"The Weber" mandolin history

[RickPick]

I've read a bit about the Flatiron Mando and Banjo Co's early life in Montana, Gibson's purchase and relocation to Nashville, and Bruce Weber's creation of Sound to Earth in Montana. I'm curious, though, to know WHEN Bruce Weber's mandolins first began using the logo "The Weber" on the headstock? Was that what he started calling the instruments he (and his company) made under the company name "Sound to Earth"?

[MikeEdgerton]

Sound to Earth made Weber branded mandolins from the beginning as far as I know. For a short period of time they brought out some STE mandolins as a discount brand (that might have just been prototypes but they made it out into the marketplace). That didn't last long. When he started using "The" Weber I have no idea but I'm sure it was his nod to tradition and probably early on. Maybe Mary or Bruce will chime in on this.

[seg]

1998?
https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...ter_1004.shtml

[LadysSolo]

Whoa, that 10th anniversary mando is a beauty!

[Kevin Stueve]

hmm my 2012 headstock says Weber not "The Weber".

[MikeEdgerton]

They didn't use it on all models.

[MikeEdgerton]

They used it on this one that I attempted to sell for a friend. I don't know if she ever sold it or not, I haven't seen her in a few weeks.

[Mandolin Cafe]

1998?
https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...ter_1004.shtml

Better visual:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pu...s_001004.shtml

[HonketyHank]

I have a Vintage F, serial no. 8xxxx01, which I believe indicates it was built in January 2008. It says "The Weber" on the headstock. Is it possible that the "The" was a Vintage thing?

[Kevin Winn]

My 2000 Bitterroot F is sn 044105 has "Weber" on the headstock (no "The") and a Sound To Earth label inside, signed by Bruce.

[Ivan Kelsall]

My own Weber 'Fern',which i bought in 2007 - serial # 6274307, has ''The Weber'' on the headstock & is signed by Bruce Weber,
Ivan

[Dave Hanson]

The suffix ' The ' seems to me to be used only on builders top of the range instruments.

Dave H

[vetus scotia]

A little anecdote about the history of the "The Weber" that this thread jogged in my memory: I just went back and found an email inquiry I sent to The Mandolin Store back in 2013. I was asking about a Gallatin A, and I mentioned that it had "The Weber" on the headstock and that I thought that was a bit odd. The person at TMS who replied agreed it was odd, but had no explanation for it. It was just an ordinary Gallatin. So I guess the use of the "The" is not entirely consistent.

[dang]

When I custom ordered my weber in late 2003 they said they would put either on the headstock, whatever my preference. I went with The Weber

[Buck]

I don't recall seeing "The" until the Fern model was introduced, but I don't know the year. However, I'm certain than it was not linked STE labels. My 1999 Big Sky has Just "Weber" on the headstock and STE on the label.

[RickPick]

Ask a simple question, get a..... Thanks for all the replies. I'm especially interested/amused by dang's post. I guess headstock logos are not so helpful for dating instruments!

[HonketyHank]

I think dang solved the mystery.

[MikeEdgerton]

...I guess headstock logos are not so helpful for dating instruments!

They can be on certain years for Gibson.

[sblock]

Yes, you had the option of ordering "The Weber" instead of the default "Weber" inlayed on the headstock for a number of years at Sound to Earth. There was usually a small fee associated with this option. You could also order different headstock inlays (Celtic knot, or no inlay, or some other patterns), different topwoods (cedar, spruce), different bracing (x-braced or tone bars), different finish (gloss, satin, choice of color), radius or flat fingerboard, C- or V-neck profile, Brekke traditional or original bridge, and so on. Lots of choices/simple customizations! At one point, I owned a 2006 Yellowstone F5, but it had a cedar top with tone bar bracing, "The Weber," no Celtic knot, V-neck profile, a lightened color (ochre burst) and a Traditional bridge.

[bassthumper]

my SE Ceder has 'The' and a Celtic flame on the headstock and Bruce signed it in 2006

[themandocello]

Does anybody have the shop address for the current Weber mandolins? The website says "made in USA" but doesn't have the address