Andy Adams is selling his 1982 five course mandolin. Andy says:
1982 Stefan Sobell mandolin, rosewood back and sides, carved cedar top 5 course mandolin.
I collected the mandolin from Stefan in August 1982, the Jack Clark fibreglass case came later. Stefan fitted an Ashworth transducer in 1984, which produces excellent reproduction. Stefan re-fretted the mandolin with improved fret wire in 1987.
The instrument is otherwise completely original and in good working order. It still plays with ease and the usual Sobell clarity. I played it continually for the first 20 years; since then less and less to the point it now haunts me to be lying idle.
In September 1984 it received damage to the treble rib when the mandolin, in its case, was thrown at me by a very angry girlfriend. The depressed crack in the rib was caused by the hinge rivet as the case hit the wall. Stefan’s quote about it still appears in his ‘The things they say’ webpage.
The front has suffered mainly from my little finger resting against the body and one unfortunate accident where it was knocked off a chair. Otherwise all other cosmetic damage is due to the time practicing, performing and session playing. It has no visible signs of structural defect.
Damage to rib
End of fingerboard