Larson bros bowlback

[Hans]

I have had an email from a woman wondering what the worth of this mandolin is:

http://www.usd.edu/smm....in.html (http://www.usd.edu/smm/PluckedStrings/Mandolins/Larson/11903/StetsonMandolin.html)

Any help from you folks would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[MikeEdgerton]

That specific mandolin or one like it?

[Bob A]

I've seen a fairly fancy Larson (Stahl) bowlback, with MOP trim around body and strips of pearl running the length of the fretboard, for about $1600 a few years ago. I would think that would be well above what the one in question would be worth.

There's a website devoted to the Larsons' instruments. There's a bowlback there listed for sale.

I would think that 7-800 would be in the ballpark for a relatively plain example.

[Martin Jonas]

I would think that 7-800 would be in the ballpark for a relatively plain example.
But only if it's definitely confirmed as a Larson instrument. Keep in mind that they were contract manufacturers for a whole slew of different distributors, all of which put their own label in the instruments. Many of these distributors also put their name on bowlbacks not made by the Larsons, and those would usually be worth very much less these days.

Martin

[MikeEdgerton]

I think that's generous, this may or may not be a Larson, it's branded Stetson. That's why I asked the question. The mandolin shown in the link is a medium grade at best instrument. It looks like 15 staves and very little ornamentation. Any Larson that got anywhere near $1500.00 had to be a presentation grade instrument. Honestly in any real market this might be a $400.00 instrument only if you got a bowlback aficionado real interested in it. Beyond that it's simply a well maintained bowlback and like it or not they just don't sell for very much.

[Bob A]

Robert Hartmann, a descendant and chronicler of the Larsons, is the man to talk to about attribution and pricing. While he may be optimistic and biased, (or he may not, I have no idea really), he has been assembling data for quite a while.

Fred Oster at Vintage Instruments has a flatbacked Larson instrument listed for quite a lot of money. I suspect that a bowlback attributed to the Larsons would fetch a premium over run of the mill US bowls. But again, I may be mistaken about that.

[MikeEdgerton]

The problem with Larson Bros. instruments is that everything that anybody thinks might be attributed to them is. Unless you have an instrumet that you can draw a line to them with it's a guess and honestly, even their guitars don't take the premiums that a Martin or Gibson will. This example is in better shape than most bowlbacks of the same age, that is probably its primary selling point, not it's pedigree. If it said Martin on the back of the headstock it might be a $400.00 to $500.00 instrument and I emphasize might.

[Hans]

Thanks for the replies folks!

[Eugene]

Not a chance I'd attribute that to the Larson brothers. The one constant of their confirmed output is quirk, and this instrument is almost entriely quirk free. Frankly, it looks very much to me like some of Vega's output: headstock profile (one of a couple common to Vega...not to mention the possibly over-attributed star), scratchplate shape (consider some later Pettine or Abt models), fingerboard terminus, engraved position markers, etc. The condition does look very good.

[MikeEdgerton]

Where have you been? I've been waiting for you to weigh in on this. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Eugene]

I've been...occupied. Family tragedy. I'm still sad.

[MikeEdgerton]

Sorry to hear that, welcome back.

[Eugene]

Thanks, Mike. Believe it or not, my cyber-comrades mean something to me, especially those I've managed to meet in person (you know whom you are).

[brunello97]

Thanks, Mike. #Believe it or not, my cyber-comrades mean something to me, especially those I've managed to meet in person (you know whom you are).
Eugene, I count myself among one of the lucky ones. I am sorry to hear of your family troubles. I wish the best for y'all.

Mick

FWIW I think I'm with you in the Larson Doubting Thomas role.

[MandoSquirrel]

Eugene, sorry to hear, hope all ends up well.

[Eugene]

Thanks, all, and likewise, Mick. #

I don't want ot hijack this thread. Not as cool as Myspace, but I do blog on occasion. #Details contained therein:
http://euge-o-rama.livejournal.com/