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Thread: Jubal Mandola F style

  1. #1

    Default Jubal Mandola F style

    It will be interesting to see what this makes: https://www.ebay.com/itm/11557202229...Bk9SR5TLnMz-YA

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  3. #2
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    It sure looks very nice, never heard of that brand. But it sure doesn't look like say a standard H-5 Dola. Looks like an F-5 to me.

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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by William Smith View Post
    It sure looks very nice, never heard of that brand. But it sure doesn't look like say a standard H-5 Dola. Looks like an F-5 to me.
    Mr. Cowles was a good builder. As mentioned, he used to work for Gibson and Heritage. I owned a Jumbo guitar he made for a while. Had a huge neck and sounded like a cannon.

    He is on the list of folks who signed F-5 mandolins for Gibson.
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    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Found this video by Mr. Cowles son.

    Lots of good information in writing below the video (statement and comments).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M66kUGBtHU

    I'm finding it difficult to stop my hands from bidding.

    I've asked for measurements.
    Last edited by your_diamond; Oct-20-2022 at 7:22am.

  7. #5
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    That looks really nice. Luckily I already have a mandola, as my hands would be tempted as well. Also, I just bought a mandolinetto last night, which I have not yet 'fessed up to (I'll show it to you in another thread).
    "To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar

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    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    The only measurements he sent were... Nut is approximately 1.25 and the scale is a comfy 15.75.

  10. #7

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Well, that's the Gibson scale. I would imagine the instrument is the same as an H-5 but with more frets because of that fingerboard extension.

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    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    What is the possibility of this being a fake? Is anyone familiar with AARON COWLES labels and work?.

  13. #9
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    What is the possibility of this being a fake? Is anyone familiar with AARON COWLES labels and work?.
    While only owning one guitar he made, am confident it's his label. The one on the guitar was identical except for the "made for..." information was not on mine.

    I also don't see any reason for folks wanting to copy his instruments. He has a bit of a following for his copy of the Gibson Jumbo, but that's mainly because folk singer Greg Brown played one. If you were making a mandolin you might make as much money with your name on it.
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    I found this label (on a copy of a citation guitar). Surprised there aren't any bids.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Aaron Cowles.jpg 
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ID:	203880  

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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by your_diamond View Post
    ... Surprised there aren't any bids.
    Maybe the interested party or parties are waiting till the end so that they (hopefully) don't inadvertently trigger a flurry of early bids and drive up the price.
    "To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    The only thing that raises a flag for me is the truss rod cover. That's more like an import than a Gibson and the mandolin in the linked Youtube video is a Gibson style truss rod cover. Either way if it sounds good and plays well I'd say have it.

    Obviously pre-everyone having access to at least an inket printer. I think if anyone was going to fake an F style mandola they would have put Gibson on the headstock. Does anyone happen to know the guy it was made for that is listed on the label?
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  20. #13

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    Maybe the interested party or parties are waiting till the end so that they (hopefully) don't inadvertently trigger a flurry of early bids and drive up the price.
    This is a mandola, and F-style, and little-known maker, and high opening bid. Combine those things, and there aren’t going to be a lot of people interested. All it takes is for either a Cowles fan or a rabid bespoke collector to push the price up significantly, but there’d be more headroom if the seller was perhaps better known, and capable, for example, of tracking down a buzzing tailpiece or providing measurements. He’s got a banjolin listed also starting at $1k.

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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    If one can get it, its pry worth it if they want a Dola as the imports are way more cash than 1K if there are no bids on her yet! Too me it looks great, finish, woods used, etc. It looks like a different scale than say my 24 H-5 and my 24 TL convert to Dola, also to me it looks more like an F-5 than an H-5 in the scroll area. Is there a case for it? We know "who's into Dola's anyway" that H-5 type cases are super tough to find, when and if you do find one, they aren't too cheap either-for an H-5 case if you had to get one made, I'm guessing close to 600 bucks! I know to have one made for say an A style Dola they were well over 400 bucks-that was the price for the case for the 1924 Gibson TL that got converted and that was many moons ago Happy bidding kids!


    Ok, I just looked closely at all the pix, its way worth it if one doesn't hike up the bidding too much-no bids yet with 5 days? Also, there is a nice tweed shaped case for it-the seller looks legit to me.

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    FIDDLES with STRADOLINS your_diamond's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    I wonder if that smaller F5 body would produce a satisfying amount of bass for a mandola.

    For a mere $94,000 more I could get this 1924 Gibson H-5 Mandola https://cartervintage.com/products/g...5-mandola-1924

    The signature would be easier to verify.

    I did a google search for John Schippers... no mandola players from what I could find.

  25. #16

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    What does ' pry worth mean ? '

    Baffles me, Dave H
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Hanson View Post
    What does ' pry worth mean ? '

    Baffles me, Dave H
    Ha, that gets a lot of people, Akira O. gets a kick out of that as does my friend Hendrik A. who posts here! Its slang from my neck of the woods that my family uses for "PROBABLY"

  27. #18

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Seek, and you shall find. Bill Halsey appears to have known Mr. Cowles

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...on-Cowles-obit

    He may or may not know anything about this mandola, but for those of you who are acquainted with him might reach out to him. The rattling tailpiece could be a really simple fix. Or not.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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  29. #19

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style



    More info on Mr. Cowles

    https://youtu.be/WsCIAboHDeI


    I’ve played one or two of his guitars. They were nice, and would not drain your wallet.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    I imagine being sold as a project would scare off the casual player/buyer. A mandola also would reduce the number of prospective buyers. I often will take a chance and speculate on instruments that need issues sorted out as I enjoy the work. This one seems like low risk but for anyone who has been trying to sell musical instruments of late knows, the market has slowed down.
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  33. #21

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    People are wary of scams. Even on Reverb, which used to be fairly safe and policed, there’s a lot of shenanigans going on.

    If only I needed another mandola.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    William Smith points out this Jubal is not the same shape as a Gibson H5 mandola. Instead it looks like a scaled-up F5 shape. The few modern Gibson F-syle mandolas I have seen seem to follow this approach. I have one made by Dave Gregory of York, England, also a scaled-up F5 rather than an H5 copy. Why Gibson changed the body shape from the classic F5 - their mandolas have a curious unattractive 'hunched' look in the scroll area - is puzzling. Does anyone know why?
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  36. #23
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    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    Quote Originally Posted by Anglocelt View Post
    William Smith points out this Jubal is not the same shape as a Gibson H5 mandola. Instead it looks like a scaled-up F5 shape. The few modern Gibson F-syle mandolas I have seen seem to follow this approach. I have one made by Dave Gregory of York, England, also a scaled-up F5 rather than an H5 copy. Why Gibson changed the body shape from the classic F5 - their mandolas have a curious unattractive 'hunched' look in the scroll area - is puzzling. Does anyone know why?
    I don't think Gibson has made an H-5 since the 30's but I may be wrong. If you say you've seen a few modern Gibson F-style mandolas I believe you as they do have the custom shop that will build ya what ya want so they must be very rare as its not say a "production model" Thanks.

  37. #24

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    I think Anglocelt is referring to modern interpretations of F5 mandolas, not a Gibson branded mandola per say, but I could be mistaken.

    As for the approach, Hans Brentrup followed the same scaling up approach to making an F5 style mandola, or at least that was how he explained it to me.
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  39. #25

    Default Re: Jubal Mandola F style

    The label looks the same as this reverb sale two years ago

    https://reverb.com/item/37601019-jub...bacco-sunburst

    Different price, and a different truss rod cover

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