Pre Gibson Epiphone Mandolin

[willianjkenny]

If anyone might have a photo of the original bridge or where i might acquire one.
Be grateful

[mtucker]

If anyone might have a photo of the original bridge or where i might acquire one.
Be grateful

Sure that isn’t the original bridge?

[MikeEdgerton]

It appears to be the original bridge unless every copy of a pre-Gibson Epiphone mandolin I can find had the same replacement. This is a picture of a 40's Epiphone mandolin. As for where to buy one I doubt you'll find one but a skilled luthier could certainly duplicate it.

[Jim Garber]

I agree with my esteemed colleagues. That probably is the original. If you are expecting a more compensated one and prefer it for playing then buy a modern one and keep the original in the case.

Here is a catalog cut for the Rivoli and a few bridge shots from my files.

[William Smith]

Seeing how this is a KOOL Epiphone thread, Whose got one of those F scroll model rare Epiphones from the 30's? PM me, I have a certain lust for one? Like I need another fine mandolin!

[willianjkenny]

Thanks men. Thankfully it is the original mandolin but the bridge just never felt comfortable.
Tragically someone moved it and created a scratch.
Left me in doubth

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you Jim.

[willianjkenny]

i'm like a little old hen who is just stuck on a cluck.
just doesn't sit right.
Thanks

[Jim Garber]

Seeing how this is a KOOL Epiphone thread, Whose got one of those F scroll model rare Epiphones from the 30's? PM me, I have a certain lust for one? Like I need another fine mandolin!

Where were you when this Epiphone Windsor was offered for sale at Gruhn's a few years ago starting at $15k?

Here's an old thread on the topic. I linked to the start of the Windsor discussion.

[William Smith]

Yes I remember that one Jim, also Harry West had one but at the time I couldn't swing buying one! Also I felt it wouldn't be as good as an F-7 since on the Epiphone the board is glued flush and has a short scale neck also?

[Jim Garber]

I played an Epiphone Strand about 1000 years ago at Silver & Horland on 48th Street in NYC. I could have bought it but it was no Gibson. Epiphone archtop guitars were every but as good as Gibson’s but I don’t think they ever figured out how to make a Mandolin go compete with Gibson’s.

[MikeEdgerton]

I played an Epiphone Strand about 1000 years ago at Silver & Horland on 48th Street in NYC.

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate!

[mtucker]

Epiphone archtop guitars were every but as good as Gibson.

That old cheapie epi Dave Rawlings plays is as raw as it gets...he hammers it for everything it can give.

[Dave Richard]

That old cheapie epi Dave Rawlings plays is as raw as it gets...he hammers it for everything it can give.

NY Epiphone arch tops are for the most part, sublime...I’m hooked. I’ve yet to play a mandolin, but someday....

[Dave Greenspoon]

That old cheapie epi Dave Rawlings plays is as raw as it gets...he hammers it for everything it can give.

Whoa! Some respect, please! ;-) That "old cheapie epi" was a 1935 Olympic arch-top. Sure, the Olympics weren't the Masterbuilt level Epi's but they were certainly not "cheapie" instruments. The $35 basic Epi is $650 today. That $275 Masterbuilt would price out at $5155.90 today. Also, he's been on a different guitar the past couple years. It's a 1959 D'Angelico Excel, that had been commissioned by Homer and Jethro's own Homer Haynes.

[mtucker]

Whoa! Some respect, please! ;-)

Total respect, I’ve been a fan of the machine for years. His current lineup kills.
There’s a great story that accompanies that guitar btw when Rawlings was living in LA. It’s part of his DNA.

[willianjkenny]

Wonderful to get back online and follow up on replies and browse some serious players.
Savage stuff