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Thread: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

  1. #1
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    Default which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    ...back in the day if you were around then and knew what you know now? I'm not talking about picking one out in a store, but ordering one mandolin, sight unseen - a pig in a poke, so to speak.

    i used to think it would've been a Gibson, but not anymore due to inconsistent tone from instrument to instrument. i might have to go with a Lyon & Healy style C. But then again, maybe a Gibson A2Z.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Lyon and Healy carved mandolins were much more consistent in tone and projection from instrument to instrument than Gibsons were. Good Gibson F-4's are hard to resist, though.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Back in the day, Gibson had wide distribution plus their teacher connections. I believe that they also offered payment plans. Based on the number of Gibsons that are still around I would guess that if my family had the bucks, we would go for one of those. Otherwise probably buy a Supertone cheapy from Sears.

    When I was a kid and a budding guitar player in the early 1960s, I remember looking at the Lafayette electronics catalog at electric guitars that I maybe could save up for. My parents eventually did buy me a Guild T-100D hollow body electric and a Fender Deluxe amp (much better than that Lafayette guitar). They were nice parents who valued music.

    When I was in the New York Mandolin Orchestra in the 1980s, there were quite a few of the older players who had Lyon & Healy instruments. That was the very first time I had ever seen those. There were quite a few style As, a few B's and C's and even a mandola and mandocello. It turned out that one of the conductors encouraged the members to play those for a uniform sound to the orchestra.

    There was also a lovely woman who joined around when I did who owned a L&H copy that belonged top her mother. She let me take a photo of it (see below). She told me that her mother commissioned it from John D'Angelico. Maybe if I was living at that time, in the 1930s or 1940s I would do that also.
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    The few D'Angelico mandolins I have played were very good. Every one of them.

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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    First of all - that D'Angelico 'copy' is stunning.

    Call me crazy, but for some reason I never liked the scroll on the head stock of L&H instruments, so maybe that is why I was so attracted to the 1929 Martin Style 20 . . . almost identical body and pick guard to the L&H 'C', but with a cool paddle-head, cut-out head stock.

    With that being said, if I could have in those days, I might have custom ordered a Lyon & Healy 'C' with an alternate simpler head stock; (probably would have saved me a few bucks, too).

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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Only the L & H style A had the scroll. The B's had an art-deco head, and the C's were made with at least three different heads-- art-deco, multi-layer with cut-out, and plain single point paddle head.

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    Registered User Jon Hall's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Jim, that is a beautiful mandolin!

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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    Only the L & H style A had the scroll. The B's had an art-deco head, and the C's were made with at least three different heads-- art-deco, multi-layer with cut-out, and plain single point paddle head.
    This is why the Cafe is so great - I learn something new all the time . . . of course, the information is good for my mind, but often not helpful to my checkbook!

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    acoustically inert F-2 Dave's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    I would have found Mrs. Griffith, and ordered an A-5 at the same time she did. Oops, I just noticed the op was asking about vintage ovals. Well then, it would be a Loar era snakehead A-4.
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  13. #10

    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Either a Lyon & Healy 2-point or a Gibson 3-point F2.

  14. #11
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    I’ve always loved the look of the L&H 2 points, scrolly violin style headstock and all!
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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Oh come on guys, they are ALL cool!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

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    Capt. E Capt. E's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Back in the day, Gibson had wide distribution plus their teacher connections. I believe that they also offered payment plans.
    Here is proof that Gibson had payment plans: Sales price $55.00, $15.50 down and $10 per month until fully paid.
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...0&d=1425595023

    This Sales Slip came with my 1919 A-2

    Here is the instrument
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...5&d=1425595209
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Quote Originally Posted by Capt. E View Post
    Here is proof that Gibson had payment plans: Sales price $55.00, $15.50 down and $10 per month until fully paid.
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...0&d=1425595023

    This Sales Slip came with my 1919 A-2

    Here is the instrument
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...5&d=1425595209
    Very cool, Capt. E. It looks like you may have bought that new.
    Jim

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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Very cool, Capt. E. It looks like you may have bought that new.
    +1 on that . . . just the receipt itself is a great piece of Gibson history. Thanks for sharing!

  21. #16
    Capt. E Capt. E's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Did not buy it new (of course) but it came in very very nice condition. I did replace the bridge (have the original of course) and added an armrest. It is my current go-to. It may be due for a re-fret some day, but there is still a lot of wear left.
    Jammin' south of the river
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Cap, I’m so glad you have kept that little bit of history with your mandolin, too many years pass and items get “separated” from the original purchase. Having them together is very cool.
    Timothy F. Lewis
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    Registered User Pete Martin's Avatar
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    One of each
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    L&H Style A or a a F4. As much as I like the three point Gibsons, the reports I've heard leave the sound and playability to be desired... now a Bretnrup 3 point is a beast of a desirable nature.

    Jamie
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  25. #20
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    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    Actually, maybe this really is a golden age of instrument making. Listening around on the 'net, Tom Ellis' ovals seem to have taken it to a level i'd like to go to. So i'm changing my vote and would go for one of his oval A mandolins with more plain appointments, a narrow neck and EVO frets. This is a dangerous statement, because it just might cost me big someday.

    Yes, now it would be the Ellis. Not even the Gilchrist offering grabs my ears like the Ellis.

    Jamie, i also like the looks of some 3 pointers...if blonde like the one pictured on the David Grisman Rounder Album. And the Brentrup is a sight to behold for sure.

    Maybe back in the day is now.
    Last edited by dan in va; Apr-06-2018 at 6:29pm.

  26. #21

    Default Re: which vintage oval would you have ordered...

    there was a l& h on ebay a while ago that went for $1800 usd, a B. looked good and seemed an ok price. the two point body is a beautiful design.

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