Just too cool not to share!

[Mark Marino]

I'd been wanting a vintage 'tater bug' mandolin at a good price so I've been watching eBay and finally ran across a good Washburn wit some nice appointments that was affordable http://www.ebay.com/itm/251084955718...84.m1439.l2649
Hope you can still view it.

The listing said that it was not playable as it wouldn't stay in tune- tuning pegs slipped. I received the mandolin and removed the steel plate on the back of the headstock to find that the gears were just slipping on the posts- easy fix.

What I found most exciting about it was that the inside of the back of the headstock plate had been engraved with a sharp point instrument to record it's lineage of ownership. Here's what it read:

"This instrument belonged to:
Cleo Rhashin 1918
Lucy Hash 1934
Allen Hallin 1927
and up till 1931 Allen Hash"

What a nice surprise as it really adds character to a very cool instrument. Pity there was no room for my name at the bottom. I feel somewhat humbled to hold something that meant so much to so many that have gone before me. It's a rare day today. I'll bet it sounds spectacular once I get the tuners fixed up and some new strings on it.

[JEStanek]

Welcome to the Order of the Bowl. I enjoy my American Conservatory bowl too. They have fun voices.

Jamie

[F-2 Dave]

Cool old mandolin Mark. Looks like it's in very good shape to me. Love the tailpiece and matching tuner plate. I've yet to take the plunge into bowl back land, but I do enjoy studying them on the Cafe. Maybe someday. Good luck with it and enjoy.

Dave

[Jim Garber]

Hey, Mark you did good. Washburns are nice quality instruments. Do your tuning gears have screws or rivets? I had a similar problem with a Washburn but I had the rivets holding the gears and it would have taken a bit of some fixing.

[JeffD]

I have a Washburn, and an American Conservatory Washburn, and I love them both. Lots of fun.

[brunello97]

Nice move, Mark, that looks quite clean and certainly a good price. Like Jim, I'd enjoy seeing a photo of the tuners (with plate off.)

I know I don't have to say it (I know you know) but as a member of the LotB, le nostre parole d'ordine sono: use lightweight strings!

Mick

[Mark Marino]

Here's a picture of the tuners with the plate off. You can barely see the scratched in lineage on the plate.

Nice move, Mark, that looks quite clean and certainly a good price. Like Jim, I'd enjoy seeing a photo of the tuners (with plate off.)

I know I don't have to say it (I know you know) but as a member of the LotB, le nostre parole d'ordine sono: use lightweight strings!

Mick