"Antiques Roadshow" - mando tonight

[Walter Newton]

I regularly watch the show, last item on tonights episode was a 1921 Gibson F4 in fine shape. Like many folks who have there items profiled the owner had it in the family forever, knew little about it and had no idea of its value.

[Steve L]

I stumbled on it while channel surfing. Sounded a bit twangy and (Now I'm not a bluegrass/F style guy) it seemed the 3-4 thousand appraisal was a bit low for a '21 Gibson F in good condition.

I wish they would do special editions just on musical instruments.

[johnnymando]

I saw the show too.Looked pretty original,probably needs new strings and a set-up.$3000 seemed cheap,I've seen them more $3800-$4200+

[Michael H Geimer]

That made me stop pickin right quick.

Loved the comment about how, after twenty odd years in the collectables trade, the appraiser felt that vintage musical instruments were the items that consitently increased in value.

Whenever anyone gasps at what I paid for my F-style ... I point out that their laptop will likely be part of landfill in 10 years, while my instrument will have matured nicely. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Now for the *real* PBS fans ... there was an uncomfirmed Martin 0 size on Find - The Keno brother's show where they go check out people's homes. They estimated to be from the late 1800's. 0-size 12-fret, with a slotted headstock.

Best part was ... Leslie Keno could really play!

[sunburst]

Whenever anyone gasps at what I paid for my F-style ... I point out that their laptop will likely be part of landfill in 10 years, while my instrument will have matured nicely. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I've mentioned before that I am a b@^jo player. I bought a pre-war banjo several years ago for what I might have paid for a good used car. 'nuff said.

[Eugene]

I saw it in part. Did they mention how they arrived at a date of 1921? If 1921, I would guess it was very early in 1921 as the bridge was of the pre-1921 style. Still, it was a lovely instrument. Rare for the road show, and I agree with the sentiment expressed above, I thought the value was slightly underestimated given the piece's marvelous condition.

[Tom C]

I thought they said it was a 1915. It did look in very nice condition and I estimated it at $3,500. I think they once had an H-4 mandola. The estimator is
a musician. Too bad he couldn't do anything but play some lame chords.

[Michael H Geimer]

" Too bad he couldn't do anything but play some lame chords. "

Yea. I got excited when he said he was musican, then he played it like a typical guitar player might after messing around with one for the first time.

Not to be mean, but I think you've all appraised that mandolin better than he played it. LOL!

[Ted Eschliman]

I point out that their laptop will likely be part of landfill in 10 years, while my instrument will have matured nicely.Yup, and I've said it before:
Never trade wood for silicon...

[Walter Newton]

I don't remember them talking about the details of dating it, or mentioning 1915 (not to say they didn't). The text at the end of the segment said 1921 for sure.

I was also pretty disappointed at the appraiser's demo after all his hype about "I'm a musician, and it all comes down to the sound blah blah"...thought he would sound more impressive.

[Bill Snyder]

Saw the episode in question and thought the price sounded a bit low, but I don't claim to have much knowledge about vintage prices.
Did a google search to see if I could find out more about the mando. Some were commenting on the appraiser's playing you might think the following behind the seens information from Georgia Public Broadcasting's website is interesting:

"Leigh Keno – the other half of the “Keno Brothers” – is huddling with musical instrument Appraiser Ken Farmer of Radford, Virginia, who is having one of those moments with a mandolin someone has brought in: “There’s no wear on the frets… Imagine, 80 years old and no fret wear. It’s a beautiful thing, man.” Its owner doesn’t know what he has, but before Farmer heads back for the big reveal, he takes a moment to teach Keno a classic musical riff…Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky”? Nope, “Louie, Louie.” “You can play ‘Louie, Louie’ on any musical instrument,” he laughingly assures Keno and Northcutt.”

[levin4now]

A friend of mine just about crapped his pants when he heard how much we paid for my wife's piano. #20 year old Yamaha U series - a beautiful tall upright - sounds fantastic. #Same thing as your sentence about your mando vs. laptop. #This piano belonged to a piano teacher for 14 years - taught who knows how many kids! Now my wife uses it all the time, I dabble on it, and our two young girls are slated for lessons soon too. #If we take care of it, one them may pass it on to future generations. #To me, that price is nothing now.

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Then again, this is the same guy who asked me if $50 bucks was too much to pay for a new tent.