Kimble a5 captured in the Wild!

Been wanting a good A model to supplement my main Duff F (#200 - super sweet!). Kimbles, Duffs, were of primary interest and I had not seen any used for a while so I thought I would look at Reverb just on the off chance. I found the following blonde Kimble from 2008 #143 - Original owner who states he wasnt really a mandolin player and estimated it had only a few hours on it. He said it was mint and he wasnt kidding - not a nick on it and I had to polish the frets because they were so tarnished. The strings had to be years old - possibly 12! So after cleaning up the fretboard, new strings, some triflow on the Waverlies it is like brand new. It will get played it quite a bit over the next few days. The mint calton case is well, mint. Great sounding mando- with a great feeling neck. No wonder not many used show up.Attachment 183498Attachment 183499Attachment 183500

Congratulations! I tried out a Kimble A last summer and loved it (Sadly it wasn’t for sale.). How much did this one set you back?

Exactly $4000 with the Calton case. Not sure if that reflects the market or not - I think it is actually low for this caliber of a varnished mandolin with a calton case that looks like it just came out of the box and waverlies. The woods are very nice on this - as expected with a blond where you see everything. I see Will every year at Monroe camp and always wanted to have one of his (Paul Duff is there every year as well - but I am covered there;)). Feel very fortunate to have found it.

Score!

Congrats!

Great catch. I have one of it’s siblings, #150, which was also born in 2008.

Congrats, great looking mandolin!

Congrats, what a find! I love the blonde with the white binding.

Congratulations! Do I know you from Camp?

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Originally Posted by Russ Jordan

Congratulations! Do I know you from Camp?

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Congrats and I was wondering the same thing.

@ Don & Russ - I've likely seen you there and been in some courses and Jams together (David from Iowa). I missed last year but have been to every other going back to the last couple at Owensboro. I am already registered and paid for this year - so it's locked in! Hopefully seen you there this year and make formal introductions.

I saw that one and thought it a good deal especially with the Calton case.

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Originally Posted by Tempotantrum

Exactly $4000 with the Calton case. Not sure if that reflects the market or not - I think it is actually low...

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Yes, I think you got a great price! The few Kimble A’s I’ve seen in the past year have been closer to $5k, and not with a Carlton case.

I have liked all of the 3 or 4 Kimbles I have played. That one looks like a beauty, too.

Kimble mandolins first really caught my attention hearing Andrew Marlin on his, then Andy Statman, Phil Barker (Town Mountain), and a local player frequently. They're great, and to me have a certain character and tone that really stands out in a band mix.

Congratulations on yours. Great mando and price.

Interesting price spread on 3 Kimble F models currently for sale in two different music stores and Cafe classifieds: Kimble F BB (Butch Baldassari model) $15K; Kimble F $9K; Kimble F BB $7,750K.

David from Iowa: I was at Monroe Camp in 2018-19, so maybe we met at Lake Junaluska. I’m gonna have to miss this year. Enjoy camp and your new Kimble!

Congrats! I know the seller and seriously considered this one. We talked a bit about it. I have no doubt it's a fine one. :-)

Gorgeous silking on that top!

#153 here. I like Will’s instruments from that timeframe. His A-styles have been around $5,000 new. So $4k with a Calton is a nice deal.

That’s a great price for a great mandolin! Will Kimble makes wonderful mandolins and I’ve been happy with mine for the past 5 years (#168 from 2009). It’s an A-0 oval hole that I recently had refretted. I lucked out and got it here in the classified ... and to this day I haven’t found or played a mandolin that I like better.

You got yourself a real looker to boot! Enjoy it in good health.

Beautiful! Congrats!