“1915” snakehead on eBay

[mjbee]

Here’s a fixer-upper on eBay. Seller is a bit misinformed. https://www.ebay.com/itm/13442352005...mis&media=COPY

[rcc56]

Pretty much all there, except for the end broken off the pickguard [which may or may not be deteriorating].
Probably built circa 1924.
Appears to be worth fixing.
Expect a repair bill of several hundred dollars to get her up and running.

[Ray(T)]

Yes, ‘15 is far too early. My guess would be ‘22 or ‘23 and the case looks 1960s.

[mrmando]

Bound soundboard, double soundhole ring, binding front and back ... it's an A2, no?

[pops1]

Bound soundboard, double soundhole ring, binding front and back ... it's an A2, no?

Yes

[journeybear]

Even with all its issues, and the additional repair costs, the current price of $600 makes it tempting. But with 9+ days till auction end, it could easily end up going for two or three times that. Sigh ...

[mrmando]

Yeah, priced right for a project but may not stay there.

[NickR]

It might have been listed in "This Week's Mandolin That Will Get Plenty Of Bids & A Buyer." I reckon that it will be like that A-4 with a price that will be similar to one without any issues. It does look like a great mandolin once it has had some attention and as discussed is probably 1923/1924 with those arrow end tuners and snakehead. I imagine with a little ingenuity, that pickguard could be repaired, as well. Many days to go so I expect after a while there will be a lull and the craziness will manifest in the last 30 seconds.

[MikeEdgerton]

It still has the pickguard clamp as well. Too bad it doesn't have the original case but hey, it looks like a worthwhile project as long as the price doesn't get stupid.

[Bill McCall]

………..it looks like a worthwhile project as long as the price doesn't get stupid.

No chance of that happening

[Ntone]

What do you think of the seller's remark "The neck is oddly spaced further away from the body than I would expect" ?

[mrmando]

What do you think of the seller's remark "The neck is oddly spaced further away from the body than I would expect" ?

I take that as a reference to the elevated fretboard.

[journeybear]

Well, today's the day. Bid price shot up to just shy of $1200 three days ago, stayed the same since. Got half a day left, see what happens.

[Sue Rieter]

Either it's reached its plateau, or there will be a last minute flurry ...

[NickR]

$2247 snipe at the end! Crazy last second jump of $900 odd!

[mjbee]

Someone overpaid!
Here's another one on craigslist (the guy is listing it once in Northhampton, MA and again in Brattleboro, VT) for $1400. https://westernmass.craigslist.org/m...572316857.html

I'd consider it if I didn't have my quiver of mandolins full! Someone close by should take a look ...

[Sue Rieter]

I've looked at that one on CL a few times. Looks to need some attention, but not as much as the ebay one.

[pops1]

It wasn't a bad fix, but a lot of money for a mandolin that needs work

[journeybear]

Yep. It surpassed my final price estimate 2-3 times the opening price by a good bit, nearly four times that $600. Hope the new owner has deep pockets with a willingness to turn themselves inside out. Might push the outlay over $3000 before it's over, unless it's a DIY project.

[rcc56]

Ya know, when I see stuff like this on the auction websites, I sorta suspect shill bidders along with uninformed buyers with deep pockets.

At any rate, the buyer is likely to come out upside-down on the value of the instrument after the repairs are executed. Even if he does the work himself and does a really good job, he'll probably make only minimum wage for the repair work.

[Ntone]

But, it's a Lloyd Loar Era Snakehead A2...

[pops1]

But, it's a Lloyd Loar Era Snakehead A2...

Yep, and it would have been a great price for a playable mandolin.

[pheffernan]

I've looked at that one on CL a few times. Looks to need some attention, but not as much as the ebay one.

Have you looked at this one?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/199815#199815

[Sue Rieter]

Have you looked at this one?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/199815#199815

Ha ha, no I hadn't seen that yet this morning. I was really just kicking tires but that's kind of tempting (you instigator!). He's less than an hour from me, and a Cafe denizen as well.