But it's got a nice case, which fits both the oval and F holes!
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
But it's got a nice case, which fits both the oval and F holes!
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Trying to understand what the person was thinking who carved the f holes in that otherwise good instrument. Was it an aesthetic consideration? Or a misguided attempt to improve the sound or tone? Its a lot of work, even to do poorly.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Re: the oval/f-hole Gibson: No longer available according to eBay. Maybe he sold it offline.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
I could almost believe it was an experiment from Gibson itself. Loar did create several innovations that were not always successful, like the Vivi-Tone with the sound holes in the back. I'm not saying this was his design and it probably post-dates his time at Gibson, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did try something like that as an experiment. IIRC, I've seen the oval/f-hole combination on several no-name and European instruments.Originally Posted by JeffD
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
There's this one from Gibson. Saw Grisman playing one shortly after he recently bought it.
Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
The quality of the f-holes looks like it was done by a third-grader with a dull pocket knife. There's no way Gibson had anything to do with those added f-holes.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
I blame drugs and not particularly good ones. I think an intervention is needed.
On a related note, about 25-30 years ago, there was a vintage late 50's Fender tele that showed up at the vintage guitar shows. Everybody loves a tele, but on this one the previous owner carved intricate designs and wording into the body, most notably the words LSD. It was amazing, not that it was very well done, but that somebody did it (and it would have taken months, maybe years) and nobody tried to stop them. I'm thinking prison folk art, but I don't think prisoners are allowed knives..... It became known on the vintage guitar circuit as the LSD tele. I'm sure if you ask some old timers who went to guitar shows back then, they will remember the LSD tele....
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Hadn't thought of that, but you are right on. I have seen more than a few nice guitars "decorated" by their drug influenced owners, and there is a similarity that I did not at first recognize.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
That is exactly what my friend said about my recently purchased project...
And I bought the snakehead being discussed as well. Should get here tomorrow...
I guess you could say I like a challenge... ha
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Got the snakehead in today. Will be a pretty straight forward wood graft to fix her up. Killer sound already! Real loud but a bit harsh with the f holes, but covering them in masking tape takes away the harshness. Can't wain till she looks as good as she sounds!
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Amazing, pianoman, I guess you will check this thread for your next purchase after those two.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
You bet lol. I had to laugh when, after purchasing both mandolins, I saw them being discussed on this thread. I wish folks wouldnt mess with old instruments like this, but when I can find them, I really enjoy bringing them back to life!
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Would it chop? Or have a warm chop? Or a choppy legato?
My brain hurts...
JBovier ELS; Epiphone MM-50 VN; Epiphone MM-40L; Gretsch New Yorker G9310; Washburn M1SDLB;
Fender Nashville Deluxe Telecaster; Squier Modified Vintage Cabronita Telecaster; Gretsch 5420T; Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat: Washburn Banjo B9; Ibanez RB 5string; Ibanez RB 4 string bass
Pedalboard for ELS: Morley Cry baby Miniwah - Tuner - EHX Soul Food Overdrive - EHX Memory Toy analog Delay
Fender Blues Jr Tweed; Fender Greta;
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
(never mind!)
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Re: the F2: is the neck (or at least the headstock) a replacement from olden times? Will you make a repro one?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
It appears they cut it down to accept A model tuners. Yes, the neck will be built from scratch. I just started a thread on the rebuild process in the builders and repair forum.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
The first pictures of this model were on the Cafe a few years ago. They are rare but unless someone needs one to finish their collection off this one will never sell at that price. By the way, the G-6 was a guitar as far as I know. Maybe a GM-6? Paul Fox has one of these on his page as well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CROMWELL-man...item25a544d253
Early post on one of these.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
That actually doesn't look so bad, if the quality of the upper holes was slightly better. The basic idea isn't bad. It works for the two-point design ... it wouldn't work so well on an A or F style though.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
This just might be your huckleberry.
Besides being a bit overpriced at $899.00 (in my book, but the shipping is free), having no pictures of the instrument but instead posting the picture below has me shying away from it. The description is:
1935-ish Gibson made Recording King "Wards" A style Mandolin Carved Back & Top. This mandolin was an upper line model make for Montgomery & Wards in the 1930s. Solid flamed maple back and sides and a Spruce top. The mandolin is in excellent condition. The case is a period chip board case that does not appear to have been made for fit this mandolin. A former owner has placed form in the case to take up the spare room. The bridge could use some better fitting. The tuners are marked Wavery New York patent pending on the back. They turn freely and keep proper tune.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Check out this beauty - for Repair or Parts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231607846392...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Only 1 pic and the Seller says "Id rather set this on fire then sell it for $3k.
That's what I get for newer custom shop gibsons."
Of course he completely misunderstood me. I only offered him $900 - I said it MIGHT be worth $3K after it was restored/repaired...
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
This intrigued me, so I did a little googling on "lsd telecaster." I haven't seen something matching this description yet, but I have seen dozens of truly astounding examples of carving and other craftsmanship. This isn't a guitar forum or I would be posting photo after photo of them. Some are garish, some are ghoulish, some are grotesque, but a lot of time and effort and skill and imagination went into most of them. And none of them exhibit the hamfisted approach described above. It's worth a spin if you have a little time. Click on one of the carved ones and then go to "related images."
As differentiated from this:
Gee, it's nice to be remembered.Don't let Journey Bear see it. I think he has a collection of those.I wouldn't really call it a collection, though I do have two. I didn't see this before now, but I was scrolling through here looking for something else, and ... Anyway, it's almost a waste putting something like this in this thread, as it's overly obvious no one is going to bid on anything from the Gibbs oeuvre. At $175, the opening bid is prohibitive for anyone clued into its worth. I guess I should have said, "worth." These are entirely unplayable, and really beg the definition of "instrument." One of these shows up every now and then. They're good for chuckles and quips but that's it. I remember when this showed up and I said I would pass - that's just too much for a conversation piece. Besides, the combined cost of my two is about what this one is going for. Er, NOT going for!
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Genuine Gibson F4. Only $5000.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
Well, if you didn't like the last one then how about this Frankenstein? Also only $5000 but does appear to be an actual F4.
A guess at how this happened would be that it was returned to Gibson in the early 70's for repair and they had the 60's neck laying around (assuming they ever made one that ugly) but had a shipment of the inlayed fingerboards that were on the 70's F-5's. I think those fingerboards are Japanese imports since so many Japanese F's had them too.
Both of the ones I posted are on Ebay. I need to spend more time looking up Gibson Mandolin. It can be very entertaining.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
The finish is al wrong but looks better than I would have expected a Gibson re-fin to look.
Re: This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer
You'd have to be really fond of inlay work to go for this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271913500883
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