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Hairymare - Posted - 02/07/2012: 14:36:16
Hi,
Any and all comments welcome. I picked up this darling 7 inch pot, 8 string, 18 fret banjo mandolin on ebay. Her little skin is torn and she has some split lines on the fingerboard and her tailpiece has been wired on. I can not tell if the neck is bowed with only 3 strings it does not seem it. She has all of her bracket shoes and nuts. I will add more photos of her bridge and nut which both look like they are made out of wood.
Now, I know, I have read lots of discouraging things about the banjo-mandolin but I am going to make her playable. if she sounds terrible, I am going to hang her on the wall and use her as a learning experience. There are some decent youtube videos of the banjo mandolin that are encouraging. First Note - Beginner!!
Issues:
1. needs a new skin, a tiny one. Goat or calf? Where to buy? I need a banjo key to remove the skin. Do you think the one called the Gibson style on stew mac would fit or should I spring for the 3 size in one at Elderly. I found a sight from reading on the list that is called - save the banjos with a pictorial that I think I can follow and I am also armed with the Larry Sandburg book, called the Complete Banjo Repair.
2. fretboard splits. Should I follow the recent advice on this forum that suggested using the black stewmac epoxy?
3. missing part of her tailpiece which is wired on. Any suggestions? what and where can I buy to remedy this.
4. inside the pot at the top of the rim stick she is missing one of the 2 wedges. I hope this makes sense; by the top of the pot I mean where the rim stick goes through into the neck. They look like small wedges of wood that sit between the inside of the pot held in place by a triangle shaped metal bracket that screws on and hugs the rim stick with two arms. Is walnut wood strong enough to make a replacement? One is still there to use as a pattern. I will post photos of this situation in a follow up email.
5. The decorative heel plate is broken and mostly missing. Walnut again, I hope because I happen to have it.
6. The tuners seem fine, but what about strings? Any suggestions?
7. I think the bridge seems okay.. maybe okay to deal with at a later date. The nut appears to be wood and looks a tad lower in the center but once again I would like to give it a try before replacing it.
Thank-you all so much for this valuable forum.
Yvette
Hairymare - Posted - 02/07/2012: 14:44:33
Here are 3 more photos showing the bracket and wedge, the nut and bridge. Also if anybody know who made it or how old, well, curious minds want to know. Thanks,
Yvette
Ron Ortegel - Posted - 02/07/2012: 14:47:40
It looks like the tailpiece is not broken, it is missing the attachment bolt.
It appears that someone wired it on. You should be able to replace that bolt and nut.
HolyGrass - Posted - 02/07/2012: 19:09:52
i restored a 1920's era banjo mandolin about 6 months ago or so. the action was so high due to the slippage of the dowel stick. it was a real pain to reset,but i learned a lot. it's super fun to play and sounds very unique.
you might be able to buy a head the size you need, that might be the best bet. mandolins have a LOT of tension on them.
epoxy would probably be the easiest fix for the fretboard.
walnut is hard enough to make a new wedge out of
as for strings, i'd recommend getting banjo mandolin strings. they are lighter that light mandolin strings; less tension.
Hairymare - Posted - 02/07/2012: 19:18:50
quote:
Originally posted by Ron Ortegel
It looks like the tailpiece is not broken, it is missing the attachment bolt.
It appears that someone wired it on. You should be able to replace that bolt and nut.
Hi, thank-you for answering. That is good news. Any idea where I could purchase the bolt and nut? Do you know if they are usually the same size?
Hairymare - Posted - 02/07/2012: 19:28:06
quote:
Originally posted by HolyGrass
i restored a 1920's era banjo mandolin about 6 months ago or so. the action was so high due to the slippage of the dowel stick. it was a real pain to reset,but i learned a lot. it's super fun to play and sounds very unique.
you might be able to buy a head the size you need, that might be the best bet. mandolins have a LOT of tension on them.
epoxy would probably be the easiest fix for the fretboard.
walnut is hard enough to make a new wedge out of
as for strings, i'd recommend getting banjo mandolin strings. they are lighter that light mandolin strings; less tension.
Thank-you.
Please advise if you know where I might buy a head the same size and also where I might buy some mandolin banjo strings. I would really appreciate that. I am hoping the neck is okay. Have you seen those crazy neck adjusters like on this banjo mandolin:
bernunzio.com/product/weymann-style-25/
Interesting. And, oh boy, I am looking forward to seeing the height of the action. And, resetting the neck. Not really, Mr,. Wizard......
Thxs, Yvette
Hairymare - Posted - 02/09/2012: 11:23:24
I have taken the banjo mandolin completely apart and am getting ready to install a new skin head. My hoop ring does seem okay but it is not soldered together and I am wondering if I should tape it. Any other advice is welcome. I am also wondering if anybody has advice on cleaning up the rim. So far I used dish soap on a rag and also would I put any lubricants on the bolts and puts and more troubling I am looking to buy a bolt and nut for the tailpiece. I am posting a photo of the fretboard splits and am seriously considering the stewmac black epoxy. Thanks for looking.
Yvette
Hairymare - Posted - 02/09/2012: 11:35:09
quote:
Originally posted by Ron Ortegel
It looks like the tailpiece is not broken, it is missing the attachment bolt.
It appears that someone wired it on. You should be able to replace that bolt and nut.
HI Ron, Thanks for answering. I have been looking around on the internet and can't seem to a nut and bolt. Any idea where I might look. Good news is that I have the tailpiece. I have not seen one mandolin banjo tailpiece either. I appreciate it. I have her taken apart and getting ready to put on a new skin head.
Yvette
Hairymare - Posted - 02/09/2012: 11:37:48
quote:Hi Holygrass, I have her now taken apart and getting the ready to put on a new ski head. I found these strings but am not sure:daddario.com/DADProductDetail....uctid=300
Thanks again, Yvette
Originally posted by Hairymare
quote:
Originally posted by HolyGrass
i restored a 1920's era banjo mandolin about 6 months ago or so. the action was so high due to the slippage of the dowel stick. it was a real pain to reset,but i learned a lot. it's super fun to play and sounds very unique.
you might be able to buy a head the size you need, that might be the best bet. mandolins have a LOT of tension on them.
epoxy would probably be the easiest fix for the fretboard.
walnut is hard enough to make a new wedge out of
as for strings, i'd recommend getting banjo mandolin strings. they are lighter that light mandolin strings; less tension.
Thank-you.
Please advise if you know where I might buy a head the same size and also where I might buy some mandolin banjo strings. I would really appreciate that. I am hoping the neck is okay. Have you seen those crazy neck adjusters like on this banjo mandolin:
bernunzio.com/product/weymann-style-25/
Hairymare - Posted - 02/09/2012: 15:13:30
Hide is soaking! Oh, and I found the serial number 670 stamped on the bottom of the rim stick.
Yvette
Edited by - Hairymare on 02/09/2012 15:15:45
