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Thread: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    What am I looking at here? A refinish? The adjustable bridge makes me suspicious.

    Both tailpiece and pickguard are Pat. Apld. For, and the serial no. is 492.

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    https://photos.app.goo.gl/DkjqFsk8mvLT2MV48
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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Never seen one of those in a burst? Looks rather nice but that should be what pre-1920 right and the burst looks a bit older to me-meaning late than 20's?

  3. #3
    Registered User Louise NM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    I remember seeing this thread once when I was looking for any and all info on L&Hs.

    The one in the link is, to my eye, a much classier looking sunburst. The top of this one is a bit, shall we say, garish, which was not the Lyon & Healy aesthetic. I would bet on a later "improvement."

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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Definitely refinished.
    The bridge appears to be a Gibson product.

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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Does this one have a label or numbers stamped inside ? I do not recall seeing a sunburst finish option in the Lyon & Healy or Tonk Bros catalogs but of course, they did such finishes on other instruments so it could have been special ordered and as noted in the other linked thread, Dawg has a brown finished mandola. But most sunburst finishes from that era were more of a dark brown pattern and not that red like this one.

    Mark

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Quote Originally Posted by Louise NM View Post
    I remember seeing this thread once when I was looking for any and all info on L&Hs.

    The one in the link is, to my eye, a much classier looking sunburst. The top of this one is a bit, shall we say, garish, which was not the Lyon & Healy aesthetic. I would bet on a later "improvement."
    Yeah, it's almost as though L&H sunburst A's are following me around! I think we agreed that the sunburst in the earlier thread was original (the instrument had a Regal label and was from some time after 1928).
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Quote Originally Posted by markd View Post
    Does this one have a label or numbers stamped inside ? I do not recall seeing a sunburst finish option in the Lyon & Healy or Tonk Bros catalogs but of course, they did such finishes on other instruments so it could have been special ordered and as noted in the other linked thread, Dawg has a brown finished mandola. But most sunburst finishes from that era were more of a dark brown pattern and not that red like this one.

    Mark
    Hi Mark, this has an L&H label with the serial number (492) both written on the label and stamped inside on the rim. It gives every indication of being from 1918 or possibly early 1919, since neither the tailpiece nor the pickguard has a patent date.
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    And it is for sale in the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/178954#178954

    NFI
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  11. #9

    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    And it is for sale in the classifieds...

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/178954#178954

    NFI
    Not a bad refin.Just a really bad idea.

  12. #10
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    I gave up on trying to flip this. It has the beginnings of a headstock crack, and the crack gets worse if you put tension on the strings.

    So I took it back to Guitar Center, got a refund and told them it needed repair. Did they listen? No.

    If you see a used Style A listed online at Guitar Center for $1499, it's this one. You've been notified.
    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

  13. #11
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    !!!

    It might be time to start treating that MAS.

  14. #12
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Well, the previous acquisition from GC — a Kent Everett mandola — turned out spectacularly well. This one, not so much.

    Come to think of it, that's the second time a vintage mandolin from GC has arrived with a neck crack.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

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

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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    There's something really awkward about a sunburst on a L&H syle A; it goes against the aesthetic, detracting from the graceful lines of the instrument.

    I feel the same way about sunbursts on Martin guitars, for a slightly different reason, which I find it difficult to articulate. They're just not supposed to try to look like Gibsons. Just wrong.

    Merely one man's opinion, and you know what opinions are like.

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    I gave up on trying to flip this. It has the beginnings of a headstock crack, and the crack gets worse if you put tension on the strings.

    So I took it back to Guitar Center, got a refund and told them it needed repair. Did they listen? No.

    If you see a used Style A listed online at Guitar Center for $1499, it's this one. You've been notified.
    Here it is with photo to come: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Ly...#narrowSideBar
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  18. #15
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Yep. It sez "Good condition," but that's subjective, I guess.

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    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

  19. #16

    Default Re: Lyon & Healy 1918 Style A in ... sunburst?!

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Yep. It sez "Good condition," but that's subjective, I guess.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Oh my goodness, I just put this exact model on layaway at the Lynnwood WA. Guitarcenter. Same one? I came here trying to find out about the unknown sunburst finish…
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    1922 Gibson A Mandolin

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