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Thread: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

  1. #26
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    I stand corrected. Mine is officially a "no name"

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    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
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  2. #27
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    For what it's worth, there are a couple of guitars in the CF Martin Museum that were built with this same Format with the holes. Interestingly enough it didn't have a sound hole in the front. I can't remember the name of the company they were built for. It's in the middle of this group. I took this picture in 2003 if I'm to believe my earlier post on the cafe where I posted it.
    Paramount. Here is a tenor version made ca. 1930. There were only about 36 of these made in total.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Darryl Wolfe View Post
    I stand corrected. Mine is officially a "no name"
    At least you have screens over those holes so the mosquitoes cannot enter the back chamber.
    Jim

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  3. #28
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Regal also made the "Blue Comet" as a 'standard" flat top mandolin. All mahogany no "extra chamber". I know I have one and it sounds surprisingly good for what it is…. just right around a PNW campfire.

    Mike

  4. #29
    Registered User Petrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    The tech reference says Martin made a double-backed guitar for Paramount. Maybe that inspired the mando knock-offs.

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  5. #30
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Petrus View Post
    The tech reference says Martin made a double-backed guitar for Paramount. Maybe that inspired the mando knock-offs.
    There is an echo in here. See Mike E's post and mine above for references to Martin's guitars made for Paramount.
    Jim

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  6. #31
    Registered User Petrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    There is an echo in here.
    That's the resonator working.

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  8. #32
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    I have one of these Blue Comet resonators. It is bursting with mojo and great if you want that 30s / 40s Yank Rachel or Charlie McCoy sort of pawn-shop string band sound. Mine actually plays remarkably well. No way does the tone compete with a vintage Gibson or the excellent builders of today (I am totally loving my Randy Wood!) but it is a lot of fun to play and a great conversation piece. Hang one in your hallway and few people fail to comment!

    File it under "steampunk" and enjoy it for what it is. Slightly mis-inspired innovation, yet strangely sexy!
    Gibson F4, 1920
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  9. #33
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by earthspan View Post
    ...Hang one in your hallway and few people fail to comment!...
    Even though many of the comments are "Yuck!"
    Allen Hopkins
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  10. #34
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Hey, allenhopkins
    I've never had a "yuck". Most people go "wow! What's that!".
    Looking at your collection it seems you have some serious and some fun models. All pretty cool. I can only assume your friends are ruder / more direct than mine. I am in the UK where politeness is a virtue :-)
    I would be interested to hear about your 54 gibbo. I had a 52 A model once. PM me so the thread doesn't go OT
    Gibson F4, 1920
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  12. #35
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by earthspan View Post
    Hey, allenhopkins
    I've never had a "yuck". Most people go "wow! What's that!"...I can only assume your friends are ruder / more direct than mine. I am in the UK where politeness is a virtue...I would be interested to hear about your 54 gibbo. I had a 52 A model once.
    I should apologize for my bit of snark up there. I have played a couple of the Blue Comet et. al. mandolins in question, and my reaction was that they were really heavy, pretty dull sounding, and not "fun to play" IMHO. But that's an individual personal perspective, and I'm sure that others agree with you in enjoying them.

    I've owned my '54 F-5 for about 30 years now. I don't play it as much as I used to. It's loud, quite bassy, and has a lot of wear on it -- most of which I put on gigging with it in the 1980's. The pickguard warped, so I took it off; the gold plating on the shell tailpiece is pretty much worn through. There's a bit of lacquer checking, and it could use a fret re-crowning. I wanted an F-5 Gibson, considering it the apogee of mandolining, and this was the one available; traded in a 'teens F-2 on it, and I think the price was $1.5K "back when."

    I do have some "fun" instruments; recently I pulled out the '87 Gibson "A/N Custom" fancy "pancake," and have been playing it quite a bit. My Eastman mandolins get frequent workouts, and I purchased a Weber Gallatin "sopranolin" treble mandolin this year. Nice having choices.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  13. #36
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

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  14. #37
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by markscarts View Post
    I love the clownbarf motif on both the pickguard and the bridge. And that Blue Comet logo is quite nicely preserved. That that one is missing the screens for the multiple soundholes and bugs may fly in.
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  16. #38
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    That's a pretty hopeful Buy It Now price.
    "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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  18. #39
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    You know, the instrument you play on in a recording studio may be different than the one you take to a fiddle jam which may again be different than what you take to a bluegrass jam, which might not be what you want at an out door contra dance, or just to mess with in the kitchen before the corn bread is done. My Beltone is what I use for the last scenario. It looks cool, its at hand, and nobody expects a command performance from it.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
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  20. #40
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    That's a pretty hopeful Buy It Now price.
    There's a big premium for the clown barf.

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    You know, the instrument you play on in a recording studio may be different than the one you take to a fiddle jam which may again be different than what you take to a bluegrass jam, which might not be what you want at an out door contra dance, or just to mess with in the kitchen before the corn bread is done. My Beltone is what I use for the last scenario. It looks cool, its at hand, and nobody expects a command performance from it.
    I dunno... I still prefer a decent instrument even while waiting for the cornbread. I had a BC way back and it just didn't do much for me. Vintage laminated wood... Evidently Louie Bluie/Howard Armstrong played one at some time and that may be its main claim to fame.
    Jim

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  21. #41
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    There's a big premium for the clown barf.


    I dunno... I still prefer a decent instrument even while waiting for the cornbread. I had a BC way back and it just didn't do much for me. Vintage laminated wood... Evidently Louie Bluie/Howard Armstrong played one at some time and that may be its main claim to fame.
    Mediocre Cornbread + Good Mandolin =

    Good Cornbread + Mediocre Mandolin =

    Good Cornbread + Good Mandolin =

    Mick
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  23. #42

    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    I have a blue comet just like this one 2 heads.was wondering iwhat it sells for.good shape is missing at bottom the string cover. ty clara

  24. #43
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by clara_conner View Post
    I have a blue comet just like this one 2 heads.was wondering iwhat it sells for.good shape is missing at bottom the string cover. ty clara
    I see people trying to get $5-700 for these instruments, which strikes me as wildly optimistic. This one on eBay got zero bids when offered with a $425 opening bid limit.

    If you could get $300 for it I'd consider it fair. As a vintage oddity it has some appeal; as a musical instrument there are lots of better ones, old and new, around for that price.

    Just my 2¢, though.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
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  25. #44
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    There are always high asking prices for these. The tailpiece cover you're missing might be worth more than these mandolins usually sell for. Unfortunately there are a whole lot of them out there and they generally don't sell.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  26. #45
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    I have an internal brace or something loose and rattling in mine, and I am likely to spend significantly more than it is worth to get it fixed.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  27. #46

    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    We play one my Dad and His Brother played one B-4 WW11 and I still have it. I learned to play the mandolin on it. It has a lot of volume and it sounds like a mandolin. Today everyone is playing something made in china but I'm pretty sure this was made in the U.S.A. I had to put new tuners on it and repair a brace that came loose but it plays pretty good. The one I have is not the resonator type it does have the sound holes around the edge as well as an oval hole as opposed to the F hole. I know it's not worth much on a retail market but to me it would be worth as much as anything made in china on the market place. To me though with the family history it has I'll keep it and play it and if need to I'll have it refretted and play it rather than play a china mandolin.

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  29. #47

    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    After WW2 it looks like most Beltone and Blue Comet mandolins were made by United of New Jersey. Who made the pre-WW2 mandolins for Beltone, I don't know. I have seen one from the 1920s that looks very like a Martin build and I assume other makers were chosen as well.

  30. #48
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    There is one with a "United" decal on eBay at the moment...

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/18375886080...Bk9SR4j89-rzYA

    NFI
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    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  31. #49

    Default Re: Beltone, Blue Comet, etc Mandolins

    You know you have reached a certain age when you see Beltone and think hearing aids.

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