1902 Luigi Embergher Concert Soloist Number 5 Mandolin

This 1902 Luigi Embergher Concert Soloist Number 5 Mandolin was expertly restored by Canadian master luthier, Brian Dean, and is in perfect playing order.  This mandolin needed a lot of work when it was sent for restoration.  Brian loosened several of the ribs, relined the bowl and glued everything back together.  He also repaired cracks in the top, back and sides, replaced one top brace and repolished the top.  Everything is solid now with no further repairs needed.

This instrument has 35 sculpted flamed maple ribs and a full 29 frets on the fingerboard extension on the E string. Like most Embergher mandolins, there is comparatively little decoration except the “rolled parchment” style pickguard, pearl inlay in the rosette and simple flower shaped fretboard markers. Also the headstock has a finely engraved ivory inlay in the shape of a cloth drape with a tassel. Original frets have plenty of life. Intonated bridge by Brian Dean. 13” scale length.  Wonderful sparkly high end on this mandolin, tremolo sounds amazing. Nice balanced sound overall with rounded bass, a great classical mandolin. Mandolin will ship in a hardshell case. Original case will be included but is in poor condition.

 Mandolins by the Italian luthier, Luigi Embergher (1856-1943) are considered by many players and collectors to be the finest classical instruments ever made. Many well know players from the past and present have used his instruments, and the Number 5 was marketed as a professional grade instrument for the concert artist or soloist. Here’s an old catalog blurb for the Number 5:

Instruments for the concertista e solista, in richly curled maple- or palissander wood with 35 sculpted ribs, and with a varnished sound-table. – The manufacture of these instruments is executed with great care and perfection and. – The principles of these mandolins are based on the construction of the violin. Artists who have aspirations to be soloists will gradually become aware of the many advantages of this instrument. – The fingerboard, a proper system with 29 divisions, corresponds with the scale like that of the violin and reaches up to a””, ensuring the execution of every classical music composition.

Besides there is an important element added to the fingerboard, the enlargement of the fingerboard under the second string up to g”’ to, as already mentioned above, be able to perform all the music of the great Classics.

All extra ornaments are left out: these only blind the eye of the layman and destabilise the harmony of the instrument. – Finally the mandolin is equipped with a patented mechanic, that allow the strings to be changed rapidly and with very great ease, ensuring the tuning to be prolonged for long periods.

Free shipping to the continental US. I put a number in for shipment to Europe but will refund the difference if the shipping cost is less than the $350 estimate.