Oscar Schmidt Bowlback Mandriola / 12 String Mandolin - 1920's Trichord

     This one's pretty rare - made around 1920 by Oscar Schmidt.  The original pickguard had the OS symbol but it was in bad shape - so I replaced it with the black one pictured.  The original ebony fretboard was not salvageable either so I replaced that with a 15 fret ukulele fingerboard with a 1 3/8" nut. It sits a little wider than the neck but I rounded the bottom edge so it's not an issue when playing.

All the hardware is new. --  The rosewood bowl is unmolested - no cracks or repairs anywhere.

     The wider fretboard makes this one easier to play compared to the way it was.  -- The action is very good - string height at the 12th fret is 1/16" treble side and just under 3'32" bass side, and it plays well there up and down the fingerboard.

The headstock length throws the balance off compared to an 8 string mandolin, and is more difficult to hold and play without a strap, even when sitting - so now it has new strap buttons too.

    The sound is something else. Oscar Schmidt made some fine mandolins. This one projects as much as any stringed instrument I've heard. -- I've posted a sample on SoundCloud under ClaytonAudio

  soundcloud.com/claytonaudio/mandriola-test4

Length                   -               25 1/4"
Scale                         -            13 1/2"
Width                    -                  7 3/4"
Depth                     -                 5 1/2"

Nut -     1 3/8"
Weight - 1.8 lbs