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Dave Greenspoon
Oct-17-2008, 12:42am
The seller claims it's mint, and it certainly looks good in the photos. The opening bid is $1800. No bids on it, and about 12 hours to go. Seems like a good value to me! I wish I had the $$!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-A-5-Jethro-Burns-Mandolin-Mint_W0QQitemZ170270603209QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item 170270603209&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

AlanN
Oct-17-2008, 6:32am
Yes, looks very clean. Really depends on what you want. From a 'vibe'/vintage collectibility/Jethro' POV, it makes sense. The few I have played sounded tonally thin. Now, the case is a different story.

f5loar
Oct-17-2008, 6:58am
The tie to Jethro is like tying the F5L to Monroe. Right church, wrong pew.
Jethro played a Custom A5 with an F5 long neck. The regular model A5s are short neckers.
Although the seller does not make reference to the year made I suspect from the photos and the case this would be a late '68 or '69 model since that style case came out then. He shows the label but it's a blur. Should have a sound similar to the F4 short necker round holers.

Tom C
Oct-17-2008, 8:13am
I bet if you played it, you would end up disappointed.

Glassweb
Oct-17-2008, 8:25am
I bet if you played it, you would end up disappointed.

Maybe... maybe not. I owned one of these mandolins years ago and it sounded and played superb. A fast, nicely shaped neck, excellent volume and sustain and good build quality can make these mandolins real winners... especially considering their relatively low price. A lot of oval-hole bang for the buck in my opinion.

Dave Greenspoon
Oct-19-2008, 1:45am
It went for $1800, the equivalent street price for something in the Eastman 800 series or what a new Rigel A Plus would retail for when available. All in all, I sense the buyer got a good deal.