"1908" snakehead

[mrmando]

Who wants to give this guy the bad news? I can't even.

https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/6039468714.html

Y'all think this is a refinished snakehead, or a renecked/retopped paddlehead?

[barney 59]

Who wants to give this guy the bad news? I can't even.

https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/6039468714.html

Y'all think this is a refinished snakehead, or a renecked/retopped paddlehead?

Renecked for sure --Top and body probably original but heavily refinished. Might be a decent "player" but for maybe a quarter of that price!

[John Rosett]

Looking at the mandolin archives, a serial number like that would have been on an "Orville" label. The "8095" scratched on to the label probably isn't correct.

[Timbofood]

Caveat emptor, is about all I'd be willing to say on this one.

[Jeff Mando]

Tailpiece cover and bridge look like more recent Gibson, perhaps it was redone in the 50's or 60's?

[Charles E.]

Must be hard to play with the bridge like that.

[WoodyCTA102]

Just noticed the bridge, Charles. Funny.

[mrmando]

Seller tells me there's a FON of 8095, which is a 1925 number according to Spann. So I guess this could be the original neck, just a complete refinish job.

[JeffD]

Seller tells me there's a FON of 8095, which is a 1925 number according to Spann. So I guess this could be the original neck, just a complete refinish job.

I am confused. Is it likely the FON and the serial number would be the same?

[mrmando]

I am confused. Is it likely the FON and the serial number would be the same?

No, it's not. Someone copied the FON onto the label.

[JeffD]

No, it's not. Someone copied the FON onto the label.

Well that makes more sense.

[Jeff Mando]

He's from Tipp City, whose claim to fame was that somebody spray painted graffiti "welcome to Trip City" on the I-75 overpass bridge before the Tipp City exit -- great Cheech and Chong era stoner humor in the early 70's -- and it seemed like it remained there forever, 20 years or so, before it was finally covered up.....

(it's funnier if you picture a couple stoned hippies in the middle of the night hanging over the edge of the bridge railing and trying to paint upside down without making a mistake....and thinking this was a good idea!)

[Jeff Mando]

So I guess this could be the original neck, just a complete refinish job.

OK, we know its not a 1908, so what's a refinished 1925 snakehead with changed hardware worth, assuming it is a good player?

[mrmando]

My advice to him was that if he got an offer in the $1200-1500 range, he should take it ... but I don't know why he would listen to me.

[atetone]

"My advice to him was that if he got an offer in the $1200-1500 range, he should take it ... but I don't know why he would listen to me."

I would say that eventually he will take your advice once he figures out that $2400 is not going to happen.
It might take a while for the reality to sink in.
On the other hand you just never know who might step up and pay it I suppose. Stranger things have happened.