What's with this Gretsch mandolin?

[Eric Platt]

Was doing a scan of eBay this morning, found this - https://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-Fre...QAAOSwiIxaI6Av

Did try a couple of searches in the forum and couldn't find anything like it. Did someone take a Martin and throw on a Gretsch decal? Or could this be a MIJ version? From what I know, Martin did not do any work for Gretsch. At least not in any of my reference books. Tailpiece is wrong for a Martin anyway.

[Greg Stec]

IMO, that's a Martin A-style. Fred whoever -name on the head stock- had a Gibson-style tailpiece put on, and had his name inscribed/decal-ed on the head stock. Nothing about it sez Gretsch to me.

[MikeEdgerton]

It appears to be a Japanese copy of a Martin style A mandolin with a decal on the headstock. If it was built by Martin it would have the serial number and the Martin stamp inside on the backstrip. That's over priced in my book.

[pops1]

It looks very Martin, except for the nut. I don't think Martin used rosewood for nut material, ebony yes. I could be wrong, have been wrong before, and most likely will be wrong again. Until then I think i'm right.

[Eric Platt]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I agree it's most likely made in Japan. In fact, just found a photo of a Sigma mandolin that could be this one's twin, except for the decal.

I know I saw another Martin copy for sale recently, but can't remember if it was in the classifieds or someplace else. Oh well, wasn't really interested in buying, just wanted to know.

[MikeEdgerton]

The same way that there were Martin guitar copies coming out of Japan there were mandolin copies. I have no idea where or why it got that headstock decal. Seems to me it would have been better to try and pass it off as a Martin

[nmiller]

In the late '70s, Gretsch imported and distributed some very cheap acoustic guitars that were labeled "Fred Gretsch". I've never seen a mandolin with that label, but it seems to be from the same line of instruments.

[MikeEdgerton]

Took me a while to find one but I suspect you're right. There's a Fred Gretsch guitar on eBay.