What to do with that old mandolin?
It happens all the time: Dad's or Grandma's mandolin gets discovered in the attic or under the bed and passed on to someone who wonders, "What should I do with this?" The Seattle Mandolin Orchestra offers the following suggestions:

Get it restored/repaired. Mandolins that have been sitting for a while usually need a little work before they can be safely strung up and played. At the very least, a knowledgeable repair person should inspect the instrument and give it a clean bill of health. Need repair work? We recommend the following Seattle-area mandolin specialists:
Poulsbo
(360) 697-4181
Paul Stroh
West Seattle
(206) 937-9418
Seattle
(206) 378-0233
Burien
(206) 431-8772

Learn to play it. This might be the best thing for you and the mandolin. Hint: We accept players at all levels, and we offer instruction!

Consider donating it. Our orchestra accepts donations of instruments, which we loan to our players or to our Mando for Kids program. This ensures that the instrument is properly cared for, is being played, and will live to make more music. Your donation will help us promote mandolin music in the Pacific Northwest. Plus, you'll be eligible for benefits—and a tax deduction, since we're a nonprofit.

Sell it.
While we can't offer you a formal appraisal of value, we do have several members who are also collectors with extensive knowledge of the vintage mandolin market. We can either make you an offer or help you find a place to consign an instrument for sale.

Not all mandolins are created equal, and just because it's old doesn't mean it's priceless. We'll give you information about anything, but here are the vintage brands we find the most interesting:
  • Bacon
  • Bohmann
  • Brandt
  • Calace
  • D'Angelico
  • Embergher
  • Epiphone
  • Gelas
  • Gibson
  • Kalamazoo
  • Larson Bros.
  • Lyon & Healy
  • Martin
  • Shutt
  • Stahl
  • Stromberg-Voisinet
  • Vega
  • Vinaccia
  • Washburn
  • Weymann
Get in touch. or call (425) 673-0263.