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Thread: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

  1. #1

    Default Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    It appears this mandolin has stories to tell. It has served faithfully,
    and now it is being rehomed on craigslist.

    Mandolin - Resonator by Republic - A Style - Steel (Dallas)

    ... "It has a bullet hole that does not effect sound" ...

    ... "I used to carry it on a motorcycle and it has an exhaust burn."

    ... "$ 500 obo"

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thanks,
    sounds_good

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  3. #2
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    I would love to have this, if only for the bullet hole alone !
    What a conversation starter

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    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Did the bullet hole really come "from a gun cleaning accident" or was his neighbour a music critic?
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    I would love to have this, if only for the bullet hole alone !
    What a conversation starter
    Yeah, many bullet holes are conversation stoppers...
    Allen Hopkins
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    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    Yeah, many bullet holes are conversation stoppers...
    No, that would be the bullet itself, not the hole

    Wonder how long it will be before someone bites the bullet and buys the thing.

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Well you know what they say - It's not the fall that will kill you, it's the sudden stop.

    By a similar token, it's not the bullet that will kill you, it's the bullet hole.
    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!

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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Hmm, but which comes first, the bullet or the hole?

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the bullet. But I still don't know why the bullet crossed the road.
    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!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    ... But I still don't know why the bullet crossed the road.
    Well ... so far we have a gun cleaning accident vs a neighborhood music critic

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    I've played one of those Johnson/Republic resonator mandolins, and the sound tended towards the raucous/irritating; perhaps someone wanted to silence it, could be...? Or put it out of its misery.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    You know, it's entirely possible the entry and exit wounds deadened the sound a bit. So to speak ...
    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!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    JB, your wit is killer.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Well, I feel inspired by so much good input from a group of friends to die for.
    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!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    I've played one of those Johnson/Republic resonator mandolins, and the sound tended towards the raucous/irritating; perhaps someone wanted to silence it, could be...? Or put it out of its misery.
    Allen, this description has saved me from my irrational interest in this instrument
    I've dodged a bullet for sure.

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Well, I can't say the same for myself. That there bullet hole and its tale of woe wounded me, awoke in me sympathy I've been unable to assuage. I've made an offer for a substantially lower price and it has been accepted. I'm about to pull the trigger on it, even though it is indeed loud and raucous. I've wanted something of this sort for a long time, and back in my jug band days, I picked up a National Triolian steel tenor guitar to fill the void. It's a fine instrument, but the frets are just too far apart for chords with my hands, transmogrified as they are from countless years of scrunching to play the mandolin. So this should fit the bill. I'm figuring my experience with tone control will help me make it a damn sight easier on the ears than the sound sample the owner sent me. So does anyone have any last-minute input before I shell out my hard-earned bucks for this wee beastie?
    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!

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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    I had a friend many years ago that bought a Martin guitar with a bullet hole in the top near the lower bout, rather than have it repaired, he covered it with a band-aid.

    Don't know if that will help JB.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  27. #17
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic



    So you bit the bullet and went for it.

    I'll be very interested to hear you play it and see if it is loud and merely raucous or loud, raucous and irritating.
    The bullet hole is very cool.

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    I had a friend many years ago that bought a Martin guitar with a bullet hole in the top near the lower bout, rather than have it repaired, he covered it with a band-aid.

    Don't know if that will help JB.
    Oh lawdy, no! No cover-up. It's bound to be a great conversation starter. If anything, I may paint a crimson drop of blood or two beneath.

    And I haven't finalized the deal yet. The owner and his wife have been rather lackadaisical in their communication. So I can still be talked out of this, if anyone has experience with these items and is of a mind to talk some sense to me.
    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!

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    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Quote Originally Posted by journeybear View Post
    Oh lawdy, no! No cover-up. It's bound to be a great conversation starter. If anything, I may paint a crimson drop of blood or two beneath.

    And I haven't finalized the deal yet. The owner and his wife have been rather lackadaisical in their communication. So I can still be talked out of this, if anyone has experience with these items and is of a mind to talk some sense to me.
    Congratulations. We'll be interested to hear about it. I expect you to start a thread inquiring about flack-jacket gig bags soon.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Hmmm ... Hadn't occurred to me, but now that you've brought it to my attention ...
    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!

  31. #21
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    I hope the original owner didn't die of acute lead poisoning!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    OK, OK, we could continue to make pun of this instrument all day and all night. But it's not helping me decide. I know I want it, but I don't know if it's worth it. You should hear the sample the owner sent me. I will grant it's low-resolution and he's not much of a presenter, but yikes! Unfortunately, it's in 3GP format, and I have no idea what that is, and so far I've been unable to convert it into something I can share with you. I could play it back, record it on my phone, and upload that - yet another generation of degradation. Anyone have any experience with this format? Lemme know!
    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!

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Well...there is the concept of something being "so bad it is good". I had a banjo-mandolin that fit into that category. Nasty sounding little thing. A playing buddy called it "The Mother Of All Evil". I would only play it on one song....."When I'm 64".

    Is long gone because of non use. The cool but nasty thing wore off when I had to look at it all the time.

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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Yeah, my experience with a Vega "Little Wonder" banjolin was similar. I described it as being "utterly devoid of subtlety." I used it in the jug band on some of the more upbeat, boisterous numbers. There was one song, though, which was slower and sweeter, yet fearless leader still wanted that sound - and he was right, though it took some doing. Eventually, I found another one, with a smaller head made of skin, which was so much quieter and sweeter. One dy the skin broke, so I brought it to my luthier. It needed much more work than that, and would have cost much more than I'd have liked to bring it back. So I left it there, and somehow keep forgetting to asl=k him about it ...

    But yes, that Vega ... my memories of that are informing my decision on this.

    OK, here are sound samples - godawful sound quality to begin with, degraded by method of reproduction. The first is strumming, loud as he could - no quieter strumming, no picking, not a lot to go on. The second is slide, again not much variety. I apologize for any discomfort.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    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!

  36. #25
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin - Resonator by Republic

    Sadly, I can't really hear it, even with the volume turned all the way up on my pc and usb speaker.

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