(B1) Estevão Soros Bandolim, 1985

Anyone familiar with Brazilian instruments will recognize the name "Soros", a company which factory-produced many fretted instruments starting in the 1960's and well into the 1980's. The brand is generally respected for having provided decent quality instruments for the mass market, and many such instruments are available today in Brazil at very accessible prices. This bandolim, a much rarer find, was built by the founder and namesake of that company himself, Estevão Soros. It bears the label of Oswaldo Boaretto Jr, the son of Soros Co. co-founder Oswaldo Boaretto. Boaretto Jr. put that label inside the instrument at the request of the instrument's most recent owner after having verified that it was, in fact, built by his father's partner. To make clear this point, he wrote in pen on his own label, "Estevão Soros, 1985." It is in very good condition, given its age, with only a few very small scratches and dings on the back and rear of the headstock. We refretted it, leveled the fingerboard and set it up, so it is good as new... maybe better. It came to us without a case, so we got it a new one. Very resonant and easy to play, this unique bandolim is going to be someone's signature piece. Top: Spruce Back & sides: Brazilian Rosewood Neck: Cedro Rosa (Cedar) Fingerboard: Ebony Nut: bone+zero fret Bridge: bone Scale length: 350mm Nut width: 30mm Body depth: 58mm Widest body width: 300mm Finish: Glossy (PU) Tuners: Schaller Pickup: no Case: new hard case Strings: Dinâmico São Paulo Recent Work: new frets, level fingerboard, setup