Looks real alright, what the heck?

[acousticphd]

Have any of you noticed this refinished Gibson A on ebay?
Gibson A (http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Mandolin-1920s-Great-Price_W0QQitemZ7423509634QQcategoryZ10179QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem).

The butt end of the mandolin looks like it was bent over the end of a hot anvil, or something, giving its tail end a V-shape. #Could this bizarre bending of the ribs happened slowly over time, or is it the result of some rebuild/modification? #

I've bought two refinished and modified teens Gibsons so I don't have any aversion to a "remodeled" vintage instrument, but it seems to me like the right asking price for this one might be more in the $500 range.

[blacksmith]

Finally, a chance to contribute on a topic I know something about although it's non-mando content. No such thing as a hot anvil, you don't heat it. The piece to be forged is heated in a forge then hammered on the anvil. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[groveland]

The text in the ad says: "Notice that angle? It should be flat, not angled into a shallow V. As best I can figure out, at some point this instrument was not in good shape, and the whole think came apart and the front warped or something. In any case, this has been solidly and handsomely repaired, and the repair is holding. No sign of unusual tension, and clearly this hasn’t affected the playability of the instrument. It’s an unusual repair, but it’s a success."