Gibson Mando Case Fakes?

[kudzugypsy]

just browsing the Janet Davis site (the only authorized gibson web site) and saw this at the bottom of the page:

Note: GIBSON MANDOLIN CASES - Gibson does not have a mandolin case with the the GIBSON name on it.

it seems i have seen a number of leather covered MM cases, one actually being for sale on the cafe classifieds with "the Gibson" on it - so i know gibson contracts these cases out anyway (ie, they dont make them) - but found this interesting none-the-less

[danb]

I thought they had a custom-designed calton that has "Gibson" on the side.

[ronlane3]

Dan, That case is still in the Myth stage. Atleast, no one has produced a picture yet.

[Big Joe]

The calton case in near completion. I have been promised a prototype within a couple weeks. Once we get it and approve it, we can move forward with ordering them. I hope to have the proto's before Christmas. This has been a looonnngggg project!

[Bradley]

OK Big Joe.....Any Pictures for us yet http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Big Joe]

I recieved the first prototype yesterday. It is the best case I've seen yet for mandolins. I don't have a camera handy to photograph it yet, but as soon as I can I will post photos. Suffice it to say it will be a big hit! It is still probably three months from having the first ones to deliver, but at least we have one to show at SPBGMA.

[MML]

I just love surprises http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[chris]

So whats this?

[RichieK]

I'm sort of changing the topic, but does anyone have a good close up picture of the case that Tut Taylor made for Big Mon?
Maybe Big Joe ought to consider doing the whole distressed thing for the Loar style case that comes with the DMM!

[jim simpson]

Richie,
Do you mean this one? I remember seeing the leather one the Blue Grass Boys had made for him.

[RichieK]

Jim,
I thought that Tut painted the outside of it as a gift?
Do you remember that I bought Bill's double mandolin case at the auction some years back? It's a little funky, with #black and white rabbit fur inside! It's sitting in my storage room in plastic. It even came with one used G string.
I'm sort of afraid to use it! I don't think that he used it too much, but it's the real deal. It came with pictures and James' cerificate of authenticity..<g>

[jim simpson]

Richie,
This is from Tut's site:

Tut's Story Pages

Bill Monroe's Mandolin Case
# # # "I first became acquainted with Bill Monroe in the late 40's. He and Roy Acuff became my musical heros. I listened to them many times on the Grand Old Opry over Radio Station WSM from Nashville. This was a 50,000 watt clear channel which allowed the Opry to come in loud and clear down in Milledgeville, Ga.
# # # "Bill came to Georgia many times and I always tried to catch his shows. He was always gracious in allowing me to play his mandolin. Little did either of us know what the future held for that famous instrument. During that time he had five.
# # # "In the early sixties, for some reason or other, I noticed what a crummy case he was carrying his mandolin in. So, being a sign artist (painter) I thought a new case for Bill and the mandolin would be something I would like to do for him. The case he had was one of the contour models, just like the F4 cases, only this one was a larger model. It was held together with layers and layers of black electricians tape. # # # #"I ordered an oblong case from Chicago Musical Instrument Co. who had Gibson's sales at this time. The case was shipped on Nov. 14, 1963. I still have the original invoice. When it arrived it was a thing of beauty so I made preparations and designed the layout. I removed the little rectangular Gibson label also. I had asked Bill earlier when he began to play and he told me 1927. However...... he did not say he was playing bluegrass at that time. So I went and put on the case the "Original Bluegrass since 1927." That was solely my quotation and no one else's. Maybe this will ease a few minds. I wish that I had not done this.... but I did...... That's how it came about...
# # # "When I went out to LA to do my first album in 1964 I carried the case with me to present to Bill, who at that time was appearing at The Ash Grove. On one of his sets he thanked me for the case. He almost didn't remember my name. I taped this show on a reel to reel and still have it in my "stuff".
# # # "I was told by James that this case is in the museum. I wanted it back but he said no..... as a last note.... I painted the design upside down......."

Tut

[jim simpson]

Richie,
To follow up: I think the leather case I saw must have came later than the one Tut provided. I'll try to find a picture of it. I didn't realize that the case you bought from Bill's estate was a double! I'd like to see it. I can see the PETA folks getting upset about the rabbit fur!
Jim

[RichieK]

Thanks Jim...
Maybe Tut should advertise case painting in the classified section!

[jim simpson]

Richie,
As long as he doesn't paint portraits of Bobby Osborne!
Here's another photo of Bill's case. I wonder if this is the one that Tut painted or maybe it's the one that he wanted to replace.
Jim

[f5loar]

The above photo is the Tut '63 Gibson case he painted. It appears to be just before the time it was replaced in the 80's with the other case shown above. That case was made by Pagaoni and sent to a leather craftsman for the outer cover and paid for by exbluegrass boys and presented to Monroe for his birthday. Monroe then used the Tut case to carry his 2nd Loar in.

[jim simpson]

f5loar,

Thanks for clearing up the "case" history. I remember joking to Tom Ewing about mixing up my case with Bill's when I got to see it up close. He kept a close eye on the closed case!
The leather tooling looked good but by 94' it had shown the road traveled wear one would expect. I wish I had taken a photo of the case as I had my camera with me.

[f5loar]

You can consider the "case" closed!