Vintage circa 1934 R. A. Mango 12-fret 000-28K Martin-style 15" Acoustic Guitar == Extremely rare, we only know of one other example of a full-size Mango acoustic flat-top (well, two if you include the Mango 18-string!), this being Julian Lage's famous 1934 Mango (which is a bit fancier in some details, particularly the peghead shape) == Gorgeous book-matched Curly Koa back and sides, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, 1 7/8" at the nut with long 26 1/4" scale, BRW headstock overlay, multi-ply top binding, bound back and headstock, marquetry strip at back center, position markers at 10 and 12, rather than 9 and 12 == Nominal dimensions (+/- .25") are the same as a 12-fret Martin 000 (except for overall length which is 1/2" more than a Martin), and from the quality of the materials and construction we thought this was perhaps a special order from Martin (it looks, feels, and sounds like a really good Martin), but there are no markings, stamps, or logos anywhere other than the Mango paper label, and Martin has no record of it, so we must conclude it was built by Mr. Mango, a master luthier in his own right ==
R. A. Mango apparently worked at the NYC Ciani shop under John D'Angelico, and when D'Angelico left to open his own (now famous) shop in 1932, Mango also left and opened his shop, which moved within a year to a new location on the same street (labels have the new address hand-stamped in red ink after the move as on the label of this guitar ). Mr. Mango built some fancy designs as well as more conventional instruments such as the 1934 flat-top owned and loved by Julian Lage, and also did "Repairing Done Artistically" as stated on the label -- his label appears in several Martins as a repair label == Another reason we thought this might be a Martin-build is that this guitar bears a marked resemblance to a few of the spruce-top Koa "M. Nunes/Rolando" Martins ordered by Southern California Music Co. in that it is very lightly braced and has no volute -- the Mango also has another interesting variation in a thin full-width bridge plate -- there are only two braces below the soundhole! (plus the bridge plate) which allows the top to be wonderfully vibrant. I think Mr. Mango would have considered this guitar superior to a Martin 000, and I believe it's every bit the equal ==
The guitar is presently in VG 7/10 condition with some cosmetic/play wear that is pretty light for its age with a very nice overall appearance -- a previous owner had modern frets installed (which have very little wear) and the tuners replaced -- when I got it I had my luthier (McLuthier's of Lubbock) repair (cleated) a hairline crack below the bridge, and stabilize a crack along the upper treble side of the neck extending to the soundhole with a thin 1/2" wide spruce vertical splint -- the bridge was also lifting and he cleanly removed it and re-attached it; you will note that this has an older-style straight-saddle bridge mounted at a slight angle to enhance intonation -- this is the original position as it matches the bridge plate pin holes == Top is flat, no other cracks except those noted as repaired, neck is straight with very good action at a hair over 3/32" 12th fret low E and 3/32" 12th fret high E -- Note that the neck has shifted very slightly so the high E falls 1/64" closer to the edge of the fretboard at top fret than at the nut -- this does not affect playability, and has been stabilized as noted above ==
Set up for silk and steel strings -- I would not recommend anything heavier -- this guitar lives up to its physical beauty, playing well and sounding glorious ==
Includes new TKL case that fits perfectly -- while in the local Lubbock GC buying the case, I ran into a couple of friends who are top-flite pros (one had just gotten back from recording an album in Nashville), and they both loved this guitar, placing it in their personal top-fives, as I do -- this is a special guitar ==
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