Yet another sobell

[Keith Miller]

getting like waiting for a bus none for ever and then lots at the same time )
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sobell-Large-Body-Cittern-Bouzouki-Octave-Mandolin_W0QQitemZ120175664414QQihZ002QQcategory
Z101567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sobell-....iewItem</a>

[danb]

Hmm. I've been chasing after a short-scale 10-string to match my old "Shatter" one, thanks for posting

[steve V. johnson]

This one was posted before, some time back, about a year and a half ago. Sold for $3400. Same seller, on the Isle of Wight.

This auction strategy is one that I expect to see more often for instruments of this caliber, where there's no reserve but the seller lists some recent prices for similar items. Clearly that's where he expects it to go.

Looks like a nice one...

stv

[groveland]

The auction now says this is a mere 20 incher. I'm thinking that's what we might call short scale, eh? Based on the 'comparisons' he gave originally, this should somewhat affect the price, yes?

[clarksavage]

And yet another one! In the classifieds! If I didn't already have my own I'd be checking this one out.

Clark

[Gerry Cassidy]

And yet another one! In the classifieds! If I didn't already have my own I'd be checking this one out.

Clark

*Sad Sigh* Alas, I just can't keep it any longer.

There could possibly be a few of the old veterans of this forum around that might remember when I got it(?)

[otterly2k]

*Sad Sigh*

Alas, I wish I could afford to give that one a new home...

[danb]

I ended up with the one that started this thread- 21" scale 10-string. I knew the seller from before as it turns out and hit his want file around the same time he listed it on ebay. Hopefully no fellow cafe-ers were in on the auction, we did the deal before it got to the peak but it took him a while to take it off the site!

A match for my old "Shatter the calm" Sobell minus the red finish. I quite like the orange, though I'm filled with an odd desire to eat pumpkin pie

For my dollar, the 21" scale tuned GDAEA is the ultimate 10-string. I've been through a few I have to say (23" scale, 26" scale, mandola scale) and of all of them this is my favorite tuning. It was a serendipity to see one come up for sale, it is pretty uncommon for this scale length to pop up on the scene.. to some it's a drawback, though I learned most of my chops on one! The other interesting side note is that Gerald Trimble played a short-scale one on "First Flight" as well as the longer scale one on the cover.

Anyway, it's warm, sounds lovely, and reminds me of what it was like to be 25 and playing in smokey bars in Milwaukee again, so I'm in some odd nook or cranny of heaven!

[danb]

Nice color in the back binding

[danb]

Bridge has an aftermarket pickup, saddle appears plastic and will need to be replaced

[danb]

Orange is starting to give brown a run for its money here

[danb]

A couple more for indulgence's sake

[danb]

last one

[Celtic Saguaro]

I doubt I'm the only one here who is pleased it found a very fine home!

[Gerry Cassidy]

*Sad Sigh*

Alas, I wish I could afford to give that one a new home...

Alas, I wish I could afford to just give it to ya', Karen. At least that way I know it'd be going to a good home where it would be appreciated and enjoyed.

[zoukboy]

The other interesting side note is that Gerald Trimble played a short-scale one on "First Flight" as well as the longer scale one on the cover.

Congrats on your acquisition, Dan. When was it built?

I ended up with that short scale Sobell that Gerald recorded part of "First Flight" with. It was the 2nd used Sobell I got from him (and my 2nd of 4), built in '81, I think. He recd the longer scale instrument from Stefan during the making of that record in '83. He played both for a few months before deciding to go with just the newer one and sell the older to me. It was a decent instrument. I sold it in '86 when I got my last Sobell, a spruce-topped 22.7" 10 string.

[danb]

I think this is roughly 1994-1997. My red one was a 1995. I've been playing it a lot

[delsbrother]

Dan, what size strings are you using for this scale/tuning? I'm guessing you're cobbling together a set yourself (or is there a 10 string set somewhere?).

[danb]

When I bought one exactly like this one from Stefan back in '95, he suggested these guages, which I buy individually in phosphor bronze:

G: .052
D: .034
A: .025
E: .014 (plain steel)
A: .010 (plain steel)

I always had a tendency to break the E strings, but I know a bit more about setup these days, so I'll see if that's the gauge, my playing, or the setup soon enough