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In carrying out the restoration of mandolins built between the late 19th century and the Second World War, I strictly adhere to some fundamental criteria. First of all, the evaluation of the instrument's condition: whether it can be recovered only for exhibition or also for performance. The basic concept is to leave the instrument as much as possible in its original state, integrating missing parts, usually decorative ones, soldering loose parts. When it is conceivable to return the instrument to performance, I keep the same concept in mind, but above all, I assess the causes of the damage. Usually, the instrument has become unusable due to the adoption of modern strings, which came into use in the 1970s and are significantly thicker than those used until the war, causing deformation of the neck and soundboard. The keyboard can be replaced by slightly raising it, or leaving it as it is, but in any case, keeping the action low and especially using much thinner gauge strings, as those for which these instruments were built. The sound is delicate and pleasant, the true sound of the mandolin of the golden age. |
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