Embergher with Low Starting Price?

[PJ Doland]

What price do you folks think this eBay auction will end at?

[Jim Garber]

It is very difficult to figure out what the condition is. I would guess this is a No. 1 that was built in the early part of the teens of the last century since the fretboard does not extend across the soundhole. I can't recall when they extended the fretboard (maybe 1917 -- anyone have the book?) The pickguard is definitely not original and looks jarring to me. It is missing the tailpiece cover but Kurt DeCorte sells replacements for those. One of the tuner buttons has disintegrated. The bigger question is what is the top like and the neck joint. Very hard to tell what the action would be like with a full set of strings. And, of course, there could be some other issues that are not evident from the photos.

I can guess but it sort of depends on what bidders there are and how much they want this one. It could be perfectly fine... or be a money sink.

[brunello97]

Sold. One bid. The $199 Embergher. Never thought I'd see that.

Kind of a busy day for me so I dozed through the end of the auction. As folks noted, this one looks like it could be kind of sketchy or else a sleeper. These are so nicely built that you want to believe it is fundamentally sound. Hopefully someone here got it and that it is in readily repairable condition. That would be a nice story to hear. The scratchplate would be a ringer but not of any real consequence to its potential sound or playability.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

So, I walked into the room and everything was dark. "hello... anyone here?" I left and came back a few hours later. Same thing. Very echoey inside there. I figured that the snipers would start a few seconds before the auction was over but no one came. Some party, eh?

This is an Embergher No 1 from about 1917. Aside from the funky repair on the bowl, the dried-out fretboard, the loose and prob not original scratchplate, the disintegrating tuner buttons, and the missing tailpiece cover, it looks pretty good. There might be other things like loose braces inside. From the photos, the top looks pretty good.

I can't figure out this one at all. The seller has 100% feedback rating, so that would not scare anyone. Oh well... just dumb luck.

So I won it. I can't tell how the neck is set but I am hoping it is all right. We shall see. At that price, I thought I was dreaming.

Just surfing around and I saw this sale I missed seeing from June of this year: 1904 No.1 for $600 BIN.

Too bad the larger photos are not there any more. Looks like the top needs some work but it does not look warped. Still at $600 BIN a bargain. Same year as my No.3. I think the American antique pickers are finding these but not doing much homework.

I wonder if the Embergher craze is at a lull. Where are all the Europeans and Japanese?

[Jim Garber]

I heard from my Emberghuru and he says this is from 1912-14 which makes it contemporary with my student A (also maple). He also says that the scratchplate is original. The proof of pudding or whatever is when I can actually have it in hand, but my hope is that it will need only minor repairs to make it playable.

While we are waiting here are two videos of Ralf Leenen playing a rosewood 1912 No. 1. Of course, Ralf could make a cigar box sound good but he prefers to play an Embergher mandolin.

[mrmando]

I almost went for that BIN but someone else picked it up while I was doing my research. There didn't appear to be anything wrong with it apart from a couple of small pieces of missing inlay.

[PJ Doland]

I was watching but I decided not to bid, because I perceived it as being too much hassle to get repaired.

Glad somebody on the Cafe got it. I'd love to see some pics once you get her cleaned up.

[Jim Garber]

just about any bowlback is a hassle to get repaired. Part of the problem over here in North America is the Rodney Dangerfield rep of bowlbacks. Most luthiers do not want to work on them for various reasons. The problem is that the market was flooded with cheapos early on and many were kept in terrible conditions being stored in basements and attics. But there is a big difference between the quality instruments, American or European, and the cheapo ones.

I am still banking on the possibility that this one is essentially restorable and that there are no serious issues that will require high-level expertise. Then again, you never know. I will report back here when I receive this one.

[ollaimh]

congratulations jim, good to see someone get it who will treat it right.

[brunello97]

Nice move, Jim. I figured when the conversation went dead here that folks were trying to see if the whole thing might stay under the radar.

I thought long and hard about tossing in a desultory snipe but figured: nah. I'm glad I didn't. All that would have done was bump up your price unnecessarily. I hope it is in really good shape and ready to go with a little cleaning, some glue and some JB Weld.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Pure luck. I might have also slept thru this one. I just happened to wake up at the right time. And now, back to my nap.

[peterk]

Great hunting, Jim, what a catch ! Even if the mandolin requires a fretboard shim, I think you'd still come way ahead.
I also passed on that one because I've currently got 4 bowlbacks in the process of getting fixed. (Dave Hynds is doing two, and I am doing the other two myself with some outside help.) I just couldn't bear the thought of having another fixer-upper on my shoulders, even if that was a bargain priced Embergher.

[Jim Garber]

This mandolin came in the mail today. I posted photos here.