1920s Favilla 2-Point Flatback Mandolin

Overview: This one is gorgeous. The body shape and styling remind me of Larson-made Stahl instruments but the proportions and overall aesthetic are better. It has a bowlback-style headstock cutout and a bowlback-style, inlaid pickguard as well. The tailpiece is engraved, it has herringbone trim at the binding, and it has a pearl-inlaid rosette as well. Did I mention the Brazilian rosewood back and sides?

It has a canted-top build and so sounds a little like a cross between a flatback Martin, nice bowlback, and a Vega cylinder-back-style mandolin.  These are all good things! When it came in, the tone and volume were just "ok," but after spiffing it up, it's now quite the pretty-sounding thing and well-suited to Celtic or old time work.

Repairs included: Jake Too gave it a level/dress of the frets, fit side dots, replaced the missing bone insert saddle at the bridge with a new, compensated saddle, cleaned it up, and set it up. It's playing bang-on and ready to serve.

• Weight: 1 lb 7 oz
• Scale length: 13 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium V
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.76"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.89"
• Body width: 9 1/4"
• Body depth: 2 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: Brazilian rosewood
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: ebony
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16”
• String gauges: 34w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: very narrow/quite low

Condition notes: There's weather-check throughout the finish but it looks grand. It's all-original save the bone saddle. There are small scratches and scuffs here and there in the finish.The bridge is on the low side but it plays just dandy.

It comes with: As I recall, this has a good, hard case.

Consignor tag: JMSE