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Thread: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

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  2. #2

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Yes, a real beauty, for sure. I have seen cracks described as "age lines" but such an euphemism would not do this justice. That's an el mondo grosso crack but it can be fixed.

  3. #3
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Yes, it can be fixed, but I believe that the cost of the repairs will exceed the value of the repaired instrument, if done competently.
    Good project for someone learning the craft, though, as long as the price doesn't go up too much more.

  4. #4
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Prices tend to get stupid on Shopgoodwill for stuff like this. If nothing else, that's probably a $150 tailpiece and a $250 set of tuners.
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  5. #5
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Wow. That main crack is huge. Am also worried that the neck heel is cracked through, too. That's going to take a lot of work to restore.
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    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Yes, this showed up here as well. It gives new meaning to the phrase, "As Is." "As Was" seems more appropriate.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    That should buff out, lol!
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  10. #8

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    I'm going to send my luthier a photo but I will phone him later to tell him I am not going to buy it! He's repaired far worse but he's had a few health issues and does need to be overburdened!

  11. #9

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Prices tend to get stupid on Shopgoodwill for stuff like this. If nothing else, that's probably a $150 tailpiece and a $250 set of tuners.
    I was thinking the same thing. Either some one needs the harware of they are going to be parting it out and selling the hardware.

  12. #10

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Those Handel tuners would be great to have.

  13. #11

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    The top looks salvageable, maybe. Probably best to replace the back and sides. Those are some horrible cracks. Talk about a basket case.

  14. #12

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    I see it has Gibson Phillips screws holding in the tuners, so it may have been sent to Kalamazoo for repair and Gibson just replaced the slot head screws in the tuners and sent it back with a message: "You have got to be joking!" Mind you, whoever it was at Gibson who rebuilt Bill Monroe's F5 would consider this just an hors d'oeuvre.

  15. #13

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Quote Originally Posted by NickR View Post
    I see it has Gibson Phillips screws holding in the tuners, so it may have been sent to Kalamazoo for repair and Gibson just replaced the slot head screws in the tuners and sent it back with a message: "You have got to be joking!" Mind you, whoever it was at Gibson who rebuilt Bill Monroe's F5 would consider this just an hors d'oeuvre.
    Charlie Derrington brought Monroe's Loar back to life. What an incredible job he did!

  16. #14

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Quote Originally Posted by NickR View Post
    I see it has Gibson Phillips screws holding in the tuners, so it may have been sent to Kalamazoo for repair and Gibson just replaced the slot head screws in the tuners and sent it back with a message: "You have got to be joking!" Mind you, whoever it was at Gibson who rebuilt Bill Monroe's F5 would consider this just an hors d'oeuvre.
    Tragically Mr. Derrington is no longer with us. He is probably picking some tunes with Bill Monroe in heaven.

  17. #15
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    What, none of you folks want to post the pics for eternity. At least the "smiling crack." I guess I have to do all the work around here while you have all the fun.
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  19. #16

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Makes me cringe to see a vintage Gibson mandolin in that condition. Hopefully someone can bring it back to life.

  20. #17
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I guess I have to do all the work around here while you have all the fun.
    Thank you for taking care of that thankless task. The best part of this listing is the sequencing of photos. Looking good ... nice ... sweet ... yikes!!!
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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  21. #18
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Ouch, that rib crack. Love the fancy machine heads though.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

  22. #19
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Yeah, hard to believe Handel tuners were standard equipment in the early days, except for the less expensive models. I think I've got that right. I'll bet there are threads devoted to them. Can you imagine having that job, making them? There's a day's work! OK, my curiosity is piqued. Off to find some threads about them ...

    PS: This recent reclamation project of similar vintage and somewhat less cringe-worthy condition went for $665. Someone is going to grab this and do something with it - and the price may even exceed this.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  23. #20
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    PS: This recent reclamation project of similar vintage and somewhat less cringe-worthy condition went for $665. Someone is going to grab this and do something with it - and the price may even exceed this.
    I was half-joking, and yet ... One day to go on this auction and the current bid is about to surpass that. It got to be too rich for my blood a couple C-notes ago. I wouldn't be surprised now if a last-minute flurry of activity were to push it over a grand.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  24. #21

    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    I sent the photos to my luthier and he says he loves that sort of project- he did one Gretsch electric that had been attacked by a wife with some heavy implement and smashed to pieces. This was a band on an ocean liner- husband and wife and band and another girl singer and things happened- or as people say when bad things happen "worse things happen at sea" and they did- but he put it all back together and no signs of this act of vengeance are to be seen now. I saw another old Gretsch on the internet that he had repaired- it was run over by a car! Anyway, he was not trying to get me to buy it and I'm safe- no overseas sales! However, it could go higher, for sure.

  25. #22
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    I would call that an alternative soundport.

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  26. #23
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    And it's omnidirectional - radiates sound all around.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  27. #24
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    See anything unusual with this? That mandolin would be a quick fix to this.
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  28. #25
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: A lovely old 1907ish A4 .. but wait ...

    Eh? The only problem I see with the harp guitar is that the stringing is screwed up.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

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