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Hello,
I'm looking for someone that can guide me to find a fantastic place to sell the Vintage 1936 Rivoli Mandolin.
I'd also love any information about the Mandolin. It was made in NYC before Gibson acquired Epiphone. The Mandolin is in excellent condition!
Beautiful mandolin; it certainly looks to be in great shape (it even has its fancy tailpiece cover). Can you please post a picture or two of the back? A 1936 Rivoli would have a walnut back; I'd like to see it. The Rivoli was in the middle of Epiphone's mandolin pecking order; which, from low to high, was the Adelphi, the Rivoli, the Strand, and the two Windsor models. Epiphone produced the Rivoli model all the way up until Gibson bought the company. Gibson-made Epiphone mandolins were called Venetians, but the Rivoli name was used as the moniker for the EB-232 bass guitar.
If you're wanting to sell the Rivoli, you could list it in the classifieds right here at the Mandolin Cafe. Or there are dealers who do consignment sales; several advertise here as well.
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It says its a Rivoli and the number is 10255
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Thank you for responding John!
Just FYI, there's the Epiphone Rivoli mandolin, and the Rivoli bass...Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
The bass was a 60's deal, and was favored by many British Invasion bands like The Animals and Yardbirds...
I had one for awhile, and it was a fine instrument...
Here's Jimmy Page with one:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...psqsh897pd.jpg
Wow! so RAD! Mines a Rivoli Mandolin....but the gentlemen that looked at it at McCabes in Santa Monica, CA said they called it a bass though? So I'm a little confused. Really just trying to learn.
Thanks Spruce!
MissMatt - nice Epiphone Rivoli mandolin from c. 1936 as you figured out correctly! Not too many of these were made so it's always great to see an actual example. I don't think I have seen a Rivoli from that year before, and the pictures in the 1936 Epiphone catalog didn't show the current specs (reused from earlier catalog).Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
The arched back appears to be walnut - likely pressed not carved. Has it got the label with "Epiphone Banjo Corporation, Long Island City N.Y"?
One detail that caught my eye: The top binding angles off straight towards the neck - typical for Gibson mandos, however I have never seen this on a pre-Gibson era Epiphone mando. I wonder if original... maybe a close-up photo?
Felix
Hi Felix,
What is top binding? :confused: I'm truly uneducated about anything with stings! I could take another photo of the mando....perhaps I didn't take a good photo.
Yes it is labeled Epiphone Banjo Corporation, Long Island N.Y.
thanks!
The photos are fine - I was talking about that detail of the white binding that follows the edge of the body and then angles off towards the fretboard - see arrow in attached picture. Maybe a close-up photo taken with more light more from the side would show it better.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
Felix
Attachment 145400
So where do I find a trusted appraiser? I am coming to understand this is a very special Mandolin.
Thanks everyone for the help!
I am not a dealer, just researching old Epiphone instruments and maintaining a database about these. My general impression regarding market value of a 1930s Epiphone Rivoli mandolin: Pretty rare, but not really sought after. I have seen asking prices around $1K or a bit higher (for slightly later models with more desirable carved backs) - however no idea if they sold for that price.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
Felix
Your keyboard... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
Here's one...
Here's a probably overpriced one on E$#y...yours??
If "yes", isn't that auction doing the job of valuing it for you?
(Hint: "yes" is the answer...) ;)
There was one on the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds awhile back--a 1939--whose owner might chime in on this thread...
Also, search "Rivoli" on these pages--I see quite a few. Ask them an approximate value...
Here is one that may or may not have sold for $1250.00. If you want an appraisal for insurance purposes you could contact George Gruhn at www.gruhn.com. Don't expect it to sell for anything near what that appraised value is. If you're looking to sell it on consignment you could contact Carter's in Nashville (http://cartervintage.com/) or Elderly in Lansing, MI (http://www.elderly.com/). I think the value is somewhere north of $800.00 and south of $1300.00. Feel free to place it in the classifieds here on the Cafe. We don't allow commerce on the message boards.
Thanks J. Garber......for your info and input.
J. Garber is a great guy. Just ask Mike Edgerton. Great looking mandolin.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
The best way to get an accurate appraisal of this mandolin is to list it for auction on eBay. Ten day listing, finishing in the evening with low starting price. You'll get what it's worth, maybe a bit over if auction fever sets in.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
It's important to recognise that you won't get the same price as a professional dealer would, but you'll certainly get more than you would selling via a third party.
As a private seller with no reputation, I should set your expectations somewhere under $1K.
Someone offered me 1700.00 and I declined because I was still gathering information and learning. It's on EBay again now in an auction.......
we'll see.
Thanks again everyone!
I would have taken the $1700 and ran!
Epiphone mandolins are not common and yours is in exceptional condition, and I can see a small premium being paid for the condition, but $1700 is "all the money" IMHO. Hopefully they will make the offer again.
My estimate would be $700-1200.
Good luck! And thanks for sharing the pictures.
+1...Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Mando
This makes no sense. You decline an offer of $1700, then list it on eBay with a BIN of $1900 which would net you less than the $1700 you were originally offered. Why not just go back to the person who made the offer and accept?Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMatt
Now you've listed as an auction, but a starting price of $1900 is hardly going to attract potential bidders - auctions don't work that way.
Hi. I'm the previous owner of the '39 Rivoli that now belongs to Bernunzio in Rochester. You can see it on his website for sale.
A beautiful instrument that few people will take a chance on because of the rarity and lesser known name.
I believe Felix at Masterbuilt knows a great deal about them. As far as price is concerned,....trust the previous responses
from the forum members. They have a handle on the market for current trends. 1 K to 1.5 seems in the ballpark.
Thanks to all the people who answered my questions a while back. regards oldplinker
Good point. Rarity doesn't always translate into demand.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldplinker
Just have to see Houseworker. Keep watching!!! You never know what could happen.
......