Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

  1. #1
    Capt. E Capt. E's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Austin, Texas
    Posts
    2,874

    Default A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    Want a Gilchrist for under 9K?? Very interesting F-4 conversion...new soundboard etc etc... Unique instrument
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIBSON-1920-...item4ad86b03c8
    Jammin' south of the river
    '20 Gibson A-2
    Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
    Penny Whistle
    My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Reston, VA
    Posts
    482

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    This thing keeps popping up for sale over and over again.

    Has anyone played it? Is it a dud?
    PJ Doland
    1923 Gibson Snakehead A

  3. #3
    Fret less, play more! NoNickel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Bloomington, Illinois
    Posts
    489

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    Not again, but still for sale. This seller is a dealer in Canada. I think he traded for a Bush. He had it on ebay a couple months ago for over $9500 (i think) and now has reduced his price. i would like to have bought it but not above $6,500 0r $7,000 but only if it really sounded like a Gil. Problem with items like this is that the resale is so iffy, because you have to find someone who can get past a special history on the instrument, i.e. that it is not a Gibson or a Gil but a mash up of the two. While everything I buy is potentially a keeper, you have to buy right, meaning what can you sell it for if you find something you like better. I dont have to make money on it, but i cant afford to lose too much. I dont think there are too many $8000 buyers for this one out there. I think there would be a fair number at $6500-$7000. JMHO
    NoNickel

    Duff F5 #196/15
    Plays the "Irv Pearman" Signature Set

    All misspellings intentional. Even thsi one.

  4. The following members say thank you to NoNickel for this post:


  5. #4
    Registered User sgrexa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Haddon Heights, NJ
    Posts
    836

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    I am pretty sure this was for sale on the Cafe' in the last year or so for a lot less than 9K. I also recall asking the seller about this and was assured that it sounded very good. I think it is a solid buy at around 5-6K.

    Sean

  6. The following members say thank you to sgrexa for this post:

    Dobe 

  7. #5
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    5,658

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    I played it and didn't want to buy it. It sounds like a decent Gibson Fern/F5L. For $6k it's a cool story. any more than that and no thanks. YMMV

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to sgarrity For This Useful Post:


  9. #6
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Wheeling, WV
    Posts
    5,508

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    I've wondered how the value would be determined (by the market, I guess) on conversions. I know the normal things that devalue an instruments such as refinishing, part change outs/non original parts so something like this has me guessing. I suppose the same conversion by an unknown maker would be a different factor.

    I did evaluate an F-model by an unknown maker that was re-topped by Gilchrist. It didn't sound right to me. I've liked the Gilchrists that I've played but this one wasn't close.
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  10. #7

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    I've responded to posts about this before, but here goes.
    Firstly, it has not been for sale " a lot", it was first sold for $11,000 - that I remember - a couple of year's ago. The guy that bought it ended up selling most of his stuff - including his house, the Gil/gib, an Ellis A, etc. The Ellis and the Gil/gib for quite a bargain price...
    The Gil/gib is a bona Fide 1920 f4 retopped and converted to an F5 by Steve in 1996 - x-braced. Having played it I'd rate it much better than 3 F5L's I've owned and nicer than a Sam Bush I've owned. I've only plagued a Gil F5 briefly so I can't really comment on that comparison. By and large, expensive mandolins are wasted on me. I sold it on to the dealer in Canada - he has had it since. that's 3 owners in as many years, but only one of us bought it to keep, and that was the first guy - there have been more posts about this instrument than it's had owners. Mandolins over 5K do not sell overnight - Sam Bush's at 50% of retail sit for quite a while regardless of the bargain that they are. An Altman at an unbelievable low price sat for quite a while in The Classifieds. Tone and sound are very subjective. If you want to get a feel for an instrument you have to play it yourself. Gils aren't everyone's cup of tea, neither are Gibson's, a Gil/Gib is going to appeal to a select few.

  11. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Eddie Sheehy For This Useful Post:


  12. #8
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles CA
    Posts
    1,500

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    I've never played it but my educated guess is that Steve wouldn't have let it out of his sight until it sounded really good …that's simply the only way he rolls ..

  13. #9
    Capt. E Capt. E's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Austin, Texas
    Posts
    2,874

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    A Gilchrist and this instrument would probably be wasted on me as well, but I sure enjoy hearing a master player exercise their possibilities... Be nice to try it out someday. I have played a Gilchrist F-4 before (oval hole and all) and found it rather nice, but not wonderful. Of course, F-5's are another world.
    Jammin' south of the river
    '20 Gibson A-2
    Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
    Penny Whistle
    My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616

  14. #10

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    Gils, like all the other higher end mandolins, are an acquired taste. I would bet money that a Gilchrist "restoration" would net more in resale value than a Gilchrist "conversion". Just my opinion....

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

  15. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    12,258

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    That would be a wager I would do...

  16. #12

    Default Re: A "Gilchrist" for under 9K !?!

    There are still 2 days left on this auction. Only time will tell

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •