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Thread: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

  1. #1

    Default Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Not too many photos -there may be more problems. I suppose the hardware is worth nearly the opening price of the auction.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/23405910152...ndition=4%7C10

  2. #2
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    It looks like a neck repair that was never completed.
    Charley

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    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Ouch! You may be right about the hardware, but it's going to go way over that before it's done.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    The peghead is from a newer mandolin. Looks like someone started to graft it to the neck but abandoned the project.

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  7. #5

    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Yes, you may well be right- an uncompleted repair. The headstock I think is correct for 1909- my estimated date based on the tailpiece cover on a mandolin with an inlaid pickguard but it may not be original to the mandolin. This one is dated 1908/9 and has the pineapple cover.

    http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/8064

  8. #6
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Looks like a nice clean break, for someone more talented than me to repair.

  9. #7
    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Quote Originally Posted by LadysSolo View Post
    Looks like a nice clean break, for someone more talented than me to repair.
    OK, a little more info from my observations of the pics.
    The head stock in the photos was sawed off of a neck; a neck that had the triangular maple insert that Gibson used for many years. I'm not sure when they started inserting the maple or when they stopped, but I think it was after the start pf production.
    The neck on the mandolin in the pictures has had the head stock sawed off and there is no triangular maple insert. That is how I can tell that it is a different mandolin and not the source of the peghead, and if I am correct, that means the mandolin is older; from before Gibson started the triangular maple insert.
    Rather than a clean break, what we are seeing is two surfaces prepared for a scarf joint to attach the peghead to the neck.

    As is often the case, it can be repaired, but if an excellent repair is to be done by an experienced repair person (and it would take someone with experience to accomplish an excellent repair) the value of the instrument would surely not merit the expense of the repair.
    A good project for someone learning repair perhaps. The cost of the instrument and the time spent on repair then become tuition.

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  11. #8
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Buying an old volkswagon may be cheaper and less frustrating....
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  12. #9
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Well, somebody bought it, and apparently got it for $288. It wasn't me.
    They are going to have to sand or scrape to fresh, un-oxidized wood and get a very close fitting glue joint for it to hold reliably.

    If they use hide glue, they'll have to warm the surfaces and clamp quickly.
    If they use Titebond, it might creep and give way later.
    Some folks might use marine epoxy, or resourcinal, if it's still available.

    A couple of short locating pins inside the joint might be helpful to hold the pieces in line while setting the clamps. Gibson did this at the neck block and tail block of at least some of their old oval hole mandolins to hold the top and back in place during the gluing process. The pins stay in there, and if you have to pull the back on one of these old mandolins, it's a good thing to be aware of when you are taking the joint apart. The pins are made of small nails or brads, cut off to perhaps 1/8" to 3/16" in length.

    I'm always nervous about scarf joint neck repairs on old instruments. Done right, they can hold for a lifetime, but I've seen a couple come loose. I might consider grinding off the veneer on the back of the head and install a longer one that extends over the joint to serve as a back strap reinforcement. More work.

    A neck splice is one of the few joints we use on string instruments that we want to be absolutely permanent and 100% reliable. Do-overs on such joints can reduce the probability of the joint holding for the lifetime of the instrument.

    I wish the new owner luck.

    I believe that the triangular maple reinforcement appeared early in the 1910's, but I don't know the exact year.
    Last edited by rcc56; Jun-22-2021 at 5:51pm.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Quote Originally Posted by j. condino View Post
    Buying an old volkswagon may be cheaper and less frustrating....
    My first 5 cars were air-cooled Volkswagon's. I love those things.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  15. #11
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Circa 1909 Gibson A-broken neck

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    My first 5 cars were air-cooled Volkswagon's. I love those things.
    I had my share of them, too, Mike.

    Certainly easier to repair than a bowlback mandolin.

    Mick
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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