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Thread: Gibson Mandolin Bass

  1. #1

    Default Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Not mine, but close by me and very cool. Seller is asking $12k.

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  2. #2
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    i could see paying as much as $5K for one of these. But not $12K.
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  3. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    I had one many years ago. Not the ideal bass instrument. Buy one if you like the oddity or collect. Better off with a decent upright bass. Better tone and projection.
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    Registered User Ed McGarrigle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    What would you do for strings? And how is it tuned? Just curious.

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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    D’Addario EJ79 - 43,63,79,130.

    Tune ‘em to whatever sounds best!

  7. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Usually tuned to same as string bass: E, A, D, G
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  8. #7
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Quote Originally Posted by Ed McGarrigle View Post
    What would you do for strings? And how is it tuned? Just curious.
    You turn the little keys....��
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  10. #8
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass


  11. #9
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Quote Originally Posted by Tighthead View Post
    ...Seller is asking $12k.
    Seller is dreaming. My Stahl Larson brothers mando-bass was $4K, and I thought it was pricey.
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  13. #10
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    I remember the one Trevor had was priced at £7000 - largely because, at the time, he didn’t want to sell it.

  14. #11
    Confused... or?
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    The one I'm caretaking for my mandolin orchestra was bought maybe 12-20 years ago -well before my time- for around $6K; not sure if that includes the hefty shipping charge from the midwest. $4K - $5K estimates sound more reasonable, or maybe optomistic.

    FWIW, it sat in storage for a long time, had some needed repairs done, and was used in the '18 East Coast Mandolin Orchestra performance, down near Philly. Then our bass player was bequethed a proper upright...
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  15. #12
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Spend $12k for this and you get a novelty item that gets pulled out for 15 minutes a few times a year.

    Spend half that on a decent 3/4 upright bass and you'll make $100 a night anytime you want for the rest of your life and you'll get more gigs than you ever dreamed of.
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  17. #13
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    Quote Originally Posted by j. condino View Post
    Spend $12k for this and you get a novelty item that gets pulled out for 15 minutes a few times a year.

    Spend half that on a decent 3/4 upright bass and you'll make $100 a night anytime you want for the rest of your life and you'll get more gigs than you ever dreamed of.
    Yes!!! My experience exactly. Rarely played my MB but the upright got me into five bands, a few of which I didn’t even wa t to play with. Hah!
    Jim

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  18. #14
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gibson Mandolin Bass

    I probably mentioned this years ago in other threads but when I joined the NY Mandolin Orchestra in the 1980s the bass player there played a balalaika 3string contrabass. I asked him why he didn’t play a mandobass and he said it just didn’t have the tone, volume or projection of the BCB.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

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