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Thread: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

  1. #1

    Default 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Found this on reverb, could be a good project for the luthier!

    https://reverb.com/item/59279986-192...yle-a-mandolin

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I'm afraid they don't know much about the great depression. It's pretty local to me and I'm not real interested but somebody might be.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  3. #3
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    It looks like there is a cross-grain fracture under the tailpiece. If so, it would need to be reinforced, which would require opening the mandolin. If not, it would still take a lot of work to get a repair that looks decent on the ribs and the cracked tail block.
    I call this an apprentice's project.

  4. #4

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Well, it's been *through* the Great Depression. That counts for something, doesn't it?

    The back looks cracked and while it might just be from whatever hit did that fracture, like it might have either already been off or perhaps someone tried to get it off. If it was off, then you have to worry what you might find from any previous repair attempt. Pass.
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  6. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Quote Originally Posted by keith.rogers View Post
    Well, it's been *through* the Great Depression. That counts for something, doesn't it? ...
    Well, Ok but that means that every Stradivarius that exists is an absolutely beautiful violin from the Great Depression as well
    "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: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Well, Ok but that means that every Stradivarius that exists is an absolutely beautiful violin from the Great Depression as well
    LOL. Can't argue with that!

    Just looked at the link, and "... that piece of gear is gone." Is there a gambler here?
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  8. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    It's a weird link. Open it and then close it and open it again. That's the only way I can get it to open.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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  10. #8
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I have to do that with every reverb link that's posted in a Cafe forum to get to the listing, otherwise I just get the reverb home page.

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  12. #9

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Even though hovering over the link looks like it's going direct to reverb, the link that gets generated when you click (or copy) that hyperlink goes through a redirect (to collect information). I'm guessing one of the bounces has either been hacked or simply has not renewed its SSL cert, because that's the message I see on the failures.
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  14. #10
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Same here, get a malware risk warning first time. Second time goes straight through to Reverb.

    Have a feeling someone will spend a lot more than the value of that A to fix it with the top and rib cracks.
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I get that same malware risk prompt from my antivirus protection. It says the website is a "malware accomplice" -- whatever that is. That makes me think of a young Faye Dunaway in "Bonnie and Clyde."

  16. #12

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I get about 3 sequential redirects, and end up on their home page, but don’t know if it can be fixed, suppose at Reverb.

  17. #13

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    No truss rod, so possibly pre-20s?

  18. #14
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    It's sold, you guys. Wonder how much they paid. When I looked earlier, there was at least one offer pending.
    "To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar

  19. #15

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Not in the best shape, but if it is playable at all -- $500 buys you some 100+ year old Gibson wood! Might be worth a gamble, who knows?

    I'm thinking on an eBay auction, it probably would have sold for more money....

  20. #16
    Registered User Tom Sanderson's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I offered $225. and it was accepted.

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  22. #17
    Registered User Tom Sanderson's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    It could end up as a wall hanger, but I took a chance at a low ball offer that I didn’t expect to be accepted, but it was. I hate when that happens.

  23. #18

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Sanderson View Post
    It could end up as a wall hanger, but I took a chance at a low ball offer that I didn’t expect to be accepted, but it was. I hate when that happens.
    Haha. It's happened to me, too. I stared at that and did think, well, it's already dropped 50% once, if it went down another 50% I'd be interested, but I didn't think it would. Good for you, and I hope that does turn out to be a real bargain, even with needed repairs. Keep us posted!
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  24. #19
    Registered User Tom Sanderson's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Quick follow up. I got it on Friday. After some thought and a consultation with my friend Charley Nelson, I decided not to spend any more money on it, but instead, fix it as good as possible myself. It came with a new Cumberland adjustable bridge. No case. The pickguard,original bridge, and tailpiece cover were missing. The side cracks were open enough to get glue into them so I glued and clamped it and let it set overnight. Today I fitted the new Cumberland bridge that came with it and strung it up with GHS light strings. She’s all scarred up, and will never win a beauty contest, but she sings real purdy, and plays great. Probably the best $225. that I’ve spent in a while.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by Tom Sanderson; Aug-21-2022 at 3:11pm.

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  26. #20
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Good for you Tom! Lets get together pick some tune on the old girl.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  27. #21

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Good decision, Tom! Get it playable and call it good enough. That way you still get the bragger's right of saying you got a Gibson for $200....a bargain in most anybody's opinion.

    So many people on this and other forums miss the point and spend $200 plus another $1000 on repair and suddenly it is no longer a bargain, IMHO. That is called retail. Retail offers great selection, but, to me, eliminates the fun of the chase...

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  29. #22
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    Glad it's a good sounding one. For $225, it was a good gamble that paid off well.

    But do her a favor and loosen the strings until tomorrow, and give that glue a little more time to cure.

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  31. #23
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I am happy to hear that it did not end up to be a wall hanger
    "To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar

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  33. #24
    Registered User mandopaul's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    At least it was not re-finished. I would take this one any day over a re-finish, love the old finish. What kind of glue did you use to close up the side? Were cracks on both sides or just one? Did you work any glue into the top crack

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  35. #25

    Default Re: 1920 Gibson A $500 today only needs repair

    I was born in Flemington, NJ. Home of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.
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