What to trade for my Gibson A4 snakehead?

[FrDNicholas]

OK, here's my situation: I have a 1923 A4 snakehead that does not have the original tuners on it. It does not have the original case, which was moldy. For some reason, the action has gotten so low that the instrument is buzzing. I have raised the non-original bridge, without any success in getting rid of the buzz. I am thinking about trying to trade in this mandolin, which also has alot of finish cracks, not in the wood. I live in New Mexico, the Albuquerque area. I am not sure what mandolin I would like to get, or even how to proceed in trading. I do not have money to trade up, so to speak, and am willing to trade straight across for a mandolin that will sound full and as beautiful as my A4 did for many years. Any suggestions? I am thinking of a summer trip to Folk Of the Wood, although some of the recent posts have me questioning this idea.

[Jim Garber]

New Mexico -- keep it in the state... try to find an old wave oval hole. Sweet and the Gibson-like sound you are accustomed to.

Alb is a great place. Try Peter White's shop and see what happens there. Also, Gibsons are long lasting. You may be able to get it fixed to playing shape without spending much $$$. I would also be concerned that the top brace is coming loose, so I would have someone check it out ASAP before the top gets ruined.

Good luck,
Jim

[FrDNicholas]

Thank you for your help. Where is Peter White's shop? I am fairly new to New Mexico, so I am slowly finding places. I have yet to find a trustworthy repair person for the mandolin. I like the way Old Wave mandos look, but have never seen one to play. Would Peter's shop have them?

[grandmainger]

You should have a luthier look at it before you part with it though... An A4 snakehead is a precious item.

From the cafe's builder database, there's one in Albuquerque (map here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3316+Lafayette+Drive,+87107&om=1)):
Company: Pimentel and Sons Guitar Company
Address: 3316 Lafayette Dr. NE - Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
http://www.pimentelguitars.com/
Phone/fax: 505 884 1669
Comments: Primarily a guitar builder but does offer a line of mandolins.

There may be more, and there's obviously Bill Bussmann at Old Wave Hollow, as Jim suggested.

G.

[stevem]

An A4 snakehead is a special treat. It's already worth a chunk of cash and will likely continue to climb in value over the years. I'd definitely have it worked on to see if you can get it singing again before trading for a modern mando.

[FrDNicholas]

I would love to at least get an estimate on what it would cost to fix it. I haven't found a good luthier yet, but will continue to look for one. If anyone knows someone in Albuquerque, I would greatly appreciate it. If indeed it is the X bracing coming loose, is it possible to give me a ballpark figure of the cost of repair? I realize that may be unrealistic without seeing the instrument. Thanks for any help. I just emailed Pimental guitars to see if they could help.

[mythicfish]

Dan
Look inside the sound hole. See the little piece of wood that runs perpendicular to the strings?
That's the bracing " system" ... all of it. If it's loose/separated It could cost as little as $100 to fix it.
I'm in agreement with the others in saying that it should checked out by a reputable repair person.
A-4 Snakeheads are fairly rare.

[FrDNicholas]

There's a piece that's perpendicular to the strings behind the sound hole towards the bridge. Is that the piece? I felt that piece and it doesn't seem to be loose.

[mando andy]

For an instrument like that it would be well worth it to ship your mandolin to a luthier that really knows vintage mandolins---you have a special instrument in your hands.

Gryphon Strings, Frank Ford in Palo Alto, is one luthier that comes to mind, for example, but there are many others. Big Joe of Gibson the Gibson Shop in Nashville could also help--he hangs out on the board. The small relative cost of the shipping is far outweighed by the superior job that a mandolin specialist would be able to do for you.

E-mail me off line and I can provide you with the names of other luthiers.

Andy Morton
Madison, WI

[FrDNicholas]

Someone suggested that perhaps the "nut" (the piece near the tuning pegs) might need to be either lifted, or a shim put under the strings. His thought was that maybe the grooves in the nut had been worn down. How does that sound to you all?

[sgarrity]

www.bryankimsey.com He is an excellent repairman and lives in NM. I'm sure he could get it fixed up for you. I'd think long and hard before I traded off a '23 A4.

[FrDNicholas]

Shaun, Thank you for that help. I just emailed Bryan and will see what he says. Thanks, again.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

any chance of posting some pictures?

baron

[cooper4205]

i've got a nissan i'll trade http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[FrDNicholas]

I don't have a digital camera at this point. That would have been a good idea, if I could have done it. When you say you have a "Nissan" do you mean the car, or is that a mandolin I haven't heard of yet?

[atetone]

Daniel, an A4 Snakehead is a highly desirable instrument.
It is definately worth getting checked out and fixed regardless of wether you are going to keep it or trade it.
It will be worth even more if a reputable luthier or repairman puts it right.
It is not unusual to have to get some work done on these vintage mandolins. As a matter of fact it the normal thing to do when you first acquire them.
There are many members of this board (me included), to whom that Snakehead would be their most prized possesion.
Those things are special!
You are fortunate to have it and definately should make the investment to have it made the best it can be. It will probably pay off in spades and then if you still want to trade it you will be able to get a very good mandolin in trade.

[FrDNicholas]

Thank you all for your confirmation. I am pursuing finding someone to fix it. I remember when I first got the mandolin, saying: "This is the mandolin I'll have till I stop playing" I forgot that momentarily in my impatience with the buzzing. I'm sure I'll find someone who will get this mandolin sounding as beautiful as it used to, and hopefully, I'll remember this time and you'll never hear another word from me about trading it!

[cooper4205]

the car

[David M.]

I bet Bryan Kimsey can get it going. He's indicated recently to me that he has a waiting list, so see if that's still the case and get on it.

He's a good picker, too, as you can tell from his site.