Barn Find Gibson

[3rdegree]

Hello friends,

I've been so excited to get this on here and share my find with you. I just got it back from the luthier (Gil Rosado formerly of Mandolin Bros, you rock!) and finished up photos and submission to the Gibson Mandolin Registry tonight.

So I came across this mandolin on the app "LetGo" of all places. it appeared to be legit so I went right over to see it. I was greeted by an very elderly gentleman who invited me in and showed me this time capsule instrument. I believe it to be a completely original, one owner, July 1923 Gibson Sunburst F2 with original case, numbered 73868.

The old man said it was given to his father in Chicago brand new in 1923 at the age of 13 for his Bar Mitzvah by his (grand)father. His name was William Miller and his name is engraved on the truss rod cover. He said his father played Russian music on it and it had not been played or taken out of the case since his death 25 years ago.

I have included several photos of the instrument and as you can see, other than a shallow 3 inch scratch on the front and the cracked and repaired scroll head, it is in very fine shape and even the case is still quite nice. I have asked the gentleman if he could find any photos of his father with the instrument and he said he would ask his brother about them.

Even with 25 year old strings on it and a crooked neck it sounded wonderful. I instantly got it to Gil who cleaned, buffed, adjusted and set up this 94 year old beauty. Everyone who has heard it not only can't believe the tone but the volume and clarity from an oval hole. It really is quite shocking! The neck adjusted, it now plays like a dream.

Although I wish it was a July 1923 F5, I will cherish this one owner instrument for many years to come. I would appreciate any background or information our esteemed panel of Gibson experts in the Cafe would like to expound upon.

Cheers,

Brian

[3rdegree]

Some photos from Gil that show the color a bit better:

[colorado_al]

Wow! What a find! In beautiful condition!
Mazel tov!

[almeriastrings]

Gorgeous! Fantastic...

[Steve Sorensen]

Wow! What a find ! ! !
Steve

[Ivan Kelsall]

That looks very,very fine to my eyes - what a find !!. I'd want to get the missing piece of headstock veneer where the scroll break occurred replaced,just to bring it in line with the excellent condition of the rest of the mandolin - it really is lovely,
Ivan

[Tobin]

Very cool find! I love it when these old mandolins reappear. Especially when the complete ownership history is known.

The condition is wonderful! You did well.

[Charlie Bernstein]

=O]

[biologyprof]

Stay away from the slots, man. You've already hit the JACKPOT, a real beauty. Congrats on a very cool find.

[F-2 Dave]

Beautiful. IMO that's the classic, definitive F-2 look. Congratulations on the find.

[MikeZito]

Astounding . . . all I ever find in barns is chicken droppings . . .

CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy!

[Denny Gies]

One of the best stories we've heard in a long time. Congrats.

[AlanN]

Lovely.

Curious: what is that sliver just north of the nut in the headstock photo?

[George R. Lane]

What a great find. I hope you have many years of enjoyment.

[3rdegree]

Lovely.

Curious: what is that sliver just north of the nut in the headstock photo?

I think you meant silver, if so that it the boy who received it's name engravedion the truss rod cover. Thank you all for the very kind words, I hope all of us are so lucky to find a mando so cool in our lives!

[AlanN]

Perhaps I was un-clear.

In the photo of the headstock, I see a sliver of material affixed to the nut, it's the same color as the nut, just a bit narrower. Or am I seeing something else?

[fscotte]

Jeez all I ever find on Letgo is junk.

[Randi Gormley]

wonderful. congrats!

[Spruce]

The condition is wonderful!

...but it did get played...
The wear to the left of the tailpiece, for instance...

[allenhopkins]

...In the photo of the headstock, I see a sliver of material affixed to the nut, it's the same color as the nut, just a bit narrower. Or am I seeing something else?

Yeah, it does look like there's a "nut blank" or similar material inserted just "north" of the nut, making the whole structure thicker than normal. (See the pic in Post #2.) The nut could be a replacement -- I invite others' opinions on that.

Overall, a really nice instrument to run across. You don't mention what you paid for it, but if less than $2-2.5K, I'd say you got a bargain.

[Chris Daniels]

In the photo of the headstock, I see a sliver of material affixed to the nut, it's the same color as the nut, just a bit narrower. Or am I seeing something else?

Yeah, it does look like there's a "nut blank" or similar material inserted just "north" of the nut, making the whole structure thicker than normal. (See the pic in Post #2.) The nut could be a replacement -- I invite others' opinions on that.

If you're seeing what I'm seeing, I think it's just the top of the nut is sloped and the angle and lighting of the picture makes it look like there's something extra there. Compare the pic from post #2



With the one from post #1, where the slope is not nearly so pronounced.



You can easily recreate the effect on your own mando by just tilting the headstock back and forth while looking at it. A nut with a straighter slope, similar to OPs, makes it more evident.

C.

[Skip Kelley]

Nice find, Brian! Enjoy!

[mugbucket]

There's a keeper. Great story & nice find.

[DataNick]

Congrats again Brian!

Thanks for calling me to get my take before you picked it up!

...Aaah there is a God in heaven...LOL!

Lord, won't you buy me a.....

[MikeEdgerton]

Not only do I not go to the right garage sales apparently I don't visit the right barns either. Nice find.