View Full Version : Big Mon's F5 rebuild
Can anyone direct me to a good, (or more than one good) web article/s about Charlie Derrington and the story of him rebuilding Bill's mandolin. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance
Michael
JeffS
Sep-03-2004, 11:27pm
This interview has some information.
http://www.mandozine.com/resources/CGOW/derrington.php
Ken Berner
Sep-04-2004, 9:58am
I believe I first read the story in Vintage Guitar magazine, maybe a year ago. It brought a tear or two to my eyes, probably because we love our little companions so much. The repair was obviously a work of love and the results outstanding! Mr. Derrington seemed to have achieved the impossible.
Greenmando
Sep-04-2004, 11:25am
Mr. Derrington seemed to have achieved the impossible.
The impossible being that Bill consented to having the Gibson logo replaced on his mando. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Charlie does incredible work.
Spruce
Sep-04-2004, 11:43am
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"
Thanks to all for the input. That's a great photo. If anyone knows where an online article or story referring to this project that is printable can be found I will forever be indebted.
Michael http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif
Greenmando
Sep-04-2004, 4:34pm
A good source of info would be Charlie himself. Very friendly and ready to answer our questions. I would drop him a email. I still wonder if he did not keep a sliver for a toothpick http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Greenmando,
Was that your Haiku that alluded to the toothpick? Very funny stuff as I remember. Where do you reccomend I email, him directly or through the Gibson site? If direct I wouldn't know his contact web address.
Greenmando
Sep-04-2004, 7:26pm
No haiku from me, I wish I had read it . http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I would look up his id here on the site and PM him. His id is his full name. Charlie Derrington
evanreilly
Sep-05-2004, 12:12am
Bill had had the 'Gibson' inlay replaced prior to the fireplace poker incident, in 1979, I believe.
mikeh
Send me a mail, I have the Frets article you seek.
oldstrings@hotmail.com
Salty Dog
Sep-05-2004, 11:15pm
I agree with EvanReilly that Bill had had the inlay and the "scroll" repaired or replaced long before the "fireplace poker" incident and had resolved his perceived differences with Gibson. #There seems to be much misinformation about this incident but the facts (as I have researched them) are that 1) two mandolins; the Loar and an F12 were speared once with a fireplace poker through the central body, probably by an angry female. #There was little or no other damage to the log house and no person was ever charged criminally.
# # My reason for posting is that, repeatedly, reports of this incident seem to imply that the mandolins were put through a wood chipper and that Charlie put Humpty Dumpty back together again. #These implications disrespect Charlie's skills as no human being could reconstruct a mandolin from sawdust (except as a composite). #He reconstructed the mandolin from many discernable pieces (an incredible 3-dimensional puzzle), maintained the acoustical integrity of the instrument (it's a Loar, and Bill's ear was VERY PICKY), and essentially restored the instrument to Bill's satisfaction. #I can't think of a higher qualification to be elevated to the status of Master Luthier and all around friendly guy. #That's my opinion. #
evanreilly
Sep-06-2004, 6:48am
The two mandolins that were attacked and beaten to splinters were his two Loar F5 mandolins.
Many thanks to AlanN,
The text printed great.
Big Joe
Sep-06-2004, 9:52pm
Yep. Both Loars.
mrbook
Sep-06-2004, 11:00pm
If both were Loars, and only one is in the process of being sold, where is the other one?
In the Frets article from 1986, Gruhn states that due to the number of Loars out there - under 200 (which we now know is incorrect) - this makes Loar-signed F5s more rare than Stradivari. Interesting to note that the price for a clean, all-original one was pegged at around $9,000 in the article http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
No one seems to know the location of the second Loar, and if anyone does, they're not talking. #I'm sure there are some suspicions as to where it might be, so this is the cue for all you insiders to let everyone know whose closet you think it is hiding in.
I think Osama has it, and will soon be putting it on consignment at one of the major collector instrument outlets. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
64lusso
Sep-07-2004, 10:49am
I remember Charlie talking about this incedent at a Kaufman Kamp I attended a few years ago. I was under the impression that Bill's mandolin was in a lot more pieces than the picture shows. If I remember right Charlie said he just did the best he could putting it back together and was really amazed that it came out sounding as good as it always had. I believe he also said that the other one didn't come out sounding as good.