Slingerland Songster Model Arch Top Mandolin, c. 1938, made in Chicago, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; rosewood fingerboard, black soft shell case.
While Slingerland is primarily remembered as one of the world's premier drum makers, the company's roots are actually in fretted instruments. By the late 1930's, the Chicago firm was still offering a full line of banjos, mandolins and guitars alongside the classic Radio King drum kit, and this is one of the nicer mandolins. This Songster has a pressed arched top and headstock faced with drum material. While some af the parts are standard Chicago issue, the instrument appears to have actually been made at Slingerland's factory, not by usual suspects Regal or Harmony. This is a very nice playing and sounding Mandolin, an excellent value and an unusual find.
Overall length is 26 in. (66 cm.), 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm.) width, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 7/8 in. (352 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Splendid condition overall; very little wear anywhere, this instrument would rate an excellent+ if not for two super-cleanly repaired top cracks near the bass side F-hole. Very nice sound, a very well made pre-war, F-hole mandolin that won't break the bank Excellent Condition.
