Re: A chance to buy a Sobell..
Originally Posted by
Steve L
I had a chance to buy a Sobell octave mandolin in 1983. It was the finest musical instrument I had ever come into contact with. I couldn't really afford it but I had the money, if you know what I mean. I just thought it was too rich for my blood at the time and I passed on it. It was just over a thousand dollars and is worth 5-6 times more now. I crossed paths with that very instrument about 6 years ago and it was just magnificent. I've regretted not buying that instrument every day since. If you want it and can do it, get it. You can always get rid of them but you can't always get them.
Concur. I bought my Sobell short-scale (20.5") eight-string around 1988 or so; I have it tuned as a mandola. It belonged to English musician Martin Simpson, then living in Ithaca, who traded it in on a Gibson mandolin to take back to the UK and sell at a profit. Guess I paid around $800 then; Sobell's rep wasn't well-known in Rochester, and Simpson was PO'ed about the deal he got on the trade-in -- refused to part with the case (saying he'd get Sobell to build him another instrument to fit it). I had to get a custom case from Harptone.
Best deal I ever made -- or one of the best. The Sobell, rosewood-bodied, beautifully made, has held up excellently, and I've played it on Celtic, klezmer, and general folk music ever since. Stefan Sobell is one of the contemporary builders whose products are investments as well as top-notch players' instruments. And there aren't that many around, especially since he's building mostly guitars now, I understand.
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
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