Nouveau "Gibson" on ebay?

[handpicked]

Just goofing off on ebay and saw <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-GIBSON-NOUVEAU-C-7-F5-STYLE-MANDOLIN-1980S-NR_W0QQitemZ7355725260QQcategoryZ10179QQrd
Z1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">THIS</a>.

Anybody know the story behind these mandolins?

[handpicked]

never mind...shoulda searched first

[PlayerOf8]

LEAVE IT THERE

GM

[Big Joe]

EEEEkKKKKK!!!!! Now I'm scared .

[Tom C]

For $1000 I would not take a chance, but it does not look too bad. Fully bound, elevated fretboard, nice tuners, looks carved. I'd be curious to see how it plays and sounds.

[mustache]

I have a similar mandolin and it plays OK.
Not $1000 OK, but maybe $400-500 OK.

[357mag]

OK. I give up! Whats the catch?

[Michael Gowell]

Use the Cafe's "search" function & check "nouveau" (not "gibson nouveau" because then you'll pull up every post mentioning gibson.) There have been a couple of threads on these in the past. #Bottom line - an undistinguished mid-'80s budget model imported & labeled by Gibson. #Not all solid woods, which even the mid-level pac-rims of today must use to be competitive in the market.

[357mag]

No KIdding! How did Gibson ever get involved in that?
Ill do the research.

Dang! i tried that and all I got was this thread.?!?!?!?

[Jim M.]

this thread points the way for you:

noveau threads

[357mag]

Thanks Jim. Well dont that beat all! Im gonna make some momey off my Bud. He,s talking about buying a Gibson and Im gonna tell him to be sure and not get a Pacrim model. He,s gonna swear there is no such thing.

[Bob Sayers]

The odd thing is, they're not unattractive-looking--especially the top. That nice non-sunburst finish shows the wood grain to great effect. Just musing here, but that finish would look awfully nice on an F-9.

Bob

[Coy Wylie]

It looks like the "faded leather" finish on my Weber Custom Bitterroot.

[BlueMountain]

I did a search on these on Google, as I'd never heard of them. I found a music store with a Nouveau C7 F5style for sale, signed by Levon Helm. $2,000! That's some expensive plywood!

[jim simpson]

I've read that the Nouveau's were supposed to use laminate woods but I think at least the top on this mandolin is carved. Perhaps they used laminate sides only. This model looks a lot better than the 60-70 period Gibson F's. I would love to hear this one.

[handpicked]

Somebody with -0- feedback has bit at the opening bid of $999.99....wasn't me....

[mustache]

That Levon Helm mando was on sale on ebay some months back.
I don't think it got any bids and I thought the asking price then was only about $799...

[mustache]

someone paid over $1500 for that thing - wow!