Loars

The old Loars, from what I understand, were all over the place with tap notes, but were very consistent with deflection under load -- a balanced .028 deflection on both bass and treble sides under 25# of down pressure evenly distributed on the bridge feet.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

More often, though, those familiar have only played the Loars owned by bluegrass stars or hobby players, usually people who bought them way back when.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

I'm not sure about lower end A's but F-4s of early 20's (and perhaps F-2s) were done this way, too, not only Loars.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

There is a small batch (somewhere around a dozen?) of mandolins referred to as unsigned Loars.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

I'm not sure about lower end A's but F-4s of early 20's (and perhaps F-2s) were done this way, too, not only Loars.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

Since there are plenty of seeming small differences between the real Loars, one could really only set out to copy a particular example.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

Which ones will have the Loar type mistique after 85 years ... or will some buiders 'mandolin's surpass Loars in sound quality, etc?

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

One piece tops are pretty rare, and I don't remember seeing any Loars or really top shelf indy-builder instruments with one piece tops.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

Which ones will have the Loar type mistique after 85 years ... or will some buiders 'mandolin's surpass Loars in sound quality, etc?

Mandolin Cafe News 2009

In the early 20s, at least on the Loars, they apparently used a sealer of some sort, followed by an oil varnish, followed by a french polish gloss coat of shellac or spirit varnish.

Mandolin Cafe News 2009