Topic: Champlin Guitars ... new website up!

[nobocaster]

Howdy fellow weenies,

  Been awhile since I've posted here.  I'd like to let you all know about my new website..   

       www.champlinguitars.com

  I've been building and fixing guitars since 2006 and I'm starting to kick it into high gear and try and do this more or less full time.  Looking for a quality, affordable, custom guitar?  Drop me a line!  Or if you live in the Pacific NW (I'm in Bellingham, WA), and need some repairs or restorations on that old ladder braced beauty..  let's talk!

  Thanks folks,
  Devin

[Parlor Picker]

Interesting site, Devin.

That mandolin is in some ways similar to one I have and was told might have come out of the Regal factory. It is lightly built and very loud. I am no mandolin player, but appreciate it as a worthwhile instrument. I must get around to taking some pictures of it. It came my way in a swap for a Harmony tiple - I bought the tiple on eBay all smashed up, Rick Sellens (rick218 on the Weenie) repaired it, but I couldn't get along with it, so we did an exchange. He now has the tiple and I acquired the mandolin.

[Mike Brosnan]

Looks great, Devin!  That parlor is beautiful! You are definitely gonna build my next guitar!

[uncle bud]

Nice, Devin. All looks great, and I especially like those cool little mandolinettos.

[Stumblin]

Fantastic. I love the look of the mandolinetto. The parlor & CB ukes too. Wonderful instruments, respect & kudos 

[Johnm]

Hi Devin,
The website looks great, as do your instruments.  I look forward to coming by soon and seeing what you're up to and what's in progress.
All best,
Johnm

[nobocaster]

  Thanks all for checkin' the website out.  I'll be adding more such as price lists and specific model info soon.  And I'll try to keep it frequently updated with photos and ramblings. 

  Parlor Picker- I'd love to see some photos!  I'm a nerd for these things.

  Johnm- By all means, stop on by...


 

[Parlor Picker]

At last, a picture of the old mandolin I mentioned.

[Parlor Picker]

And more (resizing pictures driving me crazy...... )

Taken on mobile phone, so not best quality.

[Slack]

Michael,  the headstock shape and some elements of the fingerboard and binding make me think it might be a Vega mandolin.  Is the back flat or cylinder shaped?

[Parlor Picker]

It's a flatback John with mahogany back and sides.

It originally came to Rick Sellens (rick218) with a guitar that has matching binding. The guitar was described as being "possibly a Weymann", but I think it might be a Stromberg-Voisinet, because of the strange "half-slotted" headstock (i.e. the slots only go half way and it looks solid at the back). The mandolin was identified as "possibly Regal", but I'd be open to other ideas.

I swapped it for a Harmony tiple with Rick, as he got on better with it than I did (although as an occasional ukulele player, I still crave a decent tiple).

[nobocaster]

Thanks for the photos..  I love these kind of mandolins.  It is very similar to the Brilliantone that I have.  I wouldn't hazard a guess myself as to the maker..  I just don't know enough of that history.. but I sure do like it!

[uncle bud]

That plate on the back of the headstock reminds me of Weymanns, but I know little of such things.