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Picked it up at a pawn shop for 50 bucks. Discounted due to probably not being an actual Gibson. Well then... what the heck is it? Doesn't look like any Gibson mandolin i've ever seen but then again, Im a guitar player. Non original tuners.
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Definitely not a Gibson. It looks like something from the Regal company from the 1920'-30's. If it's playable, I'd say that you got a great deal. That tailpiece is worth more than $50.
I'd say Stromberg-Voisinet/Kay factory rather than Regal.
But it's had some modifications done; that headstock has been worked on a good deal. As you note, those aren't the original tuners and the headstock might have been cut down from a different shape.
This shows the back of the headstock in original shape- one assumes the grommets broke and whoever had it planed the back of the headstock and hacked at those 60s Kluson units. The tailpiece alone is worth $50 plus, so it is a good buy. It looks like the bridge may need to be seated a bit better but if it plays, then it is a good bargain.
https://reverb.com/item/14061989-str...1920-s-natural
Here is an appreciation of one. From the photos, I cannot tell what wood has been used for the back- they came at various price points to be sold by third parties:
https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...y-2-point.html
Interesting mods. The dark circle at the neck heel might be a carefully done and refinished plug over an added bolt, as in Wildwood’s refurb. The headstock revision also skilled, as it may have involved transplanting a Gibson veneer, having binding altered, and cutting down the tuners.
From the few recent auctions, I think these are appreciated for the shape, and are valued a bit higher than plainer designs. Bet it even plays well.
Definitely started life as a Stromberg-Voisinet (or subsequent Kay) mandolin. Here’s my Stromberg-Voisinet from the 20s with the strange tuners:
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For the OP’s “Gibson”, I’m guessing that they started with a Kay version with “normal” tuners, and then installed new tuners and a Gibson decal. I’ve seen a couple of guitars similarly and equally unsuccessfully transformed into Gibsons. The price of some of the more sought-after vintage models seem to be high enough to make it attractive to those skilled in forgery.
Still, it’s a cool mando at a great price.
But I have no idea of is the reason for the holes (?) seen between the tuners on the OP’s “Gibson”. The back of my 20s S-V looks like this:
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appears to have a repaired peghead
Also the modifier of this mandolin must have been a fan of cherry sunburst Gibsons. This one was refinished to go with the logo. I had a friend who bought a nice 1920s L-1 Gibson guitar that had been sent back to Gibson repair dept. who decided to refinish it as a cherry sunburst. Yech! My least favorite look on a guitar. Oh well… as long as it sounds and plays well.
Thanks everyone for the great info. It definitely seems to point toward Stromberg-Voisinet/Kay. The finish/lacquer on it is awesome which is likely why someone thought it was Gibson to begin with. The plugs all seem nicely done as well but I find it odd that the tuners that were added don't seem on par with the rest of the work done to it. Anyway, thanks again for the info!
I am pretty sure that it was stripped of the original finish and completely redone.