Anybody play stringed instruments/Need info about Bandolin

[Tiggeroo]

I have a son who has been saying he wanted to play the banjo. I knew my mother had my grandfathers (he was a mummer)in the attic so I asked if he could try it. She gave it to me for him complete with a book on banjo instruction. But it turns out it's not a banjo (5 string)but a bandolin (8strings) I can find no help on this and no sheet music. Any body here any ideas. It's in the shop being restrung and tuned now.

 

[jipsy]

I believe what you have is a mandolin, not a bandolin. Do your search on mandolins, and you can find plenty of instruction.

Also, I don't know how old your grandfather was, but if he played this mandolin, it could be very valuable. I have a friend who sold one a few years back for $30,000. If you need help identifying it, PM me - I have a price guide.

 

[Tiggeroo]

No it is a banjolin or bandolin. It is a cross between a mandolin and banjo. It is also called a bandolino or a bandolin-banjo.

 

[jipsy]

Tiggeroo - you stated this instrument has 8 strings - hence I said it should be a mandolin.

A bandolin usually has more strings (as many as 15 or 16) and is of Spanish origin. - see the websites:

http://www.saraguro.org/rumibandolin.htm

http://www.atuntaqui.com/img/BANDO.jpg

http://www.otavalosonline.com/pr2001/jachigua/musicos_otavalos/nino_jiwa_bandolin.jpg

It's history is a Spanish instrument and really has nothing to do with a banjo. It is rather part of the mandolin family.

Bacon & Day, as well as Bruno, did make banjo mandolins in the 20's and 30's. It has a mandolin neck and a banjo body - B & D labeled theirs with the Bacon logo on the headstock. Bruno and Sons made two types - the cheaper having an open back and about 10"; the other type being a "bowl back". They are still considered mandolins and are totally different than the bandolin.

There were also instruments called "banjo ukeleles" that were made in the late 20's, early 30's. Small, like a ukelele, but shaped like a banjo.

 

[betz]

Maybe it is a Manjo. My great uncle was a Shriner and he played a Manjo and drove a tiny car in parades.

 

[I <3 Eeyore]

Bandolino? I thought they made shoes.

 

[Tiggeroo]

The maker is Frorence. It has a banjo body and a mandolin neck. Closed back, not rounded like a mandolin. Back and sides are in what I thought was mother of pearl and dd thinks is bakelite. Seems heavy and well made. 8 strings. It has heavy steel strings, which I don't believe a mandolin would have and sounds like a banjo, but is only about 24 inches tall. It would have been used in a Phila. Mummers String Band. When I do a search on mummers instruments I see they used mandolins and banjos, but can't find this.
I took it up to the music store today to get prices on the work done. He quoted me 150. to clean it up, tune it, and replace one of the metal bands that is missing from around the banjo base. He claims that the drum surface on the base needs to be tuned as well as the strings. This seemed high to me. Any thoughts.

 

[Tiggeroo]

If you go to this link you will see something like it. It is about half way down the page under manjo, banjo/mandolin

http://www.rollietussing.com/nerd/

 

[betz]

What do you know, it is a Manjo!

 

[jipsy]

To find instructional sheet music, you probably need to look for music made for banjo mandolins.

As far as the price for stringing, tuning and repairing the metal band, $150 doesn't sound bad. Tightening or loosening the drum can make a difference in the sound; it needs to be taut, but not overly. I recently had my 1907 Whyte Laydie #7 repaired with a new drum head, new strings, tuning, etc. It cost about $300. The drum head was not cheap because I wanted vintage to match the era of the banjo.

Is he replacing that band with new parts or vintage parts? Vintage parts are more expensive. A set of strings is probably about $10 or less. Tuning it takes about 5 minutes. It's the repair of the metal that is your most expensive. You should ask him how much of that $150 is labor costs.

Mother of pearl has many colors in it, as does abalone. Bakelite will look more like plastic (think 60's bracelets and purses made in bakelite).

Sounds like a fun instrument for your son to learn.

 

[Tiggeroo]

When I brought it to the shop 4 of the metal rods were off, one missing. It took him five minutes to take the back off and replace the missing rods. He will replace the missing rod with whatever he can find, vintage or new. It just depends on what he can find. He is going to clean it up. He says there are finger oils on the fret area. The metal needs to be polished and there is some rust spots on it. The drum head needs to be tuned. Four hours labor plus parts. I will have to listen to some banjo music. I don't remember people ever using the drum base along with the strings. I am wondering what the value of the instrument is, as that will effect what I pay to have it put in working order. My daughter was in a high school orchestra and she is going to be speaking to her instructor today about something else. He may have some ideas too. I know nothing about the local music shop's repair person. If it has a high value, I might be more careful who does the repairs. If it is purely sentimental, not so picky.
Is there any reason not to give an older instrument a good cleaning? To polish the metal and clean the wood? I've seen episodes of antique roadshow where they've said well.... this would have been worth 75,000. but since you cleaned it and removed all the nice patina it is only worth 75.