AN EXTREMELY GENEROUS NEIGHBOR brought me a gift this afternoon. I am thrilled and puzzled. Can any one out there tell me what she gave me?
It is an extremely deep bodied, eight string instrument. I am guessing you would call it a deep bodied Mandolin. The scale length is about 13.5 inches which is mandolin scale. It is 24 inches overall. Its significant measurement is its depth, a whopping 3 7/8ths inches deep at the rear of the instrument. I t has no bridge nor strings but otherwise it is in excellent structural condition. Other than a few inches of purfling that needs repair it is also cosmetically in great condition, The tuners are good, The workmanship is impressive. I suspect this will have a great voice when I have it put back together. More pictures follow. If you know anything about it please write.
How about this for a deep body. It ought to have a sonorus sound
The rosette is very nicely done, the soundboard is a very nice piece of cedar, This is an excellent instrument by an very good Mexican luthier. My neighbor bought it new in Mexico about twentyfive years ago.
The neck is mahogany and I think the back is as well, but the sides look to me like a fine grade of Rosewood. The binding is of the same wood. This is a heck of a nicely made instrument. I look forward to restoring it to playing condition and hearing what it sounds like. I bet it will be impressive.
Here is the final picture, the headstock and tuners. They are in good condition. The nut with its eight string slots is made of bone