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Thread: jethro burns favorite mandolin

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    Can any one tell me what model Gibson mandolin that Jethro Burns played? He had a favorite two point oval hole and I can not remember what model it was.

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    I believe that Gibson called it an A5.

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    A5 Custom.....it had extra binding, possibly a few other details, but I'm pretty sure it is a one of a kind.

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    It seems like the basic model was also referred to as the "Florentine" back in the late 50s-early 60s catalogs. #Is that correct? #Also, as a point of interest, Jethro's mandolin is now owned by one of his biggest fans, who, as I understand, plays quite well himself.




  5. #5
    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    wow! i wonder who has it. i know that sam bush has jethro's two point electric-the one on the cover of "playin' it straight".
    i've always wanted to get an old A5 and have it converted to a replica of jethro's mandolin. maybe then i'd be able to play like him.....
    john
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    Recently Jethro's solid body electric was for sale. It was noted that Jethro much prefered playing this on big gigs but was prevented because of endorsement obligations. It was also his favorite while practicing around the house without making noise. From what I've come across it doesn't seem Jethro was a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Gibson mandolins.
    Wye Knot

  7. #7
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    I've been told that Jethro loved THIS MANDOLIN. No this is not a shameless plug (unless you'r interested).

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  8. #8
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
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    I think Sam got THE A5 sometime over last summer.

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    Registered User Lane Pryce's Avatar
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    Jethro also played an Epiphone MM70 with his A5 while touring. I have read that he actually preferred the 70 because of the neck profile. Lp
    J.Lane Pryce

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    Quote Originally Posted by (fatt-dad @ Jan. 05 2005, 10:18)
    I've been told that Jethro loved THIS MANDOLIN.
    Nice!
    Mandolins:
    Mid-mo M11 (#1855)
    Ovation MM68 (#490231)
    New flute CD:
    Wellsprings 2: Joyful!

  11. #11
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Try this
    jethros mando
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  12. #12
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Yeah, but is the 1967 Gibson any good? From earlier posts on Gibson quality in the 70s, would this mandolin likely have "the tone" or would it more likely have the nostalgia (not that I'm in the market for a $10,000.00 mandolin)? Just curious.

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  13. #13
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
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    Jethro sounded like Jethro
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

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    Registered User Keith Miller's Avatar
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    It's been on here before but I guess a wee reminder never hurt, try this site for "LESSONS WITH JETHRO" all free to download as well. [URL=http://www.robcoleman.com/Jethro/default.htm
    Mountains are holy places
    and beauty is free (runrig)

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    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    so sam bush has old red, huh? does anyone have ant details on that? i used to have a video where sam was showing off the electric one (bright red em-200 custom) and a tie with a big mandolin embroidered on it that jethro left him.
    how about that F5 at gruhns? does anyone know the why of that huge tailpiece? i wonder if that's the same mando that jethro is pictured with on the "s'wondeful" album. it had a little floating pickup at the end of the fingerboard like a jazz guitar.
    inquiring minds want to know.
    john
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    Quote Originally Posted by (Keith @ Jan. 05 2005, 11:50)
    It's been on here before but I guess a wee reminder never hurt, try this site for "LESSONS WITH JETHRO" all free to download as well. http://www.robcoleman.com/Jethro/default.htm
    Thanks for this, Keith! Amazing!
    Mandolins:
    Mid-mo M11 (#1855)
    Ovation MM68 (#490231)
    New flute CD:
    Wellsprings 2: Joyful!

  17. #17
    Registered User Keith Miller's Avatar
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    Thanks for putting the link in I can never seem to get them to work I found out about the lessons from this board a few years ago
    Keith.
    Mountains are holy places
    and beauty is free (runrig)

  18. #18
    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    well, i looked at the picture on the "s'wonderful" album, and the mandolin jethro is holding has the same long tailpiece and squared-off fingerboard. the mando on the album has a pickguard and a little floating pickup on the end of the fingerboard.
    i'm betting that the mandolin that gruhn's is selling is the same one that jethro recorded "s'wonderful" with.
    i don't know why i'm finding this so fascinating, but i do.
    john
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (JLP @ Jan. 05 2005, 09:43)
    Jethro also played an Epiphone MM70 with his A5 while touring. #Lp
    Yup.
    I use to own Jethro's MM-70.
    I was told he like it for traveling, his "beater" instrument, though it played extremely well.
    Of course, now lament the day I sold it...
    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

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    About Jethro's A-5. I read in the Toem Poems II booklet, because David Grisman played it on one of the tracks that the instrument is now in the Country Music Foundation in Nashville. What makes that one unique is it has five-ply binding, pearl fret-board block markers, and the infamous Gibson flowerpot on the headstock. The production models only had the silk-screened logo and design.
    Philip Halcomb

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    Tom C is correct about the A5's present owner and the time frame of its acquisition. Perhaps at the time of the tone poems it was on display at the CMF, but it was still owned by the Burns family. Jethro's son arranged the sale to Sam.

  22. #22
    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    that's really cool. i hate to think of instruments like that just sitting in a display case somewhere. they're made to be played! and who better to play it than sam. i think that would've made jethro happy.
    now we need sam to record an album using that mandolin.
    john

    by the way, my birthday is coming up next month if anybody wants to help me buy the one at gruhn's.
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    I have an album by Jethro (I don´t remember which one) where he speaks something like this:
    "There´s something I´d like to tell you. The Gibson Mandolin Company has asked me to inform that I´m playing a Washburn mandolin..."

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    Ted,
    I had my MM70 set up with an experimental Barkus Berry pick up back in the early 80s and am finally back to playing it in concerts because the slick, smooth neck and sound are better than anything I can get out of my Gibsons by mic'ing them. #Any time I don't have to worry about a guy in the soundbooth, well, the Epiphone just isn't near as loud and I'm back to the G or the Fern, but it is still a wonderful mandolin and though I have been offered ten times what I paid for it, still have it.
    What a long, strange trip its been.

    Dan Linden

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