Weber and Sound to Earth labels

[po56okie]

yes, what ever happened to the Fish Symbol on the labels affixed to the inside of their instruments....I just recently purchased an OM [new] and no longer see them on the label. jim

[MikeEdgerton]

Weber has had a new owner for the last few years. They have obviously changed the label. It's currently owned by Two Old Hippies.

[themandocello]

Every few years Bruce Weber sells his current mandolin company to another manufacturer. In the 1990s it was the Flatiron sold to Gibson. In the 2000s it was the Weber brand sold to Breedlove, or two old hippies as it is most commonly called. Who knows who will buy the next line of Bruce Weber made mandolins?

[George R. Lane]

Actually it was Steve Carlson who sold Flatiron to Gibson, not Bruce. Bruce moved to Nashville to set up the Flatiron production. Bruce moved back to Montana to start Sound To Earth, which became Weber mandolins. Knowing Bruce personally, if and when he does start to building again, I highly doubt he will ever sell it. More likely he will hand it over to Bruce Jr.

[MikeEdgerton]

Actually it was Steve Carlson who sold Flatiron to Gibson, not Bruce....

Correct.

[Marcus CA]

if and when he does start to building again,

The clock is ticking!

https://www.montanalutherie.com/webe...therie-future/

[George R. Lane]

I am already on the list.

[MikeEdgerton]

Well, here's the fish in question. I'm going to hazard a guess that the current owner doesn't feel the need to include this well known symbol (Icthys) on the label anymore. There really isn't any other answer I can think of unless somebody ordered new labels and didn't proof them and I doubt that one. Owners of businesses are pretty much free to design their own labels don't you think?

[po56okie]

Thanks for the photo,,I was beginning to think it was all in my head.....maybe Weber was ordered to drop the fish symbol as not to offend anyone. thanks, ja

[MikeEdgerton]

Bruce isn't involved anymore as far as I know with the mandolin company that bears his name.

[George R. Lane]

Bruce isn't involved anymore as far as I know with the mandolin company that bears his name.

You are correct neither Bruce Sr. or Jr. have any dealings with Two Old Hippies.

[Bill Kammerzell]

From that link that Mike provided, it appears they might still be using that Celtic Knot. At least the logo is still in use at the website. I always thought the "Fish" was at the center of that? I was looking at some 2017 mandolins at the Mando Shop, and the Celtic Knot symbol is still in use on some of the head stocks.

[MikeEdgerton]

It might well be but apparently the fish isn't on the label anymore unless there was a batch that was just missing the fish.

[Bill Kammerzell]

It might well be but apparently the fish isn't on the label anymore unless there was a batch that was just missing the fish.

Exactly. I just always thought, that the center of the Celtic Knot was a fish. I've never noticed a fish on the label.

[MikeEdgerton]

I agree, I believe the center of the Celtic know is the Icthys (fish) and a heart.

[George R. Lane]

Mike,
You are correct. I have it tattooed on my right arm. I had the flames added later on, note the flames come to W at the top. Yes I am a friend of Bruce and he made be a great mandolin.

[foldedpath]

Well, here's the fish in question. I'm going to hazard a guess that the current owner doesn't feel the need to include this well known symbol (Icthys) on the label anymore. There really isn't any other answer I can think of unless somebody ordered new labels and didn't proof them and I doubt that one. Owners of businesses are pretty much free to design their own labels don't you think?

I'm confused about this "fish on the label thing," because I have a Weber Yellowstone F OM from 2002 signed by Bruce, with that cross thing on the label, and it doesn't look like a fish to me. Looks like just a somewhat Medieval-ish "X" shape, unless I'm missing something?

This OM also has a "Celtic Knot" on the headstock, which is symmetrical without the fish symbol. Here's my OM headstock:



Weber had another "Celtic knot" that had more angular spikes at the four cardinal directions. So there was more than one "knot" design, and the one with an obvious embedded fish was just one of them.

[JEStanek]

That's not the knot... This is what people are talking about with the heart and fish. The fish and knotwork logo was a personal expression of faith by Bruce. TOH may not share that sentiment or may have chosen not to include it for other reasons. That's best answered by TOH.



Jamie

[Buck]

Well, here's the fish in question.

I enjoyed seeing another early label. My '99 Big Sky is from later in the year, but has the same label. I don't recall exactly how long it took me to notice that, but I'd had the mandolin for a few years before I finally saw it on the label. Wouldn't have made a difference in the purchase, just thought it was neat. It's a wonderful mandolin, my #1 still, and I'm anxious to see what Bruce and friends will do next.

[Bill Kammerzell]

That's not the knot... This is what people are talking about with the heart and fish. The fish and knotwork logo was a personal expression of faith by Bruce. TOH may not share that sentiment or may have chosen not to include it for other reasons. That's best answered by TOH.



Jamie

That is still on the headstock of several models I saw with 2017 serial numbers. It appears they are still using it on head stocks as well as the newest version of the website.

[JEStanek]

I think they were specifically referring to the lone fish on the label. Looking into soundholes on the Mandolin Store's webpage for new instruments (not older used ones) the labels have a different design.


The older version has the crossed F hole design (with fish) and the newer ones have a different design. I can't see close enough to see no fish or fish but... the labels are different.

Jamie