John Rosett
Oct-14-2007, 11:18am
About a year ago, a friend loaned me her mandolin. She doesn't play it, and I think she bought it as an "investment". It's a '37 Gibson A1 that has really been played. It has badly repaired cracks at both the f holes, replaced (cheap) tuners, and the peghead has been refinished with a 50's Gibson logo. When I got it, it was pretty much unplayable due to a big bow in the neck. Also, someone had installed a Fishman bridge and done a very poor job of cutting the string slots and an even poorer job of attaching the jack to the tailpiece. I adjusted the truss rod so that the action is nice and low and replaced the bridge top with the original that I found hiding in the case. The trouble is, I've really fallen in love with this old mandolin, and she doesn't want to sell it. I have no idea what she paid for it, and I'm not rich, so I can't really make her a high offer. I thought about telling her that I lost it, but I'm not much of a lier.
Any thoughts on how I can convince her to sell it to me?
David Lloyd
Oct-14-2007, 11:39am
Since she loaned you the mandolin she surely thinks of you as a friend. So just sit down and talk with her. Honesty is definitley the best policy. I love my mandolins but I think my close friends are more important than the instruments.
Good luck,
Dave
P.S. With nothing bad intended in any way in this statement. Maybe mandolins are like women? The sweetness in the next one helps to remove the hurt from the loss of the last one.
Jim Garber
Oct-14-2007, 4:27pm
According to VG Price Guide a '37 A1 in exc condition would be worth $1900-2100. Maybe the value has gone up a little from when the VG Guide came out but maybe not. IMHO that era is not the most desirable for Gibsons.
This one has had serious issues so I would say it might be worth like 50% of the full exc value. Frankly I don't know what kind of investment she thinks she has there.
In any case, I agree that maybe you could have a heart-to-heart sitdown. Is she a musician? Maybe you have something to trade her? Maybe you have something she wants of yours.
You could also assure her that if you ever sell it, she would have right of first refusal and a "friend's" price.
Worse come to worse, maybe she will just lend it to you for life.