Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    Here is one of these mandolins made by United which I think might have been made with retired mariners in mind- to remind them of peering out of portholes. Anyway, it has some signs of life's travails on it. I will post up that 1959 Sorkin catalogue photo to go with this for posterity! Pickguards for these appear on eBay quite a bit whereas the mandolins themselves do not!

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/20395930627...ndition=4%7C10

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	1959 Sorkin Catalogue.jpg 
Views:	84 
Size:	346.0 KB 
ID:	201199

  2. The following members say thank you to NickR for this post:


  3. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    I had one of the other styles of these with the faux resonator that had the portholes. Heavily built and sold under a numner of names including Medalist, Blue Comet, Artistic and Beltone and probably a hos of others. It left quite a bit to be desired tonewise and I sold it cheap to a guy who said that Howard Armstrong (Louie Bluie) played one. I only saw him playing fiddle but no reason to disbelieve. Still I don't miss it.
    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

  4. #3

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    Jim, it is possible that this Model 507 may be a lot better tonewise- but maybe not!

  5. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    The one I owned was all laminated wood for the body including the top.
    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

  6. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    The cool factor for these was always the way it looked.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #6

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    Instead of a marine look, I’m thinking 50s biker chic black leather jacket or saddlebags with lots of metal bits.

  8. #7
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Tampa
    Posts
    642

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    The catalogue says the "fingerboard" is rosewood but the wear on the ebay mandolin shows it was a faux (painted) fretboard.

    These may have morphed from solid tops and rosewood fretboards to laminated tops and faux (painted) fretboards over time to keep prices affordable and competitive.

  9. #8

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    I would be very surprised if the rosewood was anything more than the copywriter's artistic license but I might be surprised. I would imagine that the various branded bigger resonator styled mandolins had the same board. Perhaps, Jim can remember what his was although with an all laminated construction, I find it hard to imagine the board was genuine rosewood!

  10. The following members say thank you to NickR for this post:


  11. #9
    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Tampa
    Posts
    642

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by NickR View Post
    I find it hard to imagine the board was genuine rosewood!
    I was told by an adman, "All advertising are lies". However, there was a time when Stradolins were real and solid woods.

    While we're at it, there's one of those beautiful Tiger Flame high end Stradolins in the classifieds dated 1949 that is obviously Pre-War. It also has a one-piece back though it is listed as two-piece. Pardon my OCD but HELLO! I realize there is no malicious intent by the seller but if he doesn't change it soon I may start hair pulling again and I don't have much to start with.

  12. #10
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Blue Comet/United/ Sorkin Mandolin

    I'd hazard that one of the Blue Comet etc. mandolins would make a good Steampunk artifact.

    Not an instrument, just an artifact.
    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

  13. The following members say thank you to allenhopkins for this post:


Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •