I was looking over THIS heavily played teens Gibson A model today, and noticed another example of the trend to shop out a functioning instrument for parts. By clicking on 'seller's other items' it's pretty likely that this seller took a basically playable old mandolin, and is gambling on making slightly more money by stripping it of hardware, bridge, tuners, case, even end pin - and selling them separately.
I can't really condemn the seller - and there were some 100,000 Gibson prewar instruments made - but I don't think anyone who loves the history of old instruments can help but regret this trend. Once a working instrument is parted out, that circle can never be unbroken.
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