Extraordinary decorated a3 at auction

[Rich Michaud]

For those interested in unusual vintage Gibson mandos-you must at least check out the photo of the 1919 A-3 Gibson, serial number 52757, Lot 16, offered for sale at the upcoming Skinner auction in Boston. Check out ww.skinnerinc. Estimated value $16,000-18,000. Dan B-you should add this one to the archives-It is showstopper. Rich

[bradeinhorn]

can't find it - got a link?

[jefflester]

It is showstopper.

Cough, cough. Showstopper is right. The show would come to a crashing halt. :-)

I don't what the deal is with the cookies, but it's pg 15 of the pdf files.
http://skinnerinc.com/content/showau...13&type=latest

[cooper4205]

It is pretty wild, scroll down to page 15 on this LINK

(those D'Aquistos of George Benson's take the cake though)

[Martin Jonas]

The link to the PDF of the auction catalogue is here.

The particular monstrosity mentioned in the original post is below, serial #52757. I have no idea why they would value this at $16000 to $18000 -- would Gibson really have made something like this as a custom model, or is the tasteless paint job aftermarket? Either way, I would have valued it as considerably less than a stock A3.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

This will save you some time. The Skinner folks do not have their catalog online as yet.

Jim

[Jim Garber]

Whoops! You beat me to it, Martin!

There have been a few painted instruments similar to this. I recall a guitar tho I have to see what one it was a where I saw it.

I think that the estimates for fretted instruments may not be close to accurate -- either they don't really know or it is a ploy to get people excited to bid thinking they will get a bargain. For instance, a Lyon & Healy A is estimated to sell at $1400-1600, at least 1/2 of what I would think it would get if in fine condition.

[Martin Jonas]

I think I rather prefer this troika, from the same auction, especially as the combined estimate for all three of these combined is only $3600 to $4400. Mind you, I think they've undervalued the L&H at $1400 to $1600.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

Yikes! Martin, I will stop now. We are at duelling cross posts.

[bradeinhorn]

imagine what the back looks like?

[BillD]

This mandolin appears on the cover of Butch Baldissari's "Mandolin Hymns" recording. Liner notes as follows.
"1919 Gibson A-3 mandolin serial # 52757, was custom-ordered by an unknown female vaudville performer. Gibson did not begin featuring fancy artwork or rhinestones on instruments until 1926 and 1927, respectively, so it is likely that this mandolin was painted outside of Gibson's Kalamazoo factory. There is NOTHING in the Gibson archives regarding this instrument. Years later the A-3 wound up ine the Tsumaura collection in Japan. Upon the collapse of the Japenese economy, it was aquired by Bernunzio Vintage Instruments in Rochester, NY, and then sold to Peter Mix of Waterville, VT. While on loan to Butch Baldassari, this unique A-3 was photographed in Nashville. It has since been sold by Mandolin Brothers of Staten Island, NY."

Bill

[jefflester]

Speaking of Butch, I don't remember anyone mentioning this one at Gruhn's.

"1987, EXC except for lacquer checking, elaborate pearloid peghead veneer, fingerboard, and pickguard with Florentine painted ornamentation, carved and painted Florentine crest on back, pearl white finish, the first Custom Shop "art instrument" made by Greg Rich and Jim Triggs (serial number 01), formerly owned and used by Butch Baldassari..."

A little different beast....

[JEStanek]

Bill You beat me to it. I knew I recognized it from somewhere. Is this kind of ornamentation on a mando of this period inconsistent with the fashion of the times?

The painting isn't really my cuppa tea but that's a pretty wildly customized Gibson. You gotta admit, it's a bit more than a parrot Loar, huh? Nice job on the pickguard.

Now that L&H is a another matter... drool..

Jamie

[Lou Scuderi]

The Loar L5 on page 43 (try the next pdf down) looks absolutely incredible. Some of the instruments they've got up there are just unbelievable, especially the violins!

[mandolooter]

My goodness...MASS,GAS,and a few other AS'S! That triple threat sure looks desirable!

[Greg Ashton]

#Mind you, I think they've undervalued the L&H at $1400 to $1600.

Martin

Here's a link to a mint 1922 L&H Professional. They're asking $7500!

http://www.folkwaymusic.com/instruments/mandobanjo.html

[Miko]

$7500 is way over the mark for one of these guys. However, $1400-$1600 is pathetically under the mark. 4 to 5 grand is closer to ballpark, (And worth every penny!)

[Jim Garber]

There have been a few painted instruments similar to this. I recall a guitar tho I have to see what one it was a where I saw it.

Aha! I knew I had seen it somewhere. Gruhn & Carter's Acoustic Guitar book. This is a flattop from 1928 with pearloid engraved fretboard and painting all over even the sides. Nice rhinestones on the headstock.

[craigmurray]

$7500 is way over the mark for one of these guys. However, $1400-$1600 is pathetically under the mark. 4 to 5 grand is closer to ballpark, (And worth every penny!)

Although $7500 is a lot, the L&H at Folkway it is in amazing condition.

[Glassweb]

Tho beautiful, I'm not a big fan of those assymetrical Lyons. The scale length is way too short... not a very playable instrument if you're used to an F5. The long scale style A Lyons are a really fine instrument, but when's the last time you saw one of THOSE for sale... and never in the condition pictured above.