Results 1 to 25 of 25

Thread: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Obviously I’m super excited about this but for times sake here’s a copy and paste of a post I made on Facebook in the Vintage Gibson Flattop Group (kind of a misnomer as we discuss archtops and mandolins somewhat as well)


    “The Mount Everest of fretted instrument rarity.” —Jonathan Kellerman

    1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    This is the rare mandocello variant of the original Lloyd Loar quartet of Style 5 instruments (F-5, H-5, K-5, L-5). As many know this redesign of Gibson’s top of line instruments brought about many innovations such as the introduction of F-holes, raised fingerboards, and a 14 fret neck. As well as a refinement in carving and build. There are roughly 10 of these K-5 mandocello known today as compared to the approximately 250 Loar signed F-5 mandolins.

    This instrument has a “prototype” snakehead style headstock as featured on only one other known instrument. That being the lone known ‘23 L-5 touted as “The First L-5”. It has also spent the last 80 years converted to a guitar and has just recently been re-converted back to a mandocello. The back was replaced in the 30’s to maple, from the original birch, presumably when the conversion took place by Gibson. It’s lead quite a life and now it’s back.

    Better photo’s will hopefully follow when time allows.


    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	D9D2FB22-B1B3-4517-9E29-33908D370ABB.jpg 
Views:	189 
Size:	424.5 KB 
ID:	169538

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	69705860-2500-4ED7-8E86-18F7BA4EEE08.jpg 
Views:	266 
Size:	424.3 KB 
ID:	169539

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	26B13E26-B6A5-4BC0-93DA-95666B0708D2.jpg 
Views:	223 
Size:	490.4 KB 
ID:	169540

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	80BCBFC1-2EF7-468E-A953-6FAF6BDC773D.jpg 
Views:	204 
Size:	390.1 KB 
ID:	169541

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	D8099A71-9D0F-4A34-9999-A4C5F6504203.jpg 
Views:	269 
Size:	380.8 KB 
ID:	169542

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2E8EFE26-F61B-4530-BBF1-D9C2E37C03AA.jpg 
Views:	279 
Size:	358.5 KB 
ID:	169543

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	35030E83-8389-4A64-B853-5A21C23AE6B1.jpg 
Views:	202 
Size:	317.7 KB 
ID:	169544

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	84A99833-5A5A-4F07-90AB-5931BB0185D0.jpeg 
Views:	217 
Size:	135.9 KB 
ID:	169545

    Phil

  2. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to goaty76 For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,275

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    What a great story. Tell us about the gentleman in the photo?
    BradKlein
    Morning Edition Host, WLVR News
    Senior Producer, Twangbox®
    Twangbox® Videos

  4. #3
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sugar Grove,PA
    Posts
    3,370
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Very sweet, is that your new toy? IF so what FUN!!!

  5. #4

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    If they replaced the back, did Loar’s signature label get trashed at the time?
    John D

  6. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Yes it is mine. The man in the photo was the owner of this "guitar" for decades. He was a music teacher in Michigan and this was his main instrument. It came to me from his son. As for the labels, they did not get transferred to the new back in the 30's. As unfortunate as this is I can't feel too bad about it. It is probably the only reason why I have the instrument today. If they were present there's a very good possibility this would have been snapped up years ago.

    I posted the OP from my phone and for some reason all the pics except the last rotated to their side.

    Phil

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to goaty76 For This Useful Post:


  8. #6
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sugar Grove,PA
    Posts
    3,370
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Thanks for sharing, Very awesome piece of history! Too bad about the old back/labels but still I'd be happy with such a rare piece. Was it also refinished in the 30's when the back was replaced?

  9. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    central VA
    Posts
    934

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Looks like there was some good luthiery practiced when switching to 6 and then back to 8 tuners. i can't see any sign of the work in the pics. Very nice indeed.

  10. #8

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Nice instrument, Phil! Good point about the labels -- not having them probably allowed it to fly under the radar, so to speak.

  11. The following members say thank you to Jeff Mando for this post:


  12. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Obviously the back now has it’s original 30’s finish. The rest I believe is original finish (some small touch up in the headstock area for the conversion) though the sides I would have to examine more. However, if you are asking why the sides are solid colored instead of the usual sunburst seen on Style 5 instruments that is consistent with the ‘23 L-5 that this is a companion too. http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/73718

    The recent conversion back to mandocello was done by Brothers Music in Wind Gap, Pa and they did an outstanding job.

    Phil

  13. #10
    Registered User Troy Engle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    40

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    And it plays and sound great!

  14. #11
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    2,758

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Was that the one on ebay two years ago that sold for $7500? They advertised it as an L5. I remember holding the high bid for the first few days....

  15. #12
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sugar Grove,PA
    Posts
    3,370
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    So was this a real L-5 converted or a Mandocello? Or a Mandocello then turned into an L-5?

  16. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    This is a real ‘23 K-5 mandocello. In the 30’s it had a minimally invasive conversion done to use it as a guitar. It has now been put back to be used as a mandocello. It sounds great by the way.

    Phil

  17. The following members say thank you to goaty76 for this post:


  18. #14
    Americanadian Andrew B. Carlson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Sherwood Park, AB
    Posts
    828

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Very very cool! I can only hope to just see one of these one day. Congrats brother!
    Mandolin, Guitar, & Bass for Doug Rawling & The Caraganas
    www.dougrawling.com
    2008 Kentucky KM-1000
    2014 Martin D-28 Authentic 1937
    1964 Gibson LG-0
    2022 Sigma SDR-45VS

  19. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    As a side note, converting a mandocello to be used as a guitar was not an unheard of procedure years back. I recently let go of an early teens K-4 that was converted to a guitar later in the teens (or at least used late teens hardware) as well as I believe David Grisman’s K-5 was set up as a guitar at one time.

    Phil

  20. #16
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    2,758

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    There is a beautiful old Lyon and Healy mandocello here in town that has been strung as a guitar for 30+ years.....

  21. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Silver Spring, MD
    Posts
    269

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Phil, a great find and a fine restoration, congratulations! I look forward to more photos and a visit.
    Here is a full set of 5 series instruments, maybe that is your K5 in the front right.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	7BB43DD8-9C11-4BA6-85FF-A7172E2B2231.jpeg 
Views:	211 
Size:	113.8 KB 
ID:	169627

    Mark
    Mark Lynch

  22. The following members say thank you to MarkELynch for this post:


  23. #18
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Fantastic. I have a post-Loar L-5 guitar and played a Loar K-5 when there was one at Mandolin Brothers in the mid 1980s. Amazing instrument. Congratulations.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  24. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Thanks Mark and what a great pic that is. I don’t know if I remember ever seeing that one before. Unfortunately that is not my K-5 as mine has a very destructive headstock that is not on the one there. Oh and I have to say, that poor fellow in the upper right...haha.

    Jim, not that it would exactly line up with the market 30 years later but do you remember how they valued it compared to a Loar F-5?

    Phil

  25. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    For some reason I can’t seem to edit the above comment. The headstock is distinctive not destructive. Thank goodness.

    Phil

  26. #21
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Quote Originally Posted by goaty76 View Post
    Jim, not that it would exactly line up with the market 30 years later but do you remember how they valued it compared to a Loar F-5?
    Don't have a clue. I might have some Mandolin Brothers mailings from the period but it is a slim chance. I played it briefly at the store during that period.Mark Horowitz, a banjo player from the New York area, brought it to a rehearsal of the NY Mandolin Orchestra. He worked at MB back then and may remember how much they sold it for.

    BTW is this the same instrument mentioned in this thread?
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  27. #22
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Yup that’s the one

  28. #23
    Registered User thecelloronin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    The peninsula
    Posts
    143

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    I don't have much to contribute to this thread other than:

    "DEAR LORD, PLEASE POST A RECORDING OF THAT BEAUTIFUL BEAST!"

  29. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    I will try on getting some kind of recording out once I get access to some adequate recording equipment and a player who would do it justice (aka..not me).


    Phil

  30. #25
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: 1923 Gibson K-5 Mandocello

    Phil, I’m sure you’re not any slouch on it! Just send something! This is a cool one.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •