Mandoline de Concert Luigi Tamagno de 1904

This Luigi Tamagno concert mandolin from 1904 belongs to the golden age of Italian instrument making, a period when the mandolin enjoyed unprecedented international popularity, both in bourgeois salons and on European concert stages.

At the turn of the 20th century, Italy remained the undisputed cradle of the modern mandolin, the direct heir to the Neapolitan tradition developed in the 18th century and perfected over the decades by renowned luthiers such as those of the Vinaccia and Calace families, to name but a few.

Luigi Tamagno was one of a number of Italian craftsmen active between the late 19th century and the early 1900s who responded to a growing demand for powerful, balanced, and refined concert instruments for professional mandolinists and ensembles.

Fontana, located at 49 Passage de Largue in Lyon, was Luigi Tamagno's official distributor in France.

By 1904, the mandolin was no longer just a popular instrument, but a true classical instrument taught in conservatories, supported by a demanding repertoire and virtuosos who set standards of sound projection and precision that are well respected here.

This model by Luigi Tamagno fully reflects this Neapolitan tradition, embodying the balance between acoustic innovation and respect for Italian aesthetics that have shaped the history of the classical mandolin.

In short, this concert mandolin made by Luigi Tamagno in 1904 is an instrument of character, steeped in history and musicality, perfect for musicians seeking an authentic and inspiring tone.

Technical specifications:

• Top: Spruce
• Back: Rosewood 19 frets
• Neck: Beech with rosewood veneer
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Nut width: 26 mm
• Radius: Flat
• Frets: 22 frets
• Scale length: 334 mm
• Profile: Neapolitan
• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell
• Country of manufacture: Italy, Naples
• Year: 1904
• Finish: Natural
• Decorations: Fret markers in mandorlas and white mother-of-pearl dots / Binding around the table and rosette / Rosette inlaid with fine white mother-of-pearl motifs
• Details: Patched back plate / Signs of wear and normal use given its age / Good overall condition

Like all our instruments, this mandolin has been carefully adjusted.

It is extremely comfortable to play, with a smooth action and a very easy and pleasant feel.

This concert mandolin offers a brilliant, deep, and perfectly balanced sound, with excellent projection, singing trebles, and rich mids. Dynamic, full-bodied, and endowed with a distinctive tone and very good sustain, it is ideal for both solo and ensemble playing in the classical repertoire.