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Thread: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

  1. #1

    Default Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    It is described as a Gibson by H.Russell.
    No other information. Thank you!Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    I dont know much. But it looks like the neck was changed , and it looks like A teens era A model Thats what I see. I could be wrong .
    Last edited by slimt; Jun-19-2020 at 10:37am.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Has to be later, it has a truss rod and a stenciled headstock

  4. #4
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    I see the truss rod cover. I changed my guess of a A4 to just a A . The Sound hole rings are not there.

  5. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    It looks like it might be somewhere near a 34-ish A-00 with a changed tailpiece, bridge and fretboard. Can't really tell from the small picture. I don't think much is original there and that bridge placement looks funky as well. It doesn't have the riser block, that takes it past the 20's and into 30's.
    "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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  6. #6

    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    I would be interested to know if there is a screw hole in the top and side for a pickguard. If not, then the body may be from an oval hole A-00 and with a new fingerboard added as Mike Edgerton mentions above etc. It may, of course be a specially made instrument but as suggested by Mike it may be something cooked up and is not original.

  7. #7
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    It looks to me like someone might have tried to long neck a short-necked Gibson oval.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  8. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    The number of frets to the body looks the same but the angle makes it a little hard to tell. I wonder if it has a FON inside?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  9. #9
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    The number of frets to the body looks the same but the angle makes it a little hard to tell.
    That 12th fret looks way out front to me compared to my snakehead anyway.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    The 12th fret is indeed much more accessible than most oval Gibson's.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  12. #11
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Here's the real deal to compare it to, you might be right. The body is different than the early Gibson ovals. That would explain the funky bridge placement.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  14. #12
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Where would that neck have been sourced (or built)? It looks like a 1930’s Gibson oval headstock with an F5 Florida extension. Did H. Russell try to make a Mrs. Griffith oval A00.5?
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  15. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Without having the instrument in hand or at least a few better pictures there is probably no way to make certain.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  16. #14
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone identify this mandolin?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Without having the instrument in hand or at least a few better pictures there is probably no way to make certain.
    Do we know where the instrument is located, 1939Dodge? There was an H. Russell Truitt in the Pittsburgh area:

    https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/musi...s/200710110330

    He was apparently a mandolin teacher for over 60 years and a salesman for Gibson:

    https://sites.google.com/a/pittsburg...me/our-history
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

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