Mandolin

My uncle Tommy used to play the mandolin, old songs like Lily Marlene, and a long time after he died I got up the courage to ask my last remaining aunt for it. She gave it to me last fall, maybe, and it's a cheap Harmony Monterey.

The soundboard was separating from the body, the tailpiece was 1/4" off center as originally delivered, the bridge was way too high...

I got a luthier friend to reglue the soundboard, took the rest of the bits apart and cleaned them, and ordered a new set of strings. The instrument then sat in my study for months.

Today I drilled new holes and remounted the tailpiece, and strung it up.I sort of remember from racial memory or something that you coil the extra length of each string to keep it out of the way.

Now I am looking at it and wondering if I have the courage and persistence to learn to play some Holy Modal Rounders songs.