1940s Strad-O-Lin A-Style Archtop Mandolin

Overview: Strad-O-Lins are always popular in the "beginner bluegrass" and old time communities and ones like this one -- loud, direct, poppy, and with good flavor -- are extra nice to their owners. These were made by United (out of the old Oscar Schmidt factory in New Jersey) for the Sorkin brands and are famous unto themselves, these days.

This one's fairly down to earth in styling but does have a nicely-figured maple veneer for the ply back and sides, a nice-looking piece of solid spruce for the top, and a lovely translucent celluloid pickguard with matching tailpiece cover. The design elements are pretty deco, to boot, and this one has the usual painted "faux binding."

Repairs included: This one got a level/dress of the frets, side dots, minor cleaning, a set of StewMac Golden Age tuners (to replace damaged originals), and a new, adjustable bridge fit. Jake Too did all the work on this guy. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 1 lb 12 oz
• Scale length: 13 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 1/8"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.89"
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.10"
• Body width: 10"
• Body depth: 1 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: ply maple
• Bracing type: tonebar
• Bridge: adjustable rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood-a-like
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16”
• String gauges: 34w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrow/very low

Condition notes: There are mild scuffs and scratches here and there throughout and the finish has weathcer-check/crackle to the clearcoat as well. The original frets were small and narrow to begin-with and still are, so they might not be for everyone's modern taste. The bridge is a replacement but the original was non-adustable. It has newer (improved, retro-style) tuners hiding under the old covers. The covers suggest a 1940-41 build date as that's around when Kluson was using these tuner covers.

It comes with: It has an old chip case.

Consignor tag: MHAW