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



















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