Loft find

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Mrs B wanted to have a bit of a loft sort out today. So we did. Up amongst the multitude of crap are quite a few old instrument cases that I've *ahem* collected over the years. In amongst them was one that I didn't recall. It's (from memory) an old Takamine hard case (I've never owned a Takamine)...

Took it down from the loft to have a look. Well, inside I find an Octave Mandolin. 

It was made back in 2003 by Dave Freshwater in Scotland. He went bankrupt in 2011-ish and so you cannae' get them any more. 

It's in a bit of a state. From memory, I used it live up until about 2005 when an irritating jack socket issue caused me to put it away. It's been sleeping in it's case since then. The 12 year old strings are kaput. The frets quite shockingly rusty, and it needs a damn good clean.

Back in 2005 I was not so electronics savvy - so I pulled the jack socket tonight, had a look, found a dodgy wire, resoldered it in like 30 seconds flat, gave it a test and it's fine.

Clean up and fret polish required, along with new strings and a setup and I think it will be okay. You'll notice it's built the old way.. The real old way... none of this fancy truss rod or bracing malarky - Its a proper club of a neck and weighty to go with it..

We shall see ;)


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Comments

  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    I generally find mouse droppings in my loft.


    Trade??
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    TTony said:
    I generally find mouse droppings in my loft.


    Trade??
    Bet your mouse droppings are cleaner than this was when I opened the case.. ;)


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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    TTony said:
    I generally find mouse droppings in my loft.


    Trade??
    Bet your mouse droppings are cleaner than this was when I opened the case.. ;)
    I could throw in some fresh fox poo, or maybe some deer doings if that'd help the deal?
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    TTony said:
    TTony said:
    I generally find mouse droppings in my loft.


    Trade??
    Bet your mouse droppings are cleaner than this was when I opened the case.. ;)
    I could throw in some fresh fox poo, or maybe some deer doings if that'd help the deal?
    Our dogs bring in more than enough fox poo liberally applied to their fur....
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    TTony said:
    TTony said:
    I generally find mouse droppings in my loft.


    Trade??
    Bet your mouse droppings are cleaner than this was when I opened the case.. ;)
    I could throw in some fresh fox poo, or maybe some deer doings if that'd help the deal?
    Our dogs bring in more than enough fox poo liberally applied to their fur....
    But it smells so nice ...
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  • cheat! you can't call it a loft find if you put it up there. a 'loft forget' yes.
    i am the hired assassin... the specialist. i introduce myself to you... i'm a sadist.
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    tampaxboo said:
    cheat! you can't call it a loft find if you put it up there. a 'loft forget' yes.
    Yeah, you are of course right.

    Well, actually, strictly speaking Mrs B put it up there - I forgot it existed. About 5 years ago someone asked me about it and I told them I sold it. I genuinely thought I had. I forgot I stuffed it in an old guitar hardcase..
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  • i was teasing. but i can sypathise. partners 'tidying up' was always one of my bugbears when i did relationships.
    my defence for mess was 'it's not a mess, it's just an order you don't understand!'. it never stopped them.
    i am the hired assassin... the specialist. i introduce myself to you... i'm a sadist.
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    tampaxboo said:
    i was teasing. but i can sypathise. partners 'tidying up' was always one of my bugbears when i did relationships.
    my defence for mess was 'it's not a mess, it's just an order you don't understand!'. it never stopped them.
    Mrs B is usually great with that sort of stuff. I bet she actually pointed it out to me and said "what shall do I with this case?" and I probably said "shove it in the loft"

    I'm the brainless one most of the time :)
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  • FreebirdFreebird Frets: 5821
    edited November 2017
    Somebody once told me the loft is not the best place to store your Stradivarius  :)
    If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
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  • No truss rod and the neck is still straight after 5 years in a loft? That's definitely a bonus. I might go and have a root in my loft now and see what I can come up with : >
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    No truss rod and the neck is still straight after 5 years in a loft? That's definitely a bonus. I might go and have a root in my loft now and see what I can come up with : >
    Given the way the neck is built, I'd be surprised if it wasn't straight!
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    New strings arrived, and fitted.

    Just about to stick a strap button on the heel so I can at least control it a bit (!)

    It sounds a lot nicer than I remember - the pickup still works as well and doesn't sound that bad.


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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    Strap button fitted.

    Old friend rediscovered.


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  • boogiemanboogieman Frets: 12314

    Oooof! Nice find.

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  • That looks absolutely splendid!
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    I'd never put mine in the loft ...


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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24579
    TTony said:
    I'd never put mine in the loft ...


    Nice tailpiece
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  • axisusaxisus Frets: 28280
    I went in my loft and found all the guitars I don't use - about 6 I think. Left them there. 

    I don't like the loft. The biggest house spider ever died in our water tank and its bloated body lies at the bottom. Freaks me out.
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  • Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 24209
    Don’t be silly... it will have rotted away and you will have drunk its decayed flesh by now.
    Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
    Also chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them.
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