I have a SS Steward Mandolin that I have had for several years. It is in good shape. Can anyone tell me what the value is and if there is a market for it.
I have a SS Steward Mandolin that I have had for several years. It is in good shape. Can anyone tell me what the value is and if there is a market for it.
It has a SS Steward label on the inside and a nickel plate on the head stock with the SS Steward engravings.
Pictures are always good.
"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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Very nice! It's most likely a model 600 from the 1920s. It was built by Regal for Buegeleisen & Jacobson, distributors from NYC who owned the S. S. Stewart name at the time. If I have the ID correct, it sold for $20 in 1927; that made it a fairly affordable but not super-cheap instrument at the time.
I'd put the value around $400, assuming it's playable and there are no hidden issues.
www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.
It appears that you have a mandolin built out of Koa. One recently sold for $225.00 on Reverb. There are mentions of these instruments in past Cafe threads. It looks decent.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
The catalog describes it as "flamed mahogany", which is consistent with the grain structure.
www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.
I actually think it's Koa. There was a bit of a Koa craze going on at the time. Martin was heavily into it. There have been a few mentions here in the past.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C....0.uafKNh4v7pA
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
The grain structure doesn't look like koa. There are no dark streaks, the pores are straighter and lighter in color. While some Stewart mandolins do look like koa, this one definitely is not.
www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.
I'd think $400 might be a little high...
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Koa. When you see really, really pretty mahogany that has a glow about it, it's actually Koa.....at least that's how I have it in my mind. Looks very nice. I'd say about $250-300 with the case.
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Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Sep-13-2017 at 1:53pm.
It's clearly figured mahogany, as advertised. Definitely not koa.
My 3¢. As you know, 2¢ gets you nothing these days.
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