This K1 Mandocello is the result of my giving up on being able to keep my 1920 K1 Mandocello in working order. It so happens that a mandocellist in our orchestra is an amateur luthier and took an interest in wanting to restore the 1920. He happened to have a Gibson mandocello that he had already restored and was willing to do a cash and trade.
Here she is.
This mandocello has been fully refurbished; I don’t know the exact extent of the restoration, but according to the mandocellist, all the parts came from the same cello. There is clearly some repaired body cracks and a repaired neck-heel crack. The entire instrument has been oversprayed and the back has an interesting purplish hue. The soundhole rosette is not a match of the period Gibsons. Pics don’t show it, but it has a period tailpiece cover.
Despite all that it has that beautiful mandocello tone that you’d expect from a vintage Gibson. Has a period mandocello hardshell case.
Serial numer is partially obscured: 4XX138.
