Instruments for Sale
I do have some mandolins and guitars in stock for sale: some new, some pre-owned older master examples and some rare antique guitars too- enquire please. I also look to buy outright fine master guitars and high quality mandolins: contact me with what you have for sale please.
Raffaele Calace, Neopolitan Mandolin, pre 1960, date on label reads 19-- (last two digits obliterated)
A fine Neopolitan mandolin, labelled with gold 'Calace' logo embossed, signed, but last two digits of date obliterated- Sold with original bill of sale from Clifford Essex dated 1960 for a 'second-hand Calace mandolin', so it pre dates 1960 of course, but in my view not earlier than the 1930's. Very similar to the 'model 16 bis' in the Calace catalogue. Body of several narrow fluted ribs, of a dark tropical wood, with lighter spacer lines. Table of spruce, dark tropical wood veneered neck, good tuners with plain closed backplate and some additional inlaid decoration to headstock. All set up to play, new Lenzner Bronze Consort strings fitted, gauged especially for these type of mandolins, body with no cracks, table has two small repaired contraction cracks alongside fingerboard, barely visible, but otherwise uncracked and all original. Tone very bright, open and sweet. Fingerboard ebony with rectangular MOP plates, and possibly all original bar frets. see photos for detail. Includes original fitted hard shell case, in good condition.
Condition:
The body of 31 fluted narrow ribs, plus the 2 wide base ribs, dark wood with light spacers inlaid, is good, no cracks or repairs. The table has had some well repaired old cracks alongside the fingerboard, bur barely visible now, and has no distortion around soundhole area, or anywhere else. Action very good, the possibly original bar frets, all trued now and dressed, and all the tuners work well- This mandolin is ready to play, and produces a good strong clear tone- fitted with new special 'Embergher ' strings, ( Lenzner Consort Bronze.) The 'faux shell' scratch plate has MOP inlaid motif, with one crack across it, and is slightly distorted due to age, but it is not loose and has been left unrepaired, and the fingerboard extends right over the soundhole.The wrist guard arches over the strings, on both sides of string holder, in typical Calace style, and is in good condition, and this makes it very comfortable to play and easy to re-string.
We stock and supply 'Lenzner Bronze Consort' mandolin string sets, made especially for Embergher mandolins and other period concert mandolins, made to the correct original specification
Photos: Click here
Dimensions:
- Scale length: 33.5 cms
- Width of fingerboard at Nut: 27 mm
- Width of fingerboard at 12th fret: 38.5 mm
- String spacing at nut: 23 mm
- Neck Thickness under 1st fret: 22 mm
- String Spacing at bridge: 39.5 mm
- Body length, excl. heel: 310 mm
Price: Enquire. Sale includes an original fitted hardshell case, not shown in photos
Price excludes freight, taxes etc. and VAT ( VAT zero rated if exported from EC, packing free, freight charged at cost- (ParcelForce, FedEx, or UPS)
The mandolin can be sent out for approval, for a 48 -hour period after receipt. However, all freight charges, inwards and outwards, must be borne by the client, import duties may be levied in some countries, and for the USA the 'Lacey Declaration' has to be complete in addition to any CITES permit if needed. Payment must be in full in advance, and evidence provided of insurance for the journey. For these additional services, a charge will be made. Funds will be refunded in full, provided the instrument arrives back in the shop in the same condition as when it left. If these conditions are not met, then the instrument will be considered 'Sold'.
I invite you to take a 'virtual tour' through my website, which is continually under construction and renewal, and I welcome any comments you may have about the site. Not all links and pages are active, but I hope to complete the site soon.
Opening times and all contact details, directions etc. on our 'Contact' page. Visitors welcomed, but strictly by appointment only.
·