Mandolins and pick-ups

[CRowe1118]

I am looking for opinions, I am thinking of buying a 1919 Gibson A-0 from a friend. #He has added a pick-up (years ago). #Do you think that this additition will affect the value/price of the instrument?

Any help will be appreciated

[Thundercranium]

I'm no mando expert, but I know my way around instruments.

My guess is that yes, it will adversely affect the value of the instrument. How much is a question best left in the hands of the more knowledgable folk that inhabit this forum!

[MikeEdgerton]

Do you mean he added a pickup like "I cut a hole in the top and added a pickup and drilled holes for the controls and jack" or do you mean he has an in saddle pickup with a carpenter jack installed and still has the original bridge in the case? If it's something that didn't alter the original instrument it isn't going to affect the price, if it was alligator dentistry then it will devalue it unless of course it's a humbucker made of solid 24K gold that weighs in at 5 pounds or so.

[Tim2723]

It depends greatly on what was done to the instrument, and to a lesser extent, who is buying the instrument. If the change is reversible, no problem. If the change is permenent and the buyer happens to be looking for that, then OK. But in general terms, once an instrument is permenently modified, the value is going to be changed for the worse.