1890’s Pollman Mandoline Banjo Project
1890’s Pollman Mandoline Banjo Project. If your family has a rule that no bluegrass banjos are allowed to be played in the house after 10:00 PM, this is an instrument you should consider. Pollman Mandoline Banjos are the combination of the two good parts of two dissimilar instruments, Mandolin body and 5-string banjo neck. Unlike the 8-string mandolin banjos which arguably have the two worst attributes of two perfectly good instruments. The neck on this instrument is curly cherry and has a Brazilian rosewood fretboard with a 24” scale. The celluloid disk with the Pollman branding is missing, but if you are savvy with a laser printer, you can make one out of maple. The body has a spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Hardware include the original Gerke tailpiece and Champion tuners with the stamped patent date of May, 8, 88. There are two top cracks, loose braces, and what I believe is a loose end block. It is a gorgeous instrument and well worth the time to disassemble, reglue the loose stuff, then reassemble, string and play. Price for this Brazilian rosewood beauty is $450 and includes a 1980’s chipboard case lined with endangered teddy bear fur.