2010 Ray Cooper (England) Acoustic/Electric Octave Mandolin

Overview: Ray Cooper repaired and built instruments "across the pond" in the UK for over 4 decades and it looks like guitars and electric guitars were his bread and butter. He passed in 2022, unfortunately, but he must have lived a good life to have had his wake at a pub and its format half an open mic!

This octave mandolin is pretty interesting. It's got a Fylde-like pin-bridge design and a two-point body shape that, with its pointy cut, reminds me a lot of '70s Aria designs. The body is not much larger than a mandola's size and it has a thin depth, so as an acoustic instrument it's not as powerful in volume as a some octave mandolins and the pin-bridge design tends towards a mellower voice on these guys. It is, however, very comfortable to hold and handle because it's more compact and it has a very fast neck profile.

The inlaid celluloid shark -- or fish? -- in the headstock is mildly-adorable and it's built with nice materials -- good spruce for the top and pretty, flamed maple for the back and sides. It's built well and was obviously loved by its previous owner considering the amount of playwear in evidence. The tuners are good quality and it has a pickup system fit (undersaddle-style) so it's ready to go for gigs. If you prefer a more modern/no-battery system, we always have K&K pickups on hand to fit to anything.

Repairs included: Jake Too gave it a level/dress of the frets and a setup. We stuck with slightly-lighter string gauges when restringing due to the pin bridge design. It's playing bang-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 2 lbs 13 oz
• Scale length: 22 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/8"
• Neck shape: slim-medium C/D
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.76"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.88"
• Body width: 11 7/8"
• Body depth: 2 3/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid flamed maple
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewoo
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: flamed maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16”
• String gauges: 38w, 28w, 21w, 13
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: It has pickwear around the soundhole and upper bout. There are three tight hairline cracks that are repaired (on the top) below the bridge. The bridge was reglued over in the UK before it got to us and there's mild chip-out of the finish around the bridge. There are small scuffs, scratches, nicks, and whatnot here and there throughout the finish but I'm only noticing the pickwear and a few marks on the top, really.

It comes with: It has a good, foam-style/semi-hard case.

Consignor tag: OWLD