Grandpa Jones' mandolin (?)

[HonketyHank]

Listed on ebay, here . Has been relisted several times.

This looks to me like Mexican-made. Does anybody know the story on this mandolin? Doesn't look like a $1000-worth except for its provenance. Might be a neat thing to have if you play mandolin but also remember Grandpa's music fondly.

[Jim Garber]

Not sure why you say Mexico, although anything is possible. Four-piece top and the back is separating. I would guess some kitchen table luthier made it and gave it to him in admiration. Probable, by the document, that it was in his house but that doesn't mean he actually played it.

[slimt]

Hee Haw was a good show. But thats all.

[HonketyHank]

Hmm. Hadn't noticed the back separation. My conjecture was based on the tailpiece and the overall design resemblance to a LoneStar I once bought cheap, then quickly gave away.

[slimt]

Hmm. Hadn't noticed the back separation. My conjecture was based on the tailpiece and the overall design resemblance to a LoneStar I once bought cheap, then quickly gave away.

I owned a Webb Pierce Frank Gay guitar. I donated it to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Best place for it.
That mando would be a good place to be as well.

[Jeff Mando]

I got a chuckle that in 1998, not only that Ramona Jones valued it at $50, but that the buyer required a notarized bill of sale stating as much! (needless to say, the "vintage guitar" market was well-established by 1998.....)

[yankees1]

Maybe Maybe Not !

[bgpete]

Hmmm - run away.

[allenhopkins]

Ramona Jones was a decent, if not fancy, mandolin player -- with instruments somewhat nicer than this one:

[slimt]

Ramona Jones was a decent, if not fancy, mandolin player -- with instruments somewhat nicer than this one:

Any idea what model the lady is playing?

[jim simpson]

It looks like it says "The Gibson" on the headstock, I would guess an F-4 style copy by a private maker.

[rcc56]

The mandolin in the video looks like a re-worked F-2 to me.

[allenhopkins]

Looks also to me like an F-2 with a refinished top. I don't think Gibson ever made a "natural top" F-2, but with Gibson, ya never know...

[yankees1]

Ramona Jones was a decent, if not fancy, mandolin player -- with instruments somewhat nicer than this one:

Well, she can play better than me so I'm not even a decent player !

[bgpete]

Thanks for posting this clip, Allen. Very sweet old-time duet.

[Frankdolin]

Yea, I saw that mando a while back. Looks like junk. Allen thanks for the vid, priceless stuff there.

[Eric Platt]

Fingerboard on the one in the video is also not a stock Gibson. Unless someone got real fancy cutting off the Florida.