c.1922 Lyon & Healy Style A Professional

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c.1922 Lyon & Healy Style A Professional

Name: c.1922 Lyon & Healy Style A Professional
Brand: LYON & HEALY
Availability: OutOfStock

Serial # 1797. The favorite vintage American instrument amongst Classical Mandolinists, the Lyon & Healy Style A Professional was offered for a period of roughly twenty years beginning in 1917. The first incarnation of the Style A had a symmetrical body, but was very soon replaced by the asymmetrically pointed instrument pictured here. The model was built in very limited numbers, branded first as the Lyon & Healy Style A Professional, then from 1923 as the Washburn Style A, and in 1928 (when Tonk Bros. acquired Lyon and Healy) the model was renamed the Washburn "Deluxe". Quality deteriorated somewhat after the Tonk Bros. acquisition, and today the pre-Washburn asymmetrical Style A's are the rarest and most desirable non-Gibson Mandolins from that era. Similar to the instruments built by Gibson, the Lyon & Healy mandolins featured carved plates, akin to those standard in violin building for the previous two centuries. They are exceedingly fine instruments, but not well suited to Bluegrass, as they were designed to be bright and clear, rather than percussive and loud. The Style A was built by some of the finest craftsmen of the day, as is exemplified in the details of the mandolin pictured here. Lyon & Healy's best mandolin line consisted of three models, Styles A, B, and C; Style A being the most ornate (and most expensive) of the trio. Its top and back are meticulously carved of spruce and figured maple, with all sides bound in triple layers. Its most striking features are the violin-like carved scroll headstock, with inlaid tuning machines covered by a black "Vulcanized Hard Rubber" cover, and its ornately engraved tailpiece cover. The new Bakelite-looking "Hard Rubber" was also formed into the instrument's pickguard, neck reinforcement, and tuning machine buttons, while ebony was chosen for the fingerboard and bridge. This Style A is in absolutely stunning and original condition. It is both breathtaking and perfectly preserved, with no cracks, structural issues or finish wear. We have replaced its original bridge with a custom fabricated height-adjustable and intonated part that fits exactly within the footprint of the original, which we will furnish with the instrument. We chose to replace the bridge as it was both too high and without compensation, which made the instrument mostly unusable. This mandolin is now very playable, with original fretwork that is in excellent condition and a very comfortable set up. It has a scale length of 13 inches and a bone nut 1-1/8" wide. Very fine sound, with surprising volume and fullness. It is unlikely that you will ever find another Lyon & Healy Style A professional in comparable condition.
With original hard shell case.
NOT FOR SALE

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c.1922 Lyon & Healy Style A Professional

Don't just browse history. Play it.

Three decades of industry experience