GRW3
Nov-10-2008, 4:30pm
Is there somewhere you can find a Gibson Mandolin Acquisiton FAQ?
I'm just starting on the process to acquire a new (to me) mandolin. I take my time with such things, for instance my last guitar acquisition took most of three years and I feel like I know more about guitars than mandolins. I keep seeing references to what appears, to me, cryptic knowledge of how to spot a good Gibson. I've played new and used Gibson mandolins that were both to my taste and not but while I would normally ascribe that to ear and manufacturing variation it seems there is more too it.
The first thing seems to be a year issue, as in, "Don't buy one from 19xx-19xx because they were not up to par" or "Even if it's good those years are suspect and would effect the resale value."
The next big thing is the specific builder, as in, "be sure and look for a Smith or Jones". (avoiding names I've seen mentioned as who is not the specific issue.) Do you actually mean they specifically had to build the instrument? Or that it was built under their supervision and thus they signed it?
I don't know about the others who read these threads but guys, you're confusing me. After all, you don't hear anybody say be sure and get a Collings built by MandoTex. Are these nuances a real factor to the non-afficianado player or are Gibsons like other mandos, find one you like and beat it like a rented mule until it really opens up?
I have a Martin Guitar because it best suited my combination of needs not because it's a Martin. If a Gibson mandolin was the best choice for my next mandolin I would be proud to own it but mystique isn't big on my list of criteria. It just seems that for Gibson mandolins there is a lot of wheat and chaff that need to be separated.
Confused
I'm just starting on the process to acquire a new (to me) mandolin. I take my time with such things, for instance my last guitar acquisition took most of three years and I feel like I know more about guitars than mandolins. I keep seeing references to what appears, to me, cryptic knowledge of how to spot a good Gibson. I've played new and used Gibson mandolins that were both to my taste and not but while I would normally ascribe that to ear and manufacturing variation it seems there is more too it.
The first thing seems to be a year issue, as in, "Don't buy one from 19xx-19xx because they were not up to par" or "Even if it's good those years are suspect and would effect the resale value."
The next big thing is the specific builder, as in, "be sure and look for a Smith or Jones". (avoiding names I've seen mentioned as who is not the specific issue.) Do you actually mean they specifically had to build the instrument? Or that it was built under their supervision and thus they signed it?
I don't know about the others who read these threads but guys, you're confusing me. After all, you don't hear anybody say be sure and get a Collings built by MandoTex. Are these nuances a real factor to the non-afficianado player or are Gibsons like other mandos, find one you like and beat it like a rented mule until it really opens up?
I have a Martin Guitar because it best suited my combination of needs not because it's a Martin. If a Gibson mandolin was the best choice for my next mandolin I would be proud to own it but mystique isn't big on my list of criteria. It just seems that for Gibson mandolins there is a lot of wheat and chaff that need to be separated.
Confused