1920s Wurlitzer (Oscar Schmidt) Koa Flatback Mandolin

Overview: This pretty little thing is an Oscar Schmidt-made, koa-wood, flatback mandolin with Wurlitzer branding. It's easy on the eyes and, post-repairs, plays like a champ. I've worked on two very similar Schmidt koa mandolins but those were even fancier. This one downplays the deluxe trim just a hair but is still plenty-luxurious.

Tone: It's sweet and woody with a decent amount of cut when dug-into a bit. It's not a bluegrass sort-of cut, though -- this is mellower and more-suited to Celtic and old-time stylings than bluegrass or modern choppy-chop sounds.

Feel: The neck is a quick, slimmer-to-medium C shape with a flat fretboard. I find the side-to-side width on this one a little more generous than other makes at the time (save Gibson) and that's a good thing.

Interesting features: The top edge, backstrip, rosette, and fretboard's center are all decked-out with thick bands of abalone inlay. How about that? To that is added cream binding at most edges. It's a crisp, rich look when paired with the koa of the body. Even the fretboard is figured koa, too, giving this thing "that Hawaiian look" of the times up to the hilt.

Repairs included: It just needed a level/dress of the frets, compensation added to the bridge (as much as we could), and setup work. It's playing bang-on and is ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
• Scale length: 13 1/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: slim-medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 8 3/4"
• Body depth: 2 3/4"
• Top wood: solid koa
• Back & sides wood: solid koa
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: ebony with bone saddle
• Fretboard: flamed kao
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 34w-10 lights
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: low/small

Condition notes: The finish has checking throughout. It's also got a ton of small scratches here and there throughout and some nicks and dings on the top. It's got a loved look to it -- nothing overbearing and simply charming.

It comes with: It's got a period hard case to which new lining was added inside.

Consignor tag: KJSH