Groupings

[Ken Waltham]

Here's some cool 1924 Gibson mandolins. It is my favourite year.

[UncleNorm]

What, no backs? Can I lend you my A4, H4 and L4? Cheers.

[Ken Waltham]

Sounds like a plan. Send em out here!

[sgarrity]

Now that is a collection!

[Boge Quinn]

The "mandolin corner" in my Music Room:



Top row, left to right: Paris Swing MS-140 "John Jorgenson"; Paris Swing MS-110 "Parisian"; Paris Swing MS-120 "Nuages"; 1992 custom-made Flatiron F5 Master (the best mandolin I have ever played).

Middle row, left to right: circa 1974 Ode A5 (made by Bob Givens); 1990 Flatiron Performer A; 1987 Mark Taylor hand-made F5 copy (a very good mandolin, one of two made); 1998 Gibson F5 Master Model ("Fern", signed by my pal Charlie Derrington - I miss him!).

Bottom row, left to right: circa 1918 Gibson K1 mandocello; 2004 Johnson metal-body resonator mandolin; 2006 Epiphone "Mandobird" 4-string electric mandolin; 1974 Tennessee A5 (made by Bob Givens and Mark Taylor at Tut Taylor's shop).

On floor: 2005 Bart Reiter Whyte Laydie 5-string banjo.

This pic is a couple years old - there have been some additions to the herd since then...

[sgarrity]

Nice banjo!

[jim simpson]

Burst Brothers - I just aquired the Gibson made Cromwell archtop, 1935. Thought it might look good next to it's Gibson kin.

[Randi Gormley]

Been meaning to do a family portrait for a while, now. Finally had the time, the inclination and the light!

Lyon & Healy, Giannini ABSM1 Bandolin, Rogue, Strad-0-Lin, Giannini GBSM3 and Eastman 305

[JeffD]

Lyon & Healy, Giannini ABSM1 Bandolin, Rogue, Strad-0-Lin, Giannini GBSM3 and Eastman 305

Delightful herd there. Its a nice feeling to know that though there is stuff you may want, there is also stuff you have that is pretty wonderful.

[JeffD]

Top row, left to right: Paris Swing MS-140 "John Jorgenson"; Paris Swing MS-110 "Parisian"; Paris Swing MS-120 "Nuages"; 1992 custom-made Flatiron F5 Master (the best mandolin I have ever played).

Middle row, left to right: circa 1974 Ode A5 (made by Bob Givens); 1990 Flatiron Performer A; 1987 Mark Taylor hand-made F5 copy (a very good mandolin, one of two made); 1998 Gibson F5 Master Model ("Fern", signed by my pal Charlie Derrington - I miss him!).

Bottom row, left to right: circa 1918 Gibson K1 mandocello; 2004 Johnson metal-body resonator mandolin; 2006 Epiphone "Mandobird" 4-string electric mandolin; 1974 Tennessee A5 (made by Bob Givens and Mark Taylor at Tut Taylor's shop).

On floor: 2005 Bart Reiter Whyte Laydie 5-string banjo.

This pic is a couple years old - there have been some additions to the herd since then...

Woo hoo. I am not one to put my instruments on the wall, but if I had your herd, I would consider it. Must be a fun room to just sit in, even when you have no plans to play anything.

[JeffD]

Here's some cool 1924 Gibson mandolins. It is my favourite year.

Real cool. Can I come over and pick on a few?

[Chip Booth]

My folk duo was using this group of instruments at our gig Saturday night. It's not a good pic, but it's a pretty nice group of gear. Back row: Ome custom Flora open back banjo, Lawrence Smart D18 style guitar. Front row: Smart A5, Smart F mandola, Gilchrist M3

[mtucker]

that's a good looking front line. ...do you have to tweak the truss on the M3 or did you just misplace the trc?

[Chip Booth]

Yeah, I adjusted the neck that afternoon and hadn't put the truss rod cover back on. Our humidity is low here in Idaho, and I keep the action very low as well. I have to make about one minor neck or bridge adjustment a year, and it just happened to be this weekend.

[sgarrity]

No shortage of fine instruments there!

[mtucker]

Our humidity is low here in Idaho

i had my 5jr. in Colorado at 8,200 feet earlier in summer and it was very dry ... it sounded dead at altitude but maybe it was more the dryness.

[OldGus]

Here's some cool 1924 Gibson mandolins. It is my favourite year.

Wow, you are running the gamut... they look to be in great condition. Beautiful collection, thanks for sharing!

[Clockwork John]

I feel the need to post a pic of my stable, from my buddy's '50s or '60's Kay Tenor banjo,to my dad's 70's Canora 12 string guitar, through my 3 mandolins, and my Takamine G-330 that falls somewhere in the spread... as a multi-instrumentalist, I've got a pretty good range covered.

[Doghearty]

Since discovering this thread, I don't feel nearly so guilty.

[Nelson Peddycoart]

Ken,

Do you have a mandolin tree in your back yard?

[journeybear]

I finally took it upon myself to photgraph my collection. It is not that extensive, but it did seem to suggest groupings of two, pairings, in a word. I have others, but these are what was on hand today.

The first two are my collection of fine instruments by Kenneth E. Gibbs. I may have unintentionally become the world's foremost collector of these artifacts. I had thought the one on the left was unique, but then the other came up for bid on ebay not long ago. Of course I had to have it. It is SN # 1003. The other has no SN, and I had thought it to be earlier, but after some observation and deduction I have concluded it is of a more refined (if I may use that word) character, with the points and carved scroll top, despite #1993 having that four-or seven-piece back (depending on how you count). They each have the distinctive medallion screwed onto the headstock scroll and stainless steel name plate. I apologize - these seem to be slightly out of focus. Perhaps it is for the best.



From the ridiculous to the sublime: my 1916 H-2 mandola and 1917 A mandolin.



And finally my electrics: Ryder and Fender. The Ryder was originally custom-made for another member, and is several steps up from my Mandobird. The Fender is not vintage, but rather a 2000s Korean model. I never have gotten the intonation right on it, but now that I have a Boss TR-3 tuner I may take another pass at it. My desire to do that is undermined by the quality of the Ryder - very pleased with it.



I am a bit perplexed by the color variations, particularly with the front of the A model - it is the classic pumpkin finish. I chose an overcast day for evenly distributed natural light. Perhaps the thickess of the cloud cover varied. Oh well! I may try this again inside, though I had hoped the natural light would show off the Gibbs' unique characteristics in all their glory. Then again, perhaps once is enough ...

[JeffD]

Since discovering this thread, I don't feel nearly so guilty.

I know what you mean. Puts it all in perspective.

[fatt-dad]

new for 2012. Cohen, '23 A2Z, Muth



f-d

[Pete Jenner]

When not pressed into service or undergoing major surgery, the lads enjoy nothing more than relaxing in front of the TV.

[Ben Milne]

Six Coombes