Two Vintage 1920's Gibson A

[brewmaster]

Just wanted to share a story of my good fortune for which I'm very very grateful.

About 10 years ago my mother asked me to clean out a trunk in the garage and upon doing so I found a nice 1922 A style Gibson inside. I knew nothing about it or how to play it. It wasn't until later that I found out what a collectible this was. I put it aside and had it restored about five years later by the folks at Gryphon in Palo Alto CA. The instrument played and sounded nice and I was in love with it.

Then, a few years after that I brought it to work one day and was playing it for a friend when another buddy walked up to me and said "hey, I have one of those too". I asked him about it and he said he bought it many years ago at Gryphon but now it just sat in the garage not being played.

Another year passed and this same buddy of mine came into my work like he does every day only this time he had a mando case with him. I was playing my mando at the time when he asked me to check his out. I did, and as soon as I grabbed it he said I could have it. I was very suprised and had to refuse thinking he had no idea what this was. He assured me he knew exactly what it was and insisted that I take it so that some one could enjoy it. It sounded like no other mando I had heard. It is unbelievably warm and much louder than others I have heard. It's a 1923.

Now I live with these 2 beautiful instruments and have added a nice Collings F to the family and am happy as could be.

Anyone else out there who wishes to hand me free, wonderfully sounding vintage instruments should feel free to contact me any time. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Maybe someday I'll be able to hand these off to someone who'll really appreciate them when I'm no longer able to play.

I'd like to find out what their worth someday.

Anyone else have any stories like this?

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

Great story, John (even better than the "Look what I found at a yard sale!" ones).
I think I understand your friend's motive(s). I gave a 40's Gibson A to a friend a long time ago when I was not playing it and he needed a better mandolin. I don't regret it. When I returned to mandolin I found out he had long since quit mandolin. So I went asking for the use of it again but it was long gone. Fate can be strange, however, and I almost immediately came across a '42 locally, although most probably it was not the same one.

rasa

[Steve L]

I had a buddy find an old mando in his ex-girlfriends attic and he gave it to me. It looked like a bit of a wreck and the first "luthier" I showed it to said it wasn't worth fixing. I had it hanging on the wall until I started visiting this board and realized this "who was Oliver Ditson anyway?" was actually made by Martin. A change in luthiers and a few repairs later I have a somewhat ugly but great playing, sweet toned instrument. Cost me about $250 to fix it up.

[brewmaster]

Yeah, fixing them up and getting them back into action and playable is the best part. I regret letting mine sit so long before having it fixed up.

[JimD]

My brother (also a musician) bought me an old (teens or 20s) Gibson-ish mandocello. He found it at a place in New Jersey called George's Bait and Tackle and Music (or something like that) for $30. (It was made by someone intimately familiar with the design but (evidently) no talent for the finish (looks like it was dipped in Minwax. It plays beautifully and sounds great after a few hundred bucks worth of set-up.

The pianist who was my accompanist for a concert of the Beethoven and Hummel mandolin works told me that she had "a silver mandolin" that belonged to her mom-- turned out to be a National --in very nice condition. She insisted that I take it since she had no other use for it.

[brewmaster]

Bait and Tackle and Music? Wow, now I have to start searching those too? What's next....pet/music stores. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

That's great!