Bacon mandolin

**Charles E.** · Aug-04-2012, 5:55pm

This looks pretty sweet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Baco...item35bec9a67c

**brunello97** · Aug-04-2012, 6:27pm

You betcha.

**Jim Garber** · Aug-04-2012, 10:03pm

I believe that that is the professional model. I have an Artist (4point) and an Amateur (no points).

**F-2 Dave** · Aug-05-2012, 11:31pm

I like it. But then, who doesn't like bacon?

**f5loar** · Aug-05-2012, 11:41pm

Looks like the middle model and from the 30's. I'd like to find a nice 30's Walter K. Bauer signature artist model.

**delsbrother** · Aug-05-2012, 11:52pm

Any guess on the over/under? Price vs. similar Gibson A models?

Obviously a "real" Bacon Artist is worth more on the open market than the Eastman copy, but where do the "lesser" models rank?

**Jim Garber** · Jun-04-2013, 8:36pm

Rather than start a new thread...

Scott noted this Bacon Artist on the MC homepage. The color of this one is unusual. I can't quite tell if the original finish faded or it was made with this yellowish look originally. For comparison, I posted mine which is #204. The current eBay one is missing its tailpiece but other than that looks all right. I have never seen one with that finish. Every one I have seen has had that reddish-brown sunburst.

**ajr** · Jun-05-2013, 12:28am

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Rather than start a new thread...

Scott noted this Bacon Artist on the MC homepage. The color of this one is unusual. I can't quite tell if the original finish faded or it was made with this yellowish look originally. For comparison, I posted mine which is #204. The current eBay one is missing its tailpiece but other than that looks all right. I have never seen one with that finish. Every one I have seen has had that reddish-brown sunburst.

Jim,
I have what I thought was a Professional. It's a 2 Pointer. I thought all of the 4 Pointers were Artist Models. I'm pretty sure I got that idea from a previous thread on the Cafe. Not certain though.
All the best

**Jim Garber** · Jun-05-2013, 8:34am

Alex: I am not sure what your question is. That one currently on eBay is an Artist model with 4 points. I was just questioning the finish color.

**Darryl Wolfe** · Jun-05-2013, 10:28am

Originally Posted by f5loar

Looks like the middle model and from the 30's. I'd like to find a nice 30's Walter K. Bauer signature artist model.

Wm. Place Jr. and it is the signed artist model, just unusual as Jim says.

**Capt. E** · Jun-05-2013, 3:31pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Alex: I am not sure what your question is. That one currently on eBay is an Artist model with 4 points. I was just questioning the finish color.

I wouldn't try to determine anything about the color from an Ebay ad. There are so many factors that can make it look different than it does in person including the color adjustments, gamma settings etc, on your particular computer screen. I would expect it to look somewhat different in person than on the ad.

**ajr** · Jun-05-2013, 3:37pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Alex: I am not sure what your question is. That one currently on eBay is an Artist model with 4 points. I was just questioning the finish color.

Jim,

I was responding to your earlier post on this one where you said:
"I believe that that is the professional model. I have an Artist (4point) and an Amateur (no points)"

I was a bit confused because I thought mine with 2 points was the Professional and the 4 point was the Artist. Mine doesn't have a label unfortunately, so no means of identification other than any info from those much more qualified than me.

I was just trying to clarify and didn't want to continue believing what I have been if I was under a misapprehension.

Thanks and all the best

**Jim Garber** · Jun-05-2013, 3:50pm

Originally Posted by Charles E.

This looks pretty sweet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Baco...item35bec9a67c

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

I believe that that is the professional model. I have an Artist (4point) and an Amateur (no points).

Alex: bear in mind that this was a thread that started last August. We were talking about a 2 point Professional (linked above) and pictures below.

I revived this thread in order to talk about the faded (I think) Artist 4 point currently on eBay and linked above on my post.

**Jim Garber** · Jun-05-2013, 3:58pm

Originally Posted by Capt. E

I wouldn't try to determine anything about the color from an Ebay ad. There are so many factors that can make it look different than it does in person including the color adjustments, gamma settings etc, on your particular computer screen. I would expect it to look somewhat different in person than on the ad.

Sure, somewhat different, but not radically so. That one looks very different with very little variation on the top. I even tried to adjust it in Photoshop and it looks pretty close to correct exposure showing the right details as-is. I tried darkening overall and it looks, well, dark. Either this was sitting in bright sun for years or was a custom factory finish -- maybe it was for someone to match their Gibson pumpkin - or else it was an old refinish.

**ajr** · Jun-05-2013, 4:00pm

Originally Posted by Jim Garber

Alex: bear in mind that this was a thread that started last August. We were talking about a 2 point Professional (linked above) and pictures below.

I revived this thread in order to talk about the faded (I think) Artist 4 point currently on eBay and linked above on my post.

Sorry about that Jim. Now it makes a bit more sense. That one in the case looks just like mine.

Thanks and once again sorry for that.

All the best

**Jim Garber** · Jun-06-2013, 8:06am

No problem. I often get confused when people resurrect an old thread.

**Capt. E** · Jun-06-2013, 10:43am

I once owned a Bacon "Amateur" with a serial number under 1000 that I sold to David Grisman (it is still my avatar) which stimulated me to research Bacon's rather convoluted history. I understand the quality went from Amateur to Professional to Artist. The Artist for sale right now on ebay has a pretty high serial number as far as Bacon's go. I suppose it could have been made in the 1930's, but not sure anyone has locked down the Bacon history in regards to serial numbers. Still seems to be an instrument made before the company ran into hard times and sold. Nice looking machine in original case etc. Regardless of the date, it is a very rare instrument. The Amateur is heavily built and is pretty much a collector's rather than player's instrument. The Professional and Artist are another story. My understanding is they are equal to the Lyon and Healy carved top models. It will be interesting to see what price it sells for.

**Jim Garber** · Jun-06-2013, 10:57am

I actually like my Bacon Artist a lot and it is built at that same level as the L&H carved series. I always felt that the tone was somewhat between a good oval Gibson and an L&H.

Bacon and B&D are convoluted. I am actually not even sure which is what tho I know from the banjos that up until early 1920s Bacon banjos existed and B&D was later 1920s into 1930s. Later in the 1930s B&D banjos were made by Gretsch and guitars by Regal.

**manjitsu** · Jun-06-2013, 12:12pm

I've owned a Bacon Artist and a Bacon Professional (two point) in the past, both of which had a gorgeous dark sunburst finish in the same style as Jim's. When I zoom in and look at the pictures on the ebay instrument, it certainly looks like a later refinish to my eyes. Shame it's missing the tailpiece, too - the original tailpiece is a thing of beauty, right up there with the L&H design!

-Chris