Professional Bandolim - Mandolin - Purchased from Ronaldo do Bandolim

This is a professional Bandolim of the finest quality, with superb Bandolim tone. I purchased this from the great Choro player Ronaldo do Bandolim, who in 1973 replaced the late master, Jacob do Bandolim, in his band Época de Ouro (Golden Age). I have no videos of Ronaldo playing this, but this will come with a certificate of authenticity from Ronaldo. I love Choro, but I don’t play well at all, and I now live where no one else has heard of Choro and I have to play bluegrass all the time on a bluegrass mandolin. This needs to be played.

From 1935 until the year before his death, Jacob do Bandolim played and recorded with one bandolim, which he designed. Here is its story, from do Bandolim.com.br : 

“Mandolin #1 Used in radio shows, choro circles and recording of his albums, during almost his entire career. Instrument built based on the format of the Portuguese guitar, around 1935, by luthier Vicente, who worked at the instrument store ¨Ao Bandolim de Ouro¨, in Rio de Janeiro and had as an assistant the luthier Silvestre, who years later would command the production of the instrument brand “Do Souto”, in this store. Mandolin nº 1 was built in the house of luthier Vicente with the following types of wood: Box: Plane; Harmonic soundboard: Swedish or German pine; Scale: Ebony. The frets are thin in profile, with stainless steel string fastener and German tuners.”

I was told that Silvestre was a young apprentice when he helped build Jacob’s bandolim. The Bandolim being sold here was made by Silvestre on his own at the end of his career in an attempt to build a Bandolim for Ronaldo like the one he remembered building for Jacob. It has the same figured plane (that is, sycamore) on the sides and back. It’s not identical, but it’s close, and so is the tone. Jacob would play this and love it. I’ve had this two years. It has on it the strings Ronaldo played (0.035 to 0.009—it’s important to use the right strings to get the right tone). There are some old cracks on the back repaired with wood filler years ago. There are no problems. The fretboard is radiused. The frets are fine. The action is excellent. It is ready for performing. Ronaldo had a pickup installed, but I haven’t tried it plugged in.