View Full Version : Hilburn #66
Jim Hilburn
Apr-15-2018, 6:06pm
So this one's been a few years in the making but finally done. the current plan is to hang onto it for a while.
Clinton Johnson
Apr-15-2018, 6:58pm
Gorgeous Jim, looks like a banjo killer too!
Skip Kelley
Apr-15-2018, 7:09pm
Jim, your mandolin looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Jim Garber
Apr-15-2018, 7:17pm
Jim: if you really want to hold onto it for a while, you either will have to make it uglier or refrain from posting photos. ;)
That’s a real beauty.
Glassweb
Apr-15-2018, 7:28pm
As always, a great-looking axe! I can't believe I've never played one!
Eric Hanson
Apr-15-2018, 7:48pm
:disbelief:
How can someone build such an amazing instrument?!?
Thank you for posting such a beauty!
:cool:
Charles E.
Apr-15-2018, 8:10pm
Very nice. Love the headstock inlay. Let's hope Demetrius does not see this. ;)
John Soper
Apr-15-2018, 8:22pm
OO-OO La La!
Very nice. Love the headstock inlay.
Very nice. And for some reason, that inlay reminds me of Betty Boop!
Mark Gunter
Apr-15-2018, 8:42pm
Jim, it's gorgeous!
Steve-o
Apr-15-2018, 9:05pm
Spectacular!
Jeff Mando
Apr-15-2018, 9:27pm
Nice work, Jim!
Don Grieser
Apr-15-2018, 9:44pm
Spectacular! Hope I get to pick a few tunes on it in May.
bennyb
Apr-15-2018, 9:46pm
Very nice. And for some reason, that inlay reminds me of Betty Boop!
Had a similar thought: where have I seen that before? Very nice, as always, Jim.
Jim Hilburn
Apr-15-2018, 11:27pm
The story of the inlay is that I had a Stew-Mac Vintage Guitar calendar from 1997 and this is one of the pages. I've seen an A-3 up close since but never had back then. So this was what I came up with from looking at it on that page.
Jim Hilburn
Apr-15-2018, 11:29pm
So which of those mandolins doesn't belong with the others?
So which of those mandolins doesn't belong with the others?
The one with odd number of points? (and no elevated pickguard).
Great work Jim, BTW.
I'd guess the 2-pointer on the left.
Jim Hilburn
Apr-16-2018, 8:25am
The calendar lists these mandolins as a 1908 F-2, a 1916 F-2, a 1927 A-3 and a 1959 A-5.
The A-5 is very curious because it appears to have the same peghead and fingerboard as the early 70's F-5's but unlike the 70's models it has a 12th fret crosspiece and appears not to be elevated. But I would think a '59 would be a cherry red with the block Gibson inlay.
I think I'll start a thread on this subject over in Vintage.
Charles E.
Apr-16-2018, 9:17am
It looks like Gibson employees were grabbing parts off the shelf and mashing them together.
mandowilli
Apr-16-2018, 8:12pm
Bring it to Geo's
Mark Seale
Apr-20-2018, 11:09pm
Really nice Jim. I love your headstock shape and inlay. Give us a listen!
Jim Hilburn
Apr-21-2018, 8:52am
No one wants to hear me play it. Maybe I can get some video of Don playing it in a couple of weeks.
Don Grieser
Apr-21-2018, 9:14am
I look forward to hearing it and playing it.
Jim Hilburn
Apr-23-2018, 10:24am
I recorded Whiskey on my old Olympusmp3 recorder and I think its going to play. Let's see.
Don Grieser
Apr-23-2018, 11:02am
Sounds fantastic, Jim! Love that tone.
Northwest Steve
Apr-23-2018, 2:53pm
Sounds great
Don Grieser
May-06-2018, 8:42pm
Got to play #66 this weekend and hear Jim and several other folks play it. It's a monster. Exceptional volume and tone. Blows away any theory that lacquer hinders volume or tone in any way.