How much would it cost to repair this F2?

[mandotrev]

http://cgi.ebay.com/GIBSON-F2-MANDOLIN-1900S_W0QQitemZ220584164027QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item335bd73abb

Crack on the back and on the scroll. What would a good luthier charge to set things right?

[mandotrev]

Here's another I am looking at. I suspect a high quality refinish. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=160420558583&Category=10179&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2

[Rob Gerety]

Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, you may find yourself repairing the cracks and then also looking at things like new frets, new nut, new bridge, possibly plane fretboard, tuners etc. When you buy one of these and you want to use it as a regular player many people start feeling the need to make it play really well which often, but not always, means this sort of work in addition to the crack fixing sort of thing. It can be done and you can preserve the instrument in original condition (save all original parts and make no permanent modifications) but obviously unless you are able to do the work yourself it does cost some money. My feeling is you have to sort of expect that work of this sort may be needed to make it play properly. If its not needed - then that is a plus of course.

I note in the description of the first one a comment to the affect that the neck is pretty straight for an old mandolin. I wonder exactly what the means? Might be a way to say the neck is warped???

If it is a refinish - obviously that affects the value in a substantial way.