Here's a pretty Martin. I hate to think what he restrung it with, though.
Style 6
Here's a pretty Martin. I hate to think what he restrung it with, though.
Style 6
Bob DeVellis
As my college-age students might have said, "like, WOW!"
It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
Thanks Bobd,
Absolutely splendid!!!
Alex
I agree! #The rosewood is lovely...and the bowl's spacers, the bridge, the binding...all ivory! #(Psst...This would be a fine way to introduce American mandolins into your collection, Alex.) #The decor of this piece places its manufacture between 1901 and 1903. #I wrote the seller hoping the reason he "can't make out the ser[ial] number" might be that he doesn't know where to find it; I told him where to look and hope he writes back. #Perhaps a little too paternal towards old mandolins, I also admonished him to go with very light strings if he hadn't already.
If I had 2 G's layin around I'd buy that and join the "Order of the Bowl" but that ain't gonna happen this week! What a beauty! Is his opening bid in line with its actual value?
Look up (to see whats comin down)
Lovely, but I'll be keeping my 6a... plain-looking as it may be.
Peter Klima (not the hockey player)
mandolooter, if you were to score this baby straight off eBay just like that, why... you'd be joining the "Order of the Bowl" as Grand Master!
We will still call you "Brother" in the meanwhile...
It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
Many thanks "V"! I'll consider myself a partial member with my mandolutes.
Look up (to see whats comin down)
Probably, but they don't change hands very often so it can be difficult to pin a really accurate appraisal on them. There were only just over 100 style 6 mandolins made in the whole of their production (excluding the 6a mandolins like Peter's)...and this is one of the earlier, fancier style 6 mandolins. I actually would expect a dealer to try to claim a bit more for it. eBay really isn't the place for such a thing to claim its fair value in the US.Originally Posted by (mandolooter @ Dec. 22 2003,14:15)
BION, VG Price Guide lists it as $2500-2800. That would be in exc. condition. This one has a belly crack and is missing the bone insert in the bridge. Other than that It looks all right as a playing instrument.
I also had emailed the seller about the light gauge strings and he promised to listen to me/us. I think he is fairly knowledgeable about instruments and knew where to look for info: the various Martin books and I would bet the VG guide for pricing.
Once again, this is leans more toward the collector instrument, tho even with the multitude of ornamentation is pretty tastefull as far as well-ornamented bowlbacks go. I would say that it doesn't sound a whit better than most other rosewood Martins of the era. Still it is nice to look at.
My prediction is that it will get a bid sooner or later and will go for more than the opener.
BTW Henry Strobel, an author and violin maker has some nice pics of a style 6, slightly different than the ebay one. His is also missing that bridge insert.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Eugene,
Ten years ago, Style 6s were still pretty high in price compared to older Italian instruments. I know a player who paid $2500 for his in 1989. . I don't ever see the prices falling. This is the kind of instrument that I would borrow money from a bank if I needed to.
George
I've heard back from the seller too. #He knows where to look for the serial number; he just can't quite read it. #I had another look at the eBay piece. #It only has 18 frets. #Sometime early in this decorative phase of the style 6, Martin had slid the upper edge of the soundhole a bit southward to accomodate a full 20 frets. #I don't know of the exact date for this transition but, based on images of instruments I've seen from this time period, I believe it was by 1902. #18 is a slightly odd number in itself, very early Martins typically having 17; 18 places the top of the range at b-flat''''. #My guess is that this is from early in that 1901-1903 window (i.e. 1901).
...And, of course, style 6 was the top of Martin's mandolin line until 1904 when the style 7 was introduced.
The instrument in question is similar to, but slightly more ornate than, the style 6 I rec'd in a recent trade.
The headstock and fretboard inlay is somewhat more extensive than mine, and a wholly different design. The pickguard on mine has the same inlay, but is not bordered with pearl (or abalone). The tuner plate seems to have the same engraving as mine, but the tuners on the ebay instrument seem a bit more clunky.
My instrument is s/n 1102, from 1902.
It is little short of incredible to imagine the time and effort involved in all this extremely delicate inlay work. It is noteworthy that the early inalys are typically much more finely-drawn: one wonders at the ability to produce such a delicate tracery of line is so brittle a substance.
I eagerly await the word from the restorer to send him my Martin: it needs setup and a new tuner button, but I have little hope of playing it in my lifetime. Still, it may yet come to pass.
I hope someone from here scores this number. I seem to recall it had a buy-it-now price of 2K: now it has a single bid of 1500. Were I in funds and need (hah) I would have tossed a couple large at it in a heartbeat, feeling as I do that it is woefully underpriced for what it is.
May I ask how many frets does yours have, Bob A?
Certainly, Eugene. I'd counted the twenty frets, but in the excitement of the moment I forgot to include the data in my post.
Thank you, sir.
I counted the frets on the Strobel one and it does indeed have 17.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Hmmm...he must have received a more lucrative offer.
Even tho the subject that started this is no longer available, I thought it interesting to see another later example of a Style 6 on frets.com. This one is much more understated and in many ways more appealing aesthetically to me.
It is also interesting that this one has a straight ivory bridge as opposed to the channeled/sofa-like one.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Well, your wish is my command.
I must confess that after much negotiation and schoozing, etc. I was able to purchase this beauty. I didn't want to mention it on this board until the mandolin actually physically came thru my door. As of this afternoon, it is safe and sound in its new home -- I have it wrapped in a blanket with an alarm clock and a Valentine Abt solo until it adjusts
No, I was not the one who stopped the auction. Evidentally, the seller was overwhelmed with over 40 emails but didn't want to deal with it all, so he stopped the auction without a high bidder. After the auction was over, I located his telephone number and worked out a deal. I paid a fair amount, but I think it is worth it.
The problem now is to find the right luthier to fix the crack and a few other small details. It is an exquisite example of fine workmanship. I hope that it sounds and plays as well as it looks.
One amazing thing is the amount of work that went into the ivory bridge and saddle. Perhaps bratsche or pklima would be interested in a sideline of vintage bridge repros?
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Congrats!
Its a beauty for sure, and I'd love to hear it sing.
Jason Anderson
"...while a great mandolin is a wonderful treat, I would venture to say that there is always more each of us can do with the tools we have available at hand. The biggest limiting factors belong to us not the instruments." Paul Glasse
Stumbling Towards Competence
You da MAN, Jim. I'm proud of your negotiating skills and determination.
Your bridge is the same as on my 6, except the saddle is low enough to actually work - that's one of the minor problems that will need to be addressed by TC. The tailpiece cover is perhaps a bit more ornate than mine, which is a fleur-de-lys with some scrollwork.
Engraving on these turn of the century instruments is a fascinating subfield. I still marvel at the engraved pearl in the old Vegas, and of course the metal parts are all decorated. The industry must have been a satisfying place to work for engravers. All work looks to have been freehand - certainly pantographs were available, but I'd be surprised and disappointed to find them in use.
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