Re: Lyon and Healy, Washburn????
I am the proud owner of Jim's "Harpist" mandolin in post #6, above. I payed roughly 2-1/2 percent of the eBay asking price, which is probably more like its actual market value. Agree with Jim, this could have been a L&H product, or perhaps from a smaller shop.
Mine is a higher-quality instrument, than anything normally seen in a Wards catalog, AFAIK. It's not one of those average instruments with bling added, for attention. I also have some of those -- very ornate instruments that also appeared in catalogues, but none of those is better than middling quality. This one is a well-made instrument with elaborate, and highly skilled, ornamentation. Unfortunately this instrument was also (probably) too lightly carved. Most likely they did this to maximize the sound when new, but my impression at this point is that choice was made at the expense of longevity, kind of like a fine classical guitar that's been played out. The Harpist has survived as a lovely artistic piece, though.
I could be wrong about the sound. One of these days I'll get it restored, and we'll see what it has to offer -- but based on what I'm seeing, I'm not expecting much, tonally. Once restored, it could be worth $500 or so, market value. But of course, I'm not selling until the mando-world wakes up. If the American market ever rediscovers the musical value of vintage bowlbacks, I'll be moving upstairs to the penthouse.
Exploring Classical Mandolin (Berklee Press, 2015)
Progressive Melodies for Mandocello (KDP, 2019) (2nd ed. 2022)
New Solos for Classical Mandolin (Hal Leonard Press, 2020)
2021 guest artist, mandocello: Classical Mandolin Society of America
Bookmarks