Loar Picture of the Day

[Darryl Wolfe]

one more

[Glassweb]

overall this is a nice mandolin...

i wouldn't throw it out of bed, that's for sure! why do i have a feeling this will sound fantastic when it gets set up? hmmm....
will this one eventually go to market? serial #?

[tree]

How far would you go in cleaning up an instrument like this?

I don't know much about cleaning high value collectables except that you should first do no harm. #At any rate, here is my guess. #

I'd start by replacing the strings, taking them all off at once so I could remove and wipe down the bridge too. #With the bridge off I would clean the entire surface with a very slightly damp, clean cotton rag, following behind it with a clean dry cotton rag. I might go so far as to lightly rub the fretboard with 0000 steel wool, just to remove grunge.

I'd be afraid to use anything stronger than the damp/dry rag on the tailpiece or pickguard. I'd lightly lube the tuner gears with a drop of Triflow. Is that about right? #Anything else, or anything you would do differently?

[Glassweb]

notice how none of the Loars on the market at the moment have sold? this one would...

[Darryl Wolfe]

I am in the process of doing an appraisal on this. Under separate cover I will make several recommendations to the owners on what to do to the mandolin dependant on their intention. At this juncture, I believe they are willing to come back on a weekend so that they can wait while I do a Phase 1 set-up over 3-4 hours of time. The frets and fingerboard need some attention as well as a lettle tweek of the neck before I can simply slap a set of strings on it like they hoped I could do last night.

At least they left with a used Travelite case for it

Tree: you are fairly close on. Some of that would be a Phase 2 cleanup that would restore a touch of gloss to it and hide a few finish flakes

[markishandsome]

On the cleaning topic, Darryl, do you do anything to yours to keep it looking so shiny?

What about those cracks (?) under the f-hole?

A nice instrument!

[Jim Hilburn]

I'd clean it with gasoline like the old catalogs suggested.

[Jim Hilburn]

Seriously, it obviously hasn't seen a lot of playing time.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Believe it or not there is considerable wear on the first few frets. Plenty left to dress out

[Jim Hilburn]

Well at least they had good picking technique.

[f5loar]

From the looks of the 2 together photo it looks the same guy stained them. And this one is the Monroe style "The" script. Should add another $10,000 there.

[Darryl Wolfe]

They are identical in color. The difference in sheen is causing a color shift on the new found one

[Darryl Wolfe]

The pickguard is unique. It is single bound. There is no patent stamp. It appears original to me and it does have the metal rod inlaid in the reinforcing strip. I'll be able to tell for sure when I get a chance to remove it

[dirty harry]

Hmmm,
Nice Loar......... #

[Timbofood]

Happy to hear that it got to your capable hands rather than some less "Informed" soul. There was an "antiques buyer" here in Kalamazoo last week, I offed a couple of watches and asked about instruments. The buyer told me he had seen a couple of things and he thought one had been an F-2. He didn't tell me what they gave for it. Another piece from the past seems to float up to the surface now and then, let's just hope they go to respectful hands.

[Glassweb]

looks alot like my old friend # 73994. same back wood and beautiful carving of the top & back. love that single-ply pickguard... man, those are a special bunch those July 9 sidebinders...

[f5loar]

I thought it was 73997. Are you saying you owned this one to?

[danb]

I think he means 73994

[BradKlein]

Thanks for sharing these images Darryl. A real treat for all of us.

[Glassweb]

I think he means 73994

oops! yes Dan... i did mean 73994! sorry for the confusion guys...

[Paul Statman]

Jeez - I just hate it when people bring me those Loars. I have precious little space left for them anymore, and now they're really starting to pile up.

[mandopluker]

WOW ! ! really beautiful pictures. Thanks to everyone that share them!

On another (Loar subject) yesterday I played the recent July 9th side bound at Gruhn's along with a '27 Fern and a '24 Virzi Loar. Talk about pure heaven! I must say the Virzi really woke up! At first I did not like the Virzi (I am rather drawn to the crunchy sound personally). But after some time with the Virzi I really came to like it and the tone -it would be an extremely TOUGH CHOICE to pick between them all. The '23 had a very raw crunchy aspect to it -the chop would echo off all the other instruments in the room! Also, the Fern was magnificent, I don't think it took a back seat to the Loar's at all!

Thank you Christi @ Gruhn..... (and my Christy)

[Rroyd]

So we get the impression that your Christy has given the OK for you to pick one of these to take home, or maybe is cashing in her Microsoft holdings to buy you a birthday present from Gruhns. Details??

[mandopluker]

Rroyd,

....still kicking the tires. It's a very tough (picking the right one) and as you know huge financial decision to say the least today. Just like everyone else saving, saving, saving (and selling off a few mandos)!

It sure is great to see pics like the ones f5journl, danb, and others that share information and post.

Thanks again guy's.

[Glassweb]

Also, the Fern was magnificent, I don't think it took a back seat to the Loar's at all!

i just heard from a friend who played that Fern last week and said it was a fantastic sounding instrument. ya know Shayne... one Loar in hand is worth two Ferns in the bush...