wider, mando-style bridges (vs. a modified banjo bridge) hold pitch better and sound fuller than trying to adapt a lightweight banjo bridge for banjo-mando use. The finish is in great shape throughout save small signs of usewear, scratches, and scuffs here and there. The head shows plenty of playwear -- just as you'd like to see on an oldie like this.

It comes with: It has its original hard case in decent shape.

Consignor tag: COMT