eBay Gibson Mandocello with rare rogue 9th tuner

[Mandolin Cafe]

eBay Gibson mandocello comes with rogue 9th tuner--something you don't see every day-- seam separation, no pickguard, no bridge, no case. $10K starting bid.

[MikeEdgerton]

Strap hanger

[Mandolin Cafe]

Just posted it because I found that extra tuner amusing. Someone that knows a lot more about these I'm chatting with via IM tells me this is not Loar era, more likely 1919.

[MikeEdgerton]

I assumed that thing didn't have the post sticking out the other side. It does so all bets are off as the nut and bridge are missing. Curious.

[William Smith]

A wee bit pricey, the board looks replaced also.

[BradKlein]

THAT is a head scratcher, for sure...

[MikeEdgerton]

That's the Roger McGuinn signature model mandocello.

That right there is guitar geek humor.

[JFDilmando]

Too bad it is so early that it has Big baseball bat neck and no truss rod

[Todd Bowman]

Also looks like more than binding separation. It looks like the back has shrunk or the rim has warped out. Very pricey for its condition!

[mrmando]

That's the Roger McGuinn signature model mandocello.

Could be the Big Joe Williams signature model ...

[mrmando]

$10K, 20% restocking fee for returns? I don't think this sells on the terms specified.

[MikeEdgerton]

Could be the Big Joe Williams signature model ...

That too! I'd never seen his guitar. Yup.

[mrmando]

I assumed that thing didn't have the post sticking out the other side. It does so all bets are off as the nut and bridge are missing. Curious.

It could still be a strap hanger. I don't see any gears on that tuner, so it couldn't hold very much tension.

[Jeff Mando]

$10K, 20% restocking fee for returns? I don't think this sells on the terms specified.

Sounds like he is in the business of "renting" it! Hey, just 5 sales and it "pays" for itself.............

[Jeff Mando]

No bids yet. One hour to go. NOT Loar era, but still super rare. Don't know what it is worth..........NFI

[Jeff Mando]

Update: item did not sell.

[slimt]

Update: item did not sell.

This seller came accross very arrogant.. Thats when I backed away.. 10k is alot for a non player. and I did mention that to them..

[colorado_al]

This seller came accross very arrogant.. Thats when I backed away.. 10k is alot for a non player. and I did mention that to them..

If they want to sell it, they'll eventually get the message that they're asking too much.

[Timbofood]

That’s a weird “addition” to be sure! I like the strap hanger idea but, I can’t be sure.
Arrogant seller on eBay!? I’ve never heard of such a thing!!!

[MikeEdgerton]

If they want to sell it, they'll eventually get the message that they're asking too much.

Sometimes they take the value in their head to the grave. There was a guy that had a beat old Martin that was at every flea market in this area of NJ for years. He wanted many thousands more than his beat up Martin would ever be worth. I had a table next to him one time and tried to give him an idea of what he had and what they sold for. That was probably 20 years ago. A few months ago I saw him and it was in worse shape than before and the price was the same. It won't ever sell in his lifetime.

[colorado_al]

Sometimes they take the value in their head to the grave.

True. My supposition is that they don't really want it to sell if they are unwilling or unable to adjust to the price that the market will bear.

[MikeEdgerton]

Some folks like to advertise what they've got and if someone actually does buy it you hit a home run.

[Timbofood]

You know, that might have been a precursor to the “Scruggs Tuner” for modifying pitch on the inner half of a course of strings!!!
OK Mike, I’ll go to the corner again, I’ve been good for too long!

[Dave Fultz]

That nut would have gone a long way towards explaining this mystery. It might have been a Rosetta nut.

[HonketyHank]

The first mental picture that came to mind after seeing the photos in that listing was of Mozart playing his 'challenge' piece with the note that could only be played with his nose. (story may be apocryphal, but it was in the movie Amadeus)

So I suggest the ninth string is the nose string. Probably in the pocket of the original case, there is a nose pick.