Mysterious Alabama Octave Mandolin (No Lable)

[Mandolimoncello]

187791187790187792

Hi all, as the title says very little info on this and was hoping to learn more. No lable inside. Any ideas when/where it was made and if it's worth anything?

Jesse

[Jim Garber]

Looks like an import from Asia. Here's a 10 year old thread (https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/64049-Alabama-Mandolin-ALM50S). I think the brand is mostly sold in Canada.

[allenhopkins]

Here's an Alabama mandola (https://reverb.com/item/33608762-alabama-mandola-matte?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=6445914853&merchant_id=237021433&utm_content=801203187489&gclid=CjwKCAjwjqT5BRAPEiwAJlBuBYCCLkSdmolqrVD3VRMP wjyqf3guqsSludsAQm1nqEd0lX2r4-AIMBoCqJkQAvD_BwE) with similar triangular soundhole, a design also found on some older Gold Tone large mandos . As Jim mentions, listings for Alabama instruments are generally from Canadian sellers.

[Jim Garber]

I wonder if the Alabama and older Gold Tone with the pick-shaped soundhole might be made by the same Chinese(?) Shop?

[allenhopkins]

I thought Gold Tone instruments were made in Korea, but the company states "The majority of instruments produced by Gold Tone are manufactured in a Korean owned-and-managed factory in China that we've worked with since 1993, when Gold Tone was founded." Don't find any reference as to where other Gold Tone instruments are made.

I also noted the resemblance between the Alabama and the earlier Gold Tones. That soundhole shape and location are pretty distinctive.

[MikeEdgerton]

You mean it wasn't made in Alabama? :cool:

Strong resemblance.

[CarlM]

You mean it wasn't made in Alabama? :cool:

Strong resemblance.

It was made in al-Bama which is in Guangzi Province China.

[allenhopkins]

Perhaps made in the same factory as Kentucky mandolins, Blue Ridge guitars, Galveston resonator guitars, and a slew of other Asian instruments with American names...?

[Jim Garber]

I would imagine that there are quite a few Chinese instrument factories that supply import instruments for branding. Same with violins. My violin guy here told me that he shopped around to find a shop there that would supply him with violin bodies that he could finish and sell to students at a reasonable price.