Appointments

[Dave Hanson]

I've just seen an ad. in the classified section which describes a mandolin as having ' Sam Bush appointments ' I've seen this description used before on both mandolins and banjos, what on earth does ' appointments ' mean ?

In my vocabulary and appointment is an arrangement to meet someone or do something at a specified time and place.

Dave H

[EdLowe]

The term "Appointments" means features and fittings in this context, a usage that I would expect to find in English literature from the 30s.

Jeeves would approve!

[AlanN]

The erudite and expansive Stan Jay has used that term for decades in describing instruments. He throws in double-entendres, literary references, Big Mon-isms, anything to jazz up the descriptions. I still have the accompanying letter from a 1978 Mandolin Brothers purchase, where he writes "...Finding a mandolin with the bark and the bite for under $500 is a boon to the bluegrass musician".

Couldn't have said it better, at the time

[trevor]

Dave,
I know you are enquiring about the use of the term appointments, but here's the spec for the Sam Bush with "appointments" (read features) from Janet Davis' website.

Sam Bush Vintage Edition

* Construction: Solid spruce top, figured maple back, sides and neck
* Fingerboard/Inlay: Ebony shortened, exact replica of Sam Bush's mandolin, 21 frets/Pearl block; exact replica of 30's style F-5
* Headstock Inlay: Flowerpot
* Binding: Triple white binding
* Hardware: Gold Plate, Hand-Engraved
* Color: "Sam Bush" Burst
* Finish: Lacquer


Includes Case

Sam Bush has had a lot of input into the specifications for this new model, based upon his own Gibson F-5.
Beautiful bell-like tone quality when playing solos; super chops, too! This mandolin is really special!
Highly flamed maple/ ebony fingerboard with square inlays of mother of pearl;
Slightly wider fingerboard and string spacing than standard;
Worn finish on the back of the neck-much like necks on many high quality vintage violins.

[Red Henry]

I believe that the use of the word "appointments" in reference to a mandolin's accouterments may stem from its common use, in that sense, in the violin world. It's actually a classy way to describe something. (Good for asking a high price, too!)

Red.

[arbarnhart]

Webster still has it as the 3rd of 4 meanings for the word:

http://www.webster.com/dictionary/appointment

[MikeEdgerton]

The erudite and expansive Stan Jay has used that term for decades in describing instruments....

Well, as Stan does have a Masters Degree in English (as I recall) I'm going to guess his usage of the term is grammatically correct.