Help ID my The Gibson Mandolin

[Katcando68]

Here's what I'm looking at:

There's something sticking out from the side there, right about where a pickguard clamp should be.

Anyhow, if you let us know where you're located, someone will recommend a repair tech and/or dealer.

If you sell the instrument as is on the Classified ads here, you're probably looking at $850 to $900. You might do slightly better if you find a dealer who can fix it up, sell it for $1500 and take 20–25%.

Fitting & slotting a bridge isn't too complicated for someone with experience working on archtop mandolins. Not every repair tech has that kind of experience, though.

Yes. It appears to be some kind of pin. Also, The screws are still there too. It's not letting me insert photos here. I will try below. I live in Safety Harbor, FL 34695

[Katcando68]

[Katcando68]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but to have the bridge fitted and slotted for strings and new strings installed should only cost $50 to $100.

If I were you I would keep it and play and cherish it, not only because of the sentimental value attached, but also because it is a great old Gibson mandolin.

My daughter actually plays. My great grandma who this belonged to played every stringed instrument that I can think of. As much as I want to keep it, I may sell it. I'm trying to move my elderly parents closer to me.

[Ray(T)]

The “pin” into the side of the fingerboard is pretty standard and held the scratchplate in position. The screws would have held a bracket of some sort which held the loose end of the scratchplate in place. These are not standard and have been added by somebody who either broke or lost the clamp described earlier in the thread.

[mrmando]

OK. The pin coming out of the fretboard is an original mounting pin for the pickguard. The two screws are not original. The presence of the screws suggests that the original pickguard clamp was lost long ago, and was replaced with a pickguard support that screwed into the side.

[Bill Kammerzell]

The Mandolin Detective Agency comes thru once again