Ebay mandolin, seller wonders if it could be a Martin or Gibson

[jim simpson]

Yeah, right!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Oval...AAAOSwQaJXRfNu

[northfolk]

I would say it is a Gibson; Martin did not make an F style mandolin?

[mrmando]

I would say it is a Gibson

[mrmando]

It's a loose interpretation of a Gibson, from another planet.

[allenhopkins]

A rare Martson -- or was it Gibtin? -- I forget...

[MikeEdgerton]

That would be what one might call folk art.

[brunello97]

Pretty common stategery on the Ebay. Folks (like me) have a "saved search" for Martin or Gibson mandolins. Adding those names to your copy, no matter how ludicrous, causes the ad to turn up on multiple more Email in boxes.

I may be giving this kind of seller too much credit, but I have a hunch there is a (supposed) method (however ridiculous) behind the madness.

Mick

[Isaac Revard]

The tri-dotted inlay on the fretboard is a dead giveaway. It's a Gibson.

[northfolk]

The tri-dotted inlay on the fretboard is a dead giveaway. It's a Gibson.

Nice observation; that makes it a Gibson for sure then?

[MikeEdgerton]

I hope nobody seriously thinks that's a Gibson. You guys are making my brain hurt.

[sumibuilt]

It's a Gibson as viewed by Wake Frankfield just before placing it in the oven

[Steve Ostrander]

That has Schmergal written all over it....actually, someone should write Schmergal all over it.....

[JeffD]

Seriously for a moment. Looking at the way the grain circles around on the treble side of the top. One never sees that. At least I have never seen a complete encircling grain line on a mandolin or guitar front or back.

Does that impact tone quality or structural integrity. Does it have more than aesthetic significance? Because I can envision that having a complete grain whorl, in the right place and under the right circumstances, the center of a one piece back perhaps, could look kind of cool.

[plinkey]

The Larsons ?

[Bob Visentin]

The tri-dotted inlay on the fretboard is a dead giveaway. It's a Gibson.

Tri dots on tenth fret!

[Scot63]

If you Screw in back, what do you do in front?

[JEStanek]

It was made by Martin Gibson.

Jamie

[F-2 Dave]

You all are a lot better than me at this game. I was still trying to figure out whether it was a mandolin or not.

[Dale Ludewig]

I wonder if it's opened up yet.

[Dale Ludewig]

Actually, do you remember that double Star Trek episode(s) with Christopher Pike? Where there was this lady who the planetary folks had found in a space wreck and had never seen a human before and put her back together based on their guesses....

[Petrus]

Pretty common stategery on the Ebay. Folks (like me) have a "saved search" for Martin or Gibson mandolins. Adding those names to your copy, no matter how ludicrous, causes the ad to turn up on multiple more Email in boxes.

"While no one would ever mistake this unique piece of folk art wall hanger for a Martin or a Gibson, it could make a fine piece for the discerning collector of Americana."

[Dave Hanson]

The seller has sure got a great sense of humour.

Spock, ' it's a mandolin Jim, but not as we know it '

Dave H