N(old)MD

[Cone Head]

I just got this '29 or early '30 National Triolian mandolin have had a very hard time putting it down.
I can't believe how warm and fat this thing sounds, not to mention absurdly loud!

Old Nationals were not all created equal...but both of these steel-bodied Triolians are warm and woody without any harshness or any trace of "banjo-like" qualities.

Does anyone here play a vintage 15" scale National mandolin?
If so, what do you tune it to, and what string gauges do you use?
I have it tuned to E-B-F#-C#, but I'd like to try a lighter gauge tuned up to G-D-A-E.

[trickstaaah]

Gorgeous - never had a chance to play a reso-mandolin, but I'd love to ... I'm sure it'd make the fiddlers at the weekly Irish session sit up and take notice! (On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to get away with so many mistakes as I do now....)

[Cone Head]

Since this thread was such a tremendous success inundated with responses I figured I'll just add to it instead of creating another one.




*tumbleweeds roll by*




This one's a 1928 Vega Little Wonder in really fantastic shape.
Looks to be all original except for the head and possibly the bridge (although the bridge says "Vega" on it, it looks like a 60s era replacement...although I could be wrong).
It even has the seldom-seen original riveted-to-the-tension-hoop tailpiece.





This is a pretty obnoxious sounding instrument. I can just imagine the neighbors rallying together with pitchforks and torches and a good supply of tar & feathers. It is perfect for the jugband and ragtime stuff my band plays.

And the pre-WWII mandolins just keep coming...I have a 1920s Regal "reverse scroll" round-hole mandolin on the way soon!

[Cone Head]

I just can't stop buying old mandolins.

Picked up this Regal "Reverse Scroll" (from the 1910s or 1920s) for a mere $96 on ebay. No cracks, perfect neck angle, no structural issues, barely any wear at all on the frets.

Here it is next to the 50s Kay-made Airline I started learning on.
I have a weakness for funky-shaped mandolins.



The patent for these was granted 100 years ago yesterday, September 8, 1914.

[Bingoccc]

Those are a couple of cool dudes there. Nice find. I'm hoping to get an oval hole next myself.

[GerryinAZ]

Originally Posted by Cone Head

I just can't stop buying old mandolins.

Picked up this Regal "Reverse Scroll" (from the 1910s or 1920s) for a mere $96 on ebay. No cracks, perfect neck angle, no structural issues, barely any wear at all on the frets.

Here it is next to the 50s Kay-made Airline I started learning on.
I have a weakness for funky-shaped mandolins.



The patent for these was granted 100 years ago yesterday, September 8, 1914.

How fun is that?!?!? What a great grab. I hope they are as fun to play as they look like they would be.

[Cone Head]

Finally got some decent footage of myself playing the Triolian mandolin onstage. Bear in mind I only started playing mandolin last December, so it's far from perfect...

[Bingoccc]

Very, very nice. Loved it

[Jim_G]

Yes that was great Conehead!