Japanese Morris 70's/80's (not Howard's)

[littvay]

Hello Everyone

I know you all have been through this a couple times but Neil (the only owner of such a mandolin) suggested to try again.

My dad bought a Morris mandolin in Munich, Germany in 1980. It was stolen at a concert in 1993 in Budapest, Hungary (where I am originally from, and where my family lives) My dad was one of the great popularizers of Bluegrass Music in Easter Europe, often prosecuted by the communist government for playing the music of the "evil capitalists".

Unfortunately I have no records of the mandolin. No serial or model number. I know what it looks like, I've seen a few pictures but do not have any with me here in the US.

The following article verified that Morris mandolins where made in Japan. The same town the high end Kentucky mandolins were made along with Aria, Alvarez, Ibanez, instruments etc.

Frets Article on Kentucky KM-1500 (http://www.vintagemandolin.com/kentuckyarticlepage1.html)

I know that Morris has three F-style models. MF-200, MF-400, MF-600.

My dad's was gloss finish with fairly bright yellow to brown
sunburs. The fret markers were highly decorated. I figured it is the top model but it is not. Neal has an MF-600 which is a 20's looking, satin brown finish with dot markers.

Neil's Morris MF-600 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=13691;hl=morris)
Other Pictures of Neil's (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=14357;hl=morris)

I guess several companies had their 20's style model on the top of the line. (see Kentucky's KM-1000 or 1500 vs the 3 digit ones, Aria's Japanese Line (http://www.therathole.org/guitars/models/a-ap2_acou/mando_banjo.html))

My dad's looked more like the M-900. The Morris MF-600 looks more like the M-1000.

(by the way, if anyone has an MF-600 or one of these Aria M-1000, or something equivalent looking and quality, I might be interested in buying one for my self, right now all I have is a Rover RM-75, and even that is in Europe while I am in Lincoln, NE)

Any information would be appreciated about these Morris mandolins. Any pictures, descrptions, specs or the three models. First of all I would like to figure out what I am looking for. Probably the MF-400, but I am not sure anymore. In december my dad will have his 50's Bday. I need to find one until then. It would be the greatest present for a veteran who lost his loved one over 15 years ago.

Please help.

Thanks

Levi

[neal]

Hey Levi, welcome to the board, hope some more folks know more about these than I do.

[neal]

Just wanted to jump this post up to the top. Here's a link to Levi's Pop's album in mp3's, he was kind enough to share, I thought I'd start a new topic about it also. It's right HERE (http://comrade.unl.edu/100folk/)

[neal]

Levi sent me this from the Morris folks, awful helpful of them, I'd say. #



Dear Levi Littvay:

Thank you again for your e-mail as well as the attached pictures.

From the pictures, we have to tell you that your father's mandolin
is not MF-600 but a higher grade one like MF-1000, MF-1500, or
MF- ? . #We can not tell which model exactly since there is no
documents or prints left in the factory about such mandolins.
However, one of our workers remembers a little about it. #Since
actual person in charge was retired years ago, the information
we have is not so much.

The most possible case, from the worker 's memory, is that your
father's mandolin was made as one of a few high grade mandolins
for exhibiting at Frankfurt Musik Messe in around 1979. #So it is
very rare mandolin as it was not mass-produced like MF-200/400/
600 afterwards.

Therefore, all we can do is sending by post copies of 1981 brochure
and fret inlays design (real size) to you.
The fret inlays are very similar to those of #Aria and Gibson mandolins.
The material is white pearl shell.
Body color of your father's is rather similar to MF-200 on 1981
brochure and Morris logo on the head of MF-200 /400 is same as
your father's.

On your picture, inlay on the head, that is different from one on
MF-600's head, looks similar to Aria and Kentucky but still different.
It is regretful that we can't #send any information or prints of the inlay.
The truss rod cover is installed by 3 screws not 2 screws like MF-200
/400/600. #White binding around the headstock is different from
MF-600 as you mentioned.

We will mail the above mentioned copies today. #If you have further
inquiry, please let us know.


Best regards,

Aiko Nagai
Morris Musical Inst. Mfg. Co., Ltd.