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Thread: Damage to Loar A5???

  1. #1
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Damage to Loar A5???

    I recently came across a picture of the Loar A5 which apparently shows an area where the finish is scraped (or worn) off of the treble side of the upper rib near the heel.
    I'd never noticed that on previous photos.

    Anyone know whether this is relatively new or just old wear which was not frequently caught in photographs? Just curious.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Phil

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  2. #2
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Addendum: I've looked through some old pix and found some evidence of wear years ago, but perhaps to a lesser degree.
    So, I am now supposing that the mandolin is getting some play time and the wear is honest play wear.
    Any other info would be good.

    Here's a shot from maybe 15-ish years ago with Tut.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    So maybe........ never mind.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

  3. #3
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    How do you think playing would cause wearing in that location?
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
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  4. #4

    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    That’s from the screen door it’s being used to prop open, no big deal.
    Gunga......Gunga.....Gu-Lunga

  5. #5
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    How do you think playing would cause wearing in that location?
    Seems unlikely, doesn't it? That's why I thought someone might have a good story from the old days.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    I think that’s from having a strap looped underneath the fingerboard extension.
    What else are you gonna do? That little guy doesn’t have a proper strap hanger.
    😉

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  8. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    This thread has a whole lot of images of the mandolin in question. You have to scan through it to find them. Here are some older images of the treble side. That spot looks to visible in that shot of it being played below. It doesn't appear to be new.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    And a closeup
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  12. #9
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Possibilities:

    1. Wear from something in the case.
    2. Tut [or somebody else] wanted to find out what the finish was and scraped some off. The perpetrator might have been under the influence at the time . . .
    3. Hungry gremlins . . .

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  14. #10

    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    I've pointed out things like this before to a certain well-known vintage guitar dealer who will remain nameless.....his response, "no biggee, knock a dollar off the price!"

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  16. #11
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    time goes by, people own it and play it, things happen.

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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    "Must 'a been sperits." [Jim, in Huck Finn]

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Personally I think is the only Loar that can still fetch serious bucks! I'm talking 200K or so? I think I know who owns it as I seen a youtube video recently "a few years old" of someone playing it but won't mention names! If he has it great for him as its one of a kind and has a certain sound that others don't!

  20. #14
    Registered User Steve Roberts's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Maybe that particular spot on the upper rib was poking Mrs. Griffith in an uncomfortable place.

  21. #15
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Quote Originally Posted by William Smith View Post
    Personally I think is the only Loar that can still fetch serious bucks! I'm talking 200K or so? I think I know who owns it as I seen a youtube video recently "a few years old" of someone playing it but won't mention names! If he has it great for him as its one of a kind and has a certain sound that others don't!
    I think it's in the general vicinity of Oregon now. Elderly in 2010 offered it for $342,000, IIRC. I presume that was a consignment offer.
    Phil

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  22. #16
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    It's probably the second most valuable Loar as you can't buy the first. Every time this comes up I get a serious case of MAS for a Ms. Griffith copy.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  23. #17
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Yes this Loar has the serious MOJO man! It has the tone and volume in spades! If I had serious cash to spare I'd love to have this one, it blows my mind that this is the only one? Actually you never know with these things as every year an unknown Loar F-5 or H-5 or weird spec prototype or say white top F-2, F-4, even a white top mandocello turns up! Even say a Century of Progress F model! I believe there are still quite a few Loars unaccounted for when studying the serial #'s! Yep I'm a vintage Gibson GEEK and not ashamed to call myself one!

    I know of a few that nobody "or should I say maybe 2-3 people know about" I know for a fact there are a few of those circa 1940 Wide Body F-5's like the one Dawg used on Tone Poems that was David Harvey's for years! One never knows what was made by Gibson in those pre-war days. Look at that odd ball "Lil Pup" circa 1929 A model with F-holes and the two little extra F-holes that Lowell Levinger had-not sure if its his? I'm not sure if he found that or Mr.Grisman?, but that is seriously awesome! I remember a few years ago when Elderly had that maybe 1938 F-5 with a natural top but with original pickup and knobs that surfaced! Very KOOL indeed!

    I know some are still out there that are not known just waiting to come back into the light! They will eventually-look at that 1934 Brazilian Gibson Roy Smeck flat top in natural original finish and 1919 Martin OO-18 my buddy found in an attic a little over a year ago that was going to the garbage-no joke man so yeah he said "I'll take them!" Just think how many still get thrown away this day and age! NUTS! So all don't ever give up hhope you may find something rare and decent as they still are out there! Just my two cents worth of thought. Best O' Luck and Happy Hunting! For us instrument freaks the hunt I don't think ever ends.

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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    I'm in the pawn business, I recently had a fellow bring in a couple rolexes. He said he noticed a house in his vicinity that had had no activity for several months. He looked the house up on the tax records and got the owners info. He contacted her and ask if she wanted to sell it, she said yes. She turned out to be the only child of a doctor that had lived there. He said he low balled her on the price and she took it. She lived a couple states away, he ask her when could she could come and remove the contents. She said, "I want nothing out of that house but some pictures of my mother." He agreed to box any pictures of women up he found and send them to her. He fell into a lot of good stuff, no instruments, but the contents more than paid for the house. Like William Smith said above who knows what's out there.

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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    I’m making one....... mid 2020

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Quote Originally Posted by testore View Post
    I’m making one....... mid 2020

    I'd lay a HUGE vet that it will be a killer Gary! Love your work brother!

  30. #21
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    That spot has been there since I've known the mandolin(1966). I believe it came from the case. The A5 does not fit exactly right in an F5 case (which it came with) and rubs right there. Additionally, Tut, at one time had a leather string type strap that went under the FB extension and tied in a knot using the heel of the neck as the pressure point. That too may have contributed

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  32. #22
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    That spot has been there since I've known the mandolin(1966). I believe it came from the case. The A5 does not fit exactly right in an F5 case (which it came with) and rubs right there.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Makes perfect sense, as the body is more of an A-model, which is a tad larger than an F-model body (minus scrolls and point, which was the approach of the modern A5s Gibson made in the 90s and early 2000s.

  33. #23
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    That spot has been there since I've known the mandolin(1966). I believe it came from the case. The A5 does not fit exactly right in an F5 case (which it came with) and rubs right there. Additionally, Tut, at one time had a leather string type strap that went under the FB extension and tied in a knot using the heel of the neck as the pressure point. That too may have contributed

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thanks Darryl. Good first hand information.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

  34. #24

    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    what happened to the pickguard?

    I also love the look of the bound snakehead peghead!
    Last edited by Jeff Mando; Dec-10-2019 at 11:03am.

  35. #25
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Damage to Loar A5???

    I'm waiting to see Gary Vessels take on this Loar A-5! I'm thinking if any real close clone/tribute can be made he is the MAN for the job! I have a feeling I may be seeing and stroking this one in person in the near future

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