Gibson "alrite/style d" on ebay [Archive]

John Flynn

Dec-27-2006, 9:43pm

My understanding is that the Gibson Alrite Model D was a civilianized, "deluxe" version of the Gibson Army/Navy, made for a couple of years after WWI. The one on eBay looks like the pictures I have seen. I don't think they did have headstock logos. As far as labels, I don't know, but those things can fall out over the years. I would love to have one of those instruments. I never trust anything on eBay, but I think it could be legit.

John Flynn

Dec-27-2006, 9:54pm

Here's a link to one for sale for $850 at Lark Street Music
http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/list/pict/alrite.jpg

It looks like they did have labels, but not headstock logos. This one looks like the one on eBay, except for the pickguard shape and the tailpiece. I am pretty sure the tailpiece on this one is aftermarket, though, so the pickguard could be also.

Paul Hostetter

Dec-29-2006, 12:56am

The Lark Street pickguard is not original. The eBay one has an original Gibson mandolin pickguard and the original tailpiece base, even if the cover's missing. Funny that the label fell out.

I believe these preceded the Army-Navy items. IIRC, they were made only in 1917 and the Army-Navy was introduced in 1918.

8ch(pl)

Dec-30-2006, 9:01pm

Alrites were made in 1917 only. They became the Army and Navy model in 1918.

Army and Navy Model has a cross brace. The Alrite had 2 tonebars that ran from neck block to tailpiece block, one on each side of the soundhole.

Alrites are less frequent than Army Navy Mandolins.

bsnider

Jan-10-2007, 11:12pm

Well I just went and bought the Alrite that you all have been discussing, so I should be able to post a first-hand report on it soon. I too used the Alrite on Lark Street's website as a reference. Based on that one, I'll be very surprised if this one is not the real thing. And unless something is wrong that doesn't show in the pictures, it is more original and in better shape than the one that Lark Street has.

For anyone that hasn't seen it yet, I've attached a photo. I'll be back with some observations on the instrument after it arrives.

Paul Hostetter

Jan-11-2007, 1:17am

This is pretty much identical to mine, which I bought from a really nice man who claimed (and I believe him) that it had been sitting in its little canvas case since birth and had never been played. It still had its original factory strings. Like a fool, I changed them, and it didn't improve the sound one iota.

Do you think Gibson ever made an Alrite Style C? Or a (gulp) Style A?

atetone

Jan-11-2007, 1:29am

bsnider, I am sure that your mando is not a fake.
I have been watching/studying those particular models for years and I think that one is the real deal.
I haven't bought one yet but thought really hard about bidding on yours but I have my eye on something else right now.
I think you did well.

8ch(pl)

Jan-11-2007, 5:03pm

I think you will find this to be a lovely little instrument. i palyed one that had been converted to X Bracing about a year ago and was rather taken by it.

bsnider

Jan-11-2007, 5:17pm

Thanks for the encouragement, Paul, atetone, and 8ch. I'm honestly surprised that more people weren't bidding on this one.

Again, I'll be sure to post a review when I get that little bugger here to try out.

Bruce

bsnider

Jan-24-2007, 10:09am

The Alrite arrived yesterday, so here's my report.

Cosmetically, the instrument is in very nice condition. It appears to have been oversprayed at some point, but if so, it was done well. The top has sunk considerably, a good 1/8" under the bridge. The neck is straight, and the fretboard is in good condition. The latter is flat from the nut to the body, where it falls off, following the dip in the top. The pickguard is in good condition.

There is one repaired top crack on the treble side, under the pickguard and another that runds the length of the bass side. The latter may have been repaired with a splint. If so, again, it looks like a very clean job.

I like the sound very much, and I would like to make this instrument a daily player. That's going to take some setup work to bring the action down, probably a refret, and an overhaul of the tuners.

I wonder about the top, though. I assume it's sunk as far as it's going to. And, as I said, the instrument sounds very nice. Still, I wonder about opening it up and rebracing it to make it perfect. Anyone have thoughts to share about that?

Bruce

Paul Hostetter

Jan-24-2007, 11:20am

I bet it's as sunk as it's going to get, but it wouldn't hurt to look inside with a mirror and a light and see if things are zut-tut. I have a dead mint Alrite Style D that sat in its case for more than eight decades with its original heavy strings up to pitch. It was totally playable (and still is) with its factory setup. Absent any dome strength, these mandolins can't take getting squished very well. And they've usually lived in a soft canvas end-loading case, which is no help either. You might find a broken or loose brace, and I'd sort that out before doing anything else.

Jim Garber

Jan-24-2007, 11:28am

I would take Paul's advice to heart tho if it is sunken it would make me nervous even if the top braces were fine. I think it would make the instrument work and sound better if it had an induced arch and were set up properly.

Jim

David Newton

Jan-24-2007, 11:30pm

So how come my 1921 Gibson catalog doesn't show the Alrite?

Bill Snyder

Jan-25-2007, 12:18am

Because they were not still being made with the name Alrite. Look above a 8ch(pl)'s post and you will see that they were replaced with the Army/Navy.

David Newton

Jan-25-2007, 10:14am

They probably were never in a catalog like this, either model, I just wanted to show this cool catalog. I always understood that the Army-Navy came first, for sale in PX's only, during and shortly after WW1, and then to the public as the Alrite, later. Am I upside down?
Edit: I probably am, I re-read Walter Carter's article about this, and he seems to indicate the Army-Navy was released to the public in 1918 forward,(eliminating the Alrite).

8ch(pl)

Jan-25-2007, 6:08pm

I think that is more or less it. Perhaps WW1 ended with Gibson having a stock on hand. From what I understand they sold for about $12 or $13 in that era. Is there price listings for A and F models in your Catalogue Dave?

David Newton

Jan-25-2007, 7:55pm

Yes. January 1921. A $79.79 A2 97.52 A3 115.25 A4 132.98 F2 177.30 F4 230.49
Guitar L4 212.76 and Harp U 443.25
You know this is the 1973 reproduction catalog. I got it when it was new.

8ch(pl)

Jan-26-2007, 9:05am

The A price would lead me to believe my $12 or so is a bit low. It should likely be about Half the cost af an A or more.

David Newton

Jan-26-2007, 9:45am

I never thought about the prices listed in the catalog, they are a seperate page glued in the front, not on the page describing the instrument. It seems Gibsons were always pricy!

bsnider

Feb-05-2007, 10:04am

Just wanted to let you all know that the Alrite is all right. Half an hour of setup work, and it's playing great.

Thanks to all who offered advice and information.

Bruce

David Newton

Feb-05-2007, 5:49pm

Does it have the north-south tone bars?

bsnider

Feb-06-2007, 9:31am

Yup. It's got the tone bars and a couple of short lateral braces under the top and one lateral brace across the back.

Keely

Mar-16-2007, 5:52pm

Hi Bruce,
Just wanted to let you know that I have an Alrite as well, and I love it dearly. I called the Gibson company, archives department, and they told me that the Alrite was made for ONE YEAR ONLY---making it a pretty rare instrument. #Even for a flat top D model, I think these are underpriced--I only paid $850 for mine and it was in fabulous condition when I got it, even with its original case and pickguard. #However, in the last few months it has developed a back seam separation, which I need to get repaired. #Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it was only made for one year, so that's why you don't see more of this model. #Enjoy your Alrite!
Keely

David Newton

Mar-21-2007, 8:53am

Anyone see this on the Bay?
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Army-and-Navy-Mandolin-1920-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ290094166338QQcategoryZ10179QQrdZ 1Q
QcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-....iewItem</a>

NOT!

Paul Hostetter

Mar-21-2007, 11:53am

Looks a bit toasted.

bsnider

Mar-21-2007, 8:36pm

Thanks for the good wishes, Keely. I can't speak with authority about the relative values of vintage instruments, but I too think that this one represents something of a special case. Unless I'm mistaken, the Alrite was the original pancake and set the pattern for the Army-Navy mandolins, the Flatiron pancakes, and current small-maker models like Peter Sawchyn's beautiful Beaver Tails that followed.

Even if the Alrite doesn't bring big bucks (mine didn't, I'm pleased to say), I think it deserves a hat tip for establishing a style of mandolin that has survived 90 years sounding good and looking cool.

David Newton

Mar-22-2007, 10:58pm

Perhaps one with a different label?

bsnider

Mar-23-2007, 2:48pm

Looks like another member of the family, Dave. Who made that one?

Bill Snyder

Mar-23-2007, 4:53pm

Dave did. Check the classifieds for NEW Navy.

David Newton

Mar-23-2007, 8:53pm

Just more shameless self promotion. But they are nice mandolins.

GTison

Mar-23-2007, 9:22pm

I was looking at that one, I thought it might be a kit made Not 80 years ago. But, what do I know. That headstock is unlike any other gibson headstock, the heel of the neck and 'button" on the back seems too wide, and fretboard doesn't look right tuners not. Is this really a Gibson at all?

David Newton

Mar-23-2007, 10:54pm

All indications are that it is not a Gibson. But it's old, I guess.

Keely

Mar-24-2007, 12:55am

You might want to check this out...Roger Bacorn makes a reproduction of the Gibson Model D Alrite--there's a photo of it on his website. Looks fairly close to the real thing, but with some changes--looks slightly more elongated (although that might just be the photo) and the binding is different. He says that it replicates the "warm and sonorous tone" of the original. He's certainly right about that--the originals do have a warm and sonorous tone! I much prefer mine to my Gibson F9---which is one reason I was able to part with my F9 a couple of months ago.

Keely

Mar-24-2007, 1:00am

By the way, just a reminder----an authentic Alrite does NOT have the Gibson logo on the headstock. I talked to the archivist-on-duty a year or so ago about it...he wasn't sure why, but felt that it was probably because the Alrite was more of a budget line for Gibson--kind of like a 'teens Kalamazoo!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

This mando was way too good to be around for just one year!

theCOOP

Apr-04-2010, 6:39am

This one is for sale locally as of this morning.

Seemed appropriate to post it here, seeing as no label has been shown yet best I can tell.

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-musical-instruments-string-1917-Gibson-Alrite-mandolin-W0QQAdIdZ196264588
http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/100404/784r3/3386jgn_20.jpeg

I could just about afford the $1200 price, but couldn't justify it.