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Thread: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    I had half an eye on this eBay auction of a badly repainted '56 Fender Mandocaster with a partially sawed-off horn. Not a beaut, but I figured it might be one Mandocaster I could afford! Sadly, however, the auction ended early before I placed a snipe, or even a bid.

    Well, now we know what happened ... somebody acquired it offline and has cannibalized the poor puppy. There was no indication in the original ad that the Mandocaster was incomplete or not in working condition ... but that hasn't stopped this eBay butcher in Tallahassee from trying to part it out.

    Starting bid on the original auction was $500 (no bids were received); you have to figure that Dr. Frankenstein here got the instrument for something close to that. Add up his prices for parts and they come to $1905. Yeesh.
    Last edited by mrmando; Aug-22-2011 at 12:03pm.
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  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Unless there is someone out there wanting to restore one of these, I bet this guy doesn't sell these parts. Maybe you could offer him $550 for the whole batch.
    Jim

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  3. #3
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Maybe less, since he's made matters worse by sanding off part of the repaint job!
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  4. #4
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    <GASP!!!> The horror! The humanity!

    The gouging! $400 for the case? $135 for six screws? At $22.50 a pop, they should be made of Gold. Well, titanium - gold is too soft.

    I know times are hard, but ... sheesh!!!

    Jim may be right. Give him a few weeks of no responses and make him an offer.
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  5. #5
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Actually, I don't need the case, since I already have a vintage Mandocaster case (it's in much worse shape than this one, but what the heck). So, $250 for the instrument if he puts it back together, and if someone else gives him the $395 he's asking for the case, he might still make a little money!
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  6. #6
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    I don't know much about vintage instruments and their pricing, it just seems his prices are a bit, well, fanciful.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  7. #7

    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    In the original auction anybody else notice it was strung backwards?

    $500 for a mandocaster isn't out of the question - particularly a vintage one. But that one could have been strung as a lefty which is why they took a chunk out of the upper horn.
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  8. #8

    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    I have heard that powdered mandocaster horn is a potent musical aphrodisiac . but it may just be myth and i can play hard rock for most of a full nights set any way . honest

  9. #9
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Well, if I thought the dude on eBay was a gouger (news flash: he sold most of his parts), I apparently hadn't seen nothin' yet.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  10. #10
    In The Van Ben Milne's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Wow... . Just the pick guard screws left.
    Hereby & forthwith, any instrument with an odd number of strings shall be considered broken. With regard to mix levels, usually the best approach is treating the mandolin the same as a cowbell.

  11. #11
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    I can't tell what happened to the pickup! Dr. Frankenstein did have an auction going for the pickup, but it appears to have been deleted. Too bad, a certain mandolin builder in New England asked me a few days ago if I knew where he could find an original '56 Mandocaster pickup, and I couldn't help him.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  12. #12
    In The Van Ben Milne's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sad fate of a '56 Mandocaster

    Hereby & forthwith, any instrument with an odd number of strings shall be considered broken. With regard to mix levels, usually the best approach is treating the mandolin the same as a cowbell.

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