'20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com
'20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com
Is there a serial number anywhere? If so, a call to Gibson could give you some history on the instrument. (You may have thought of this already.)
As to whether it is a copy or not, I'm not an expert so I can't say!
Proud owner of a Breedlove Premier Series Limited Edition FF!
Not sure of the facts, but I don't think Gibson started using red Krylon until 1972...
No serial number.
'20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com
Hey Mike! I don't know about the mandolin (although the script does not look right) but I used to live and go to school in Pleasant Valley just outside of Bettendorf. There didn't used to be much of a Bluegrass scene in the Quad Cities when I was there in the 70's. Are there more pickers up there now?
I know I'm getting old and the eyesight is questionable but do I see the back of the neck on the same side of body as the "F" holes instead of a fretboard or neck surface G Maybe it's apart and the top is just laying on the back ? Someone with younger eyes maybe correct me. Thanks
Dave
Heiden A, '52 Martin D-18, Taylor 510, Carlson Custom A with Electronics
On 2nd thought it can't be that as the body has a left and right side, it looks to me like it's a Siminoff type neck joint not a dovetail and the neck is in upside down.
Dave
Heiden A, '52 Martin D-18, Taylor 510, Carlson Custom A with Electronics
That scroll looks like the Pillsbury Dough-Boy. The ff holes and all details are funky and sloppy, and no binding. I'm thinking old fake - or at the very least, bad new top. The headstock looks squirrely too like a Sam Bush wanna-be! Don't know about the case. Even considering the condition this does not exhibit Gibson elegance IMHO...
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... I'm a California Man!
My eyes are both well over 50, but I think the missing fingerboard is what you are seeing...or rather not seeing.
I'm sure that mandolin is a much nicer speciman than anything I could build on my best day. So...not to criticize, but judging by the body-scroll alone, I doubt the builder was quite up to the Gibson level.
I'm sorry, I didn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings criticizing the build, I was just concerned that someone was perhaps trying to sell this as a Gibson and I highly doubt that it is. Years ago I was taken in by a vague ebay ad for a (faked) Gibson which was being offered by a respected Bluegrasser. In the process I realized that it was fake but ended up buying it anyway because of it's "provenance" and the fact that it was a "pretty good" mandolin. BTW the ebay pictures of my mandolin looked amazing! I later realized that I could have bought a used Collings A model for what I paid for the 70s Gibson "tribute". Just throwing in my $.02 to maybe help someone not make the same mistake...
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... I'm a California Man!
Hey Perry, We were both busy typing at the same time. I didn't even see your post until after punching the 'reply' button.
You're right though...I can definitely see the Pillsbury influence!
Cheers,
Clark
Flatrock Hill, of course you are correct, I should have enlarged the photo. At first glance the insert looked like the curved back of a neck. At 75+ years for my body and 19 years in my mind my eyes I guess are at 95 years LOL.
Dave
Heiden A, '52 Martin D-18, Taylor 510, Carlson Custom A with Electronics
Rex: There are a few pickers here, in Muscatine, and in Iowa City. We're trying to grow the scene. The internet (FB, online lessons, this Cafe site) is making it a lot easier for people to connect. You can drop me an email at mgromkey@gmail.com if you want to chat, or get me at FB. Cheers.
'20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com
Of course I know nothin' about scrolls but in the experts absence I will respond with TANPON IMHO!
Mike, you're not missing anything. Case should be Gibson, all else a rough copy. Basically none of the details are Gibson-related: Wrong neck set, scroll and f-holes cut completely off, no neck extension, upper body point too short and wrong shape, f-holes too close together, no binding &c.
Don't know the provenance, though.
There's no need to call Gibson. Congratulations though, the case is worth a few bucks.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Technically, Provenance is a documentation stream, a proof positive way to ascertain past history ..
little late to get that now. ..
but good luck with our Mandolin in the rough Project ..
writing about music
is like dancing,
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