Remember with regard to price...
“Askin’ ain’t Sellin’!”
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Remember with regard to price...
“Askin’ ain’t Sellin’!”
Wonder what they would say if I offered $800.
Wait a minute, is $250,000 the same as $250?
Nashport, Ohio is not too far from my office. If anyone is interested in the mando, send me $25,000 cashiers check and I will send you a Gibson A model. Heck, I'll even pay shipping.
Antique Hand-Made 8-string Mandolin Style Instrumental on Facebook Marketplace
Here's a real bargain at half the price! Handcrafted hardware, too. Checkout the tuners and the tailpiece. Bill James could learn a thing or two from this maker.Quote:
Definitely hand-made, in fair condition. Playable, but used as antique decoration for years in our family.
Hey, you never know. This could be one of Schmergel's early works or a prototype for the Devastator.
There is no "c" in Shmergel. Just saving Allen some extra work. :cool:
Actually, the Schmergel brothers, Carl and August, started out working together but there was some bad blood and Carl left and started his own shop and he was the more famous of the two. He had to change the spelling of his name to avoid devastating lawsuits from his estranged brother.
I doubt it is a Shmergel... But it could be a Shmergel. It has some (sort of) Shmergel traits.
I saw a mandolin that had strings on it just like this one that someone said reminded them of a Devastator.
Carlos and Augustus Shmergel, nee Schmergel?
I'm devastated.
Mick
A used Michael Kelly north of $2K? Well, I guess They're Not Making Any More of These! Their Value Will Only Increase!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Michael-Kel...AAAOSwJRleAK4~
Mick - you're close.
I believe it is a "Smeagol," wrought in the forges of the Dark Tower to annoy elven ears. And to confuse mandolinists in search of the elusive "Devastator."
It was wrought following his success at forging a ring of power. Since "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them." worked out so well for a long time, Sauron thought he could dragoon all the "Devastators" together through a mandolin of power.
You know, "One Mandolin to rule them all, One Mandolin to find them, One Mandolin to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them." This is why the Devastators are so seldom seen. They were hidden when the Dark Lord's intentions were perceived, and their whereabouts are only known to certain princes of the Cafe, who quietly play them to heal the hurts of the musical world.
Or something like that.
Maybe Scott has one...or Mike.
From the darkened closets of Guitar Center Vintage...
This 1920s(?) A-3 is a bit scary. If it was less than 1/2 the asking price perhaps someone would buy it and with mercy restore it to playable. I don't know what that pickup is. it is stamped "Ideal." GC vintage listings are notorious for having terrible photos.
It does look like it has original tuners and besides being probably a refinished whiteface might be in semi-decent condition. Unless, of course, the top was cut open to install that pickup.
I just did a quick search and the Ideal pickup was made in germany and wasthe first pickup to be used for bouzoukis. I don't know how it picked up 8 strings with 6 pole pieces.
The field eminating from a pole piece is circular-ish, so a 6-pole pickup will work fine, just doesn't give you as convenient adjustment as a 4-pole pickup.
Attachment 183846
If it was $500 or so I might give it consideration - that would be a price I could afford and I am (casually) looking for a 1920s Gibson. But needing work at the price they are asking, no thanks.
Were you wondering what the holy grail of bluegrass mandolins might be? Wonder no longer.
https://sarasota.craigslist.org/msg/...105455781.html
Not quite a vintage Gibson A5 but much better than most (certainly not all) 1970's Gibson F5's
If you don't have $7,000 to $10,000 for a good Gibson F5, This really is the holy grail of bluegrass mandolins... when it comes to price! Where else can you get a Pre-War American made mandolin for less than the many thousands that a Gibson F5 cost. There's a local bluegrass get together that I brought this to because I wanted to play this guys 1950's J-45. He saw her during break and asked to play her and I said he could but only if I could play his Gibson. After he played her for a while he called the mandolin player over (who brought his Gibson F-5 with him to play that night). When the mandolin player handed it back to me, he asked "how much". He had nothing to trade so I quoted him $1200. He was the one who said, in a very southern drawl "At that price, with a raised fretboard extension! She's the Holy Grail of Bluegrass Mandolins". His words, not mine. Made me laugh. Got to play his F-5 and made several friends / had lots of laughs.
99% of all Stradolins were cheap laminated mandolins... but their Top-of-the-line mandolines were nothing less than spectacular. Her fit and finish is better than many Gibsons (not all but many).
my milkshake is better than yours lol :grin: My mandolin is too. Don't knock it until you try it.
I would love to try out that Snakehead.
https://youtu.be/pGL2rytTraA
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I just sold a 1939 solid woods Stradolin for $400 in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds. Paid my 2% to Mandolin Cafe, too.
Love this site. Thank you Scott Tichenor for all you do.
Michael
Dear pheffernan,
I owe you an apology. Your 2007 Hester A5 and 2009 Passernig A5 are OFF THE CHAIN!
Sincerely (and a little jealous),
Michael Weigner
P.S. My Stradolin A5 (okay A4&3/4 short 13 7/8" scale, 1 3/16" Nut width) would make you a nice knockaround / beach mandolin... and yes $2400 is a little much but I was looking to trade it for an American 5 string jazz bass. I got offered a $200 Harmony Guitar and a $300 Danelectro bass. Honestly, $1250.00 is what she is worth and if somebody came up with $1,000.00 ...I wouldn't say no. Been offered $700 by a dealer and that was before I added a Hard Weber Case. I know those are stratospheric prices for a Stradolin but if you played Her, She has a voice like a female opera singer yet can still belt out Bluegrass. Please don't scoop out the elevated fretboard extension on a Pre-War (1941) Vintage American made Museum Quality Mandolin. That's your call.
Yes I have been trying to sell this for a long time. It will sell, they always do. Just takes the right person. The Stradolin in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds (not the 2 point) has been for sale since before I joined The Cafe in Jul-19-2014. Can't believe that has not sold for $500. She's a similar model to mine just not flamed, same rare body binding top and back but no three piece neck. I think she is all Solid woods, ask first, they know. That ad says, 1930s Kay Strad-O-Lin Mandolin... IT IS NOT A KAY. That may be why She is not selling. https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/150465#150465
I'll be playing my Fancy Stradolin on the back porch tomorrow morning.
Be safe and enjoy the day.