Kimble F Mandolin Lost in Los Angeles, February 15, 2016

[nordian]

That's quite the advertisement photo for Calton cases! Glad he got it back. Valuable lesson to those swearing by Travelite cases!

Yeah, but after all, it was a Kimble F5. I doesn't make much sense for those of us playing $1000 dollar or less instruments to spend $600-$750 dollars for a case to carry that instrument in.

[Andrew B. Carlson]

That is so awesome! And it is helping my wife see why I need a Calton.

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

That's great news. I'd love to hear more on how it was found - did it fall off the car on the 405 on the way to the airport and got ran over and bounced into the ditch? I'm sure there's quite a tale here. And kudos to all who spread the word and helped get it located.

[BlueMt.]

Great news!

[Isaac Revard]

Man, what a case! Maybe Calton should give this guy a new one and use that one for advertisement!!

[mrmando]

That's great news. I'd love to hear more on how it was found -

Me too!

did it fall off the car on the 405 on the way to the airport and got ran over and bounced into the ditch? I'm sure there's quite a tale here. And kudos to all who spread the word and helped get it located.

Well, it was found a half mile from the owner's departure point in Santa Monica — so I guess that depends on how far he was from the 405 when he started. 405: greater risk of being run over by multiple cars, but higher chance of being picked up by highway patrol or other law enforcement. Surface streets: lower risk of multiple run-overs, higher chance of being picked up by a civilian who might or might not do the right thing with it.

I can't tell from the photo how many times it might have been run over, but I'm glad there's a happy ending here. Can't help but think of the Alcantara Stradivarius: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-tm-v...b12-story.html

[Mandomusic]

Me too!
Well, it was found a half mile from the owner's departure point in Santa Monica — so I guess that depends on how far he was from the 405 when he started. 405: greater risk of being run over by multiple cars, but higher chance of being picked up by highway patrol or other law enforcement. Surface streets: lower risk of multiple run-overs, higher chance of being picked up by a civilian who might or might not do the right thing with it.

I can't tell from the photo how many times it might have been run over, but I'm glad there's a happy ending here. Can't help but think of the Alcantara Stradivarius: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-tm-v...b12-story.html

Fortunately, he traveled the back route along Lincoln Blvd.

[Carleton Page]

This is awesome in every way.

[DataNick]

Fortunately, he traveled the back route along Lincoln Blvd.

I know that area well and it's nice to see that there are still folks there that have a conscience...

[Don Grieser]

So was it just beside the road, or did someone find it and return it to him?

[LadysSolo]

So glad it was found, and making a mental note to consider the purchase of a Calton case. I agree they should give him a new one and use that one in an advertisement.

[Mandomusic]

So was it just beside the road, or did someone find it and return it to him?

Signs were placed in the neighborhood. Someone in the local area found the mandolin (run over) alongside the road, called and returned the mandolin. The owner provided a reward (his choice).

[dchernack]

That does it, I'm buying me a Calton!

[Josh Levine]

Thread of the year? (Sponsored by Calton)

NFI

[Clef]

Crazy story and I'm happy the owner got his mandolin back. It's also great to hear that the honest person who found it called and returned it to the owner.

If you have a valuable mandolin get a good case for it.

[spufman]

What fantastic news! That it was undamaged is absolutely amazing. And kudos to the decent human who called it in.

[BrianWilliam]

Wow, great news. So lucky

[Jim Hilburn]

Whoever ran over it may need an alignment.

[Floyd Lord]

Props to Will Kimble...building some of the toughest mandolins out there..

[Ken Waltham]

Since the middle 90's I have used a Canadian made Calton.. actually 4 or 5 of them. I currently own 3. Many times in case discussions, I have expounded the benefits of these cases. There is usually a "flavour of the month" case, but, these stand up to the real deal. Tony Williamson told me of a wreck he was in, in freezing rain in the mountains. His mandolin ( Loar F5) ejected the car. ( In a Calton).
He would not let them load him into the ambulance until the mandolin was found. He told me it wasn't even out of tune.
I have shipped and received multiple Loars and Ferns in Caltons, with never a problem, including this headstock scroll issue that is mentioned.
Simply the best at this point in time, IMHO.
BTW, VERY glad the F5 was retrieved, good show!

[MikeEdgerton]

Yeah, but after all, it was a Kimble F5. I doesn't make much sense for those of us playing $1000 dollar or less instruments to spend $600-$750 dollars for a case to carry that instrument in.

Actually, the cost of your instrument doesn't matter all that much. I know guys that found their keeper mandolin for less than a thousand that wouldn't part with it for any amount of money (one of them being a guy that owns a Kentucky). If your mandolin is priceless to you then it would behoove you to at least consider putting it in a case that can really protect it. There are some here that tout lesser cases as being just as good as a Calton. There are cases that are as good as a Calton but none of them carry the Travelite brand.

Keep in mind that the case can stay with you through your next case of MAS. Just keep the original case for when you move up.

For the record my 2005 Gibson F5G resides in a Canadian Calton. The mandolin at the time cost me less than $4,000.00 new and the case cost me (at the time ) $400.00 new. It was money well spent. Watch for a used one. They pop up in the classifieds from time to time.

[Wesley]

I gotta say it. The "Fugitive" Kimbell has been returned. A good reason to name this mandolin "Doc" or "Richard".

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

Actually, the cost of your instrument doesn't matter all that much. I know guys that found their keeper mandolin for less than a thousand that wouldn't part with it for any amount of money (one of them being a guy that owns a Kentucky). If your mandolin is priceless to you then it would behoove you to at least consider putting it in a case that can really protect it. .

Mike that actually does put things in perspective. I tend to stick to a completely arbitrary 10:1 Mandolin to Case price ratio, and have felt that my current keeper doesn't justify a Calton, esp. since I hardly take it out of the house. But if there is an earthquake in California and the mandolin falls off from the shelf where it's sitting right now, then I guess I would prefer it fall off in a Calton than the Superior case that it currently resides in!

"Only a Calton is good enough"!

Congrats to the owner of the Kimble again for the happy reunion.

[sblock]

I think this episode illustrates the very real advantages of a reinforced flight case (Pegasus, Calton, Hoffee, Price, etc.) over a hard foam case (Travelite, etc.) or gig bag.

[MandoJason]

I'm imagining it was a hatchback.

All I know is I'm buying a Calton case now...I'm really glad you got your Kimble back.
Jason