Discontinued/rare mandolins, heres my Washburn M12

[JRcohan]

Any other rare or discontinued mandolins out there share your pics!

[mrmando]

I don't know how any mass-produced instrument like this would qualify as "rare."

[Mike Bunting]

I think that they may have been discontinued for a reason.

[DerTiefster]

Let's be nice here, fellows. I'm hoping to see a 2-pt Gibson A-5 or a uh.... well, something I never saw before. Maybe a prototype Ibanez or Eastman -- just something that doesn't have that many stable-mates. Wouldn't have to be vintage to satisfy the O.P.'s description.

[shortymack]

hoodies ; (n) hud-iz ; A term used to describe musicians whose primary focus is on the maker or 'hood emblem' of an instrument



Add-- Nothing at all wrong with your Washburn there JR.

[fatt-dad]

Here are a few:

The distressed Ibanez


The Opryland "Gibson" pancake (tourist junk)


The Framus


The Kingston electric


gone but not forgotten. . .

f-d

[dcoventry]

Oh lordy thata more G5's were built. AMen.

[Charles E.]

f-d, I love that Framus.

[Jake Wildwood]

Rigels are still being made by Pete.

http://www.rigelinstruments.com/instruments.shtml

[jim simpson]

How about the Fender FM-62SE - looks a bit like the Rigel?

[fatt-dad]

the fm-61s!





f-d

[Bluejay]

Glad you posted the pic. Not everyone on the Mando Cafe is mean spirited.

[dcoventry]

Rigels are still being made by Pete.

http://www.rigelinstruments.com/instruments.shtml

Ah yes, and thank God. 17 original G5's were made, another was made recently for a back order. I don't know how many Jethro's, can't be many from the old days.

[DerTiefster]

Discontinued. Not common (I think that means rare, but there are differences of opinion). Some of these are rosewood backed, but not this one, and even if it is plywood it looks pretty. These little rascals look (apart from headstock) -just- about like the similarly imported Epiphone BG-440, which some on the cafe think highly of in their place.

OK. I added front/back shots of the Madeira rosewood-backded two-point with f-holes. It's also discontinued.

[jim simpson]

1970s Sigma SM-6S

[Jim Garber]

Most of my mandolins are at least in theory discontinued. I don't think Gibson is making any production-line A-ovals for instance. Would that exclude ones that have been reissued?

[fatt-dad]

The Alvarez A-400 (Martin cant-top knock-off)


Alvarez two-point


Let's not forget the Flatiron pancake


f-d

[DerTiefster]

The Alvarez A-400 (Martin cant-top knock-off)

I had no idea that this even existed. And I was hunting pics of my Flatiron bouzouki and got distracted. happens. to me. What?

[fatt-dad]

(these have all been mine, by the way. . .)

The Alvarez A-100. Sure you can still get an a-model Alvarez with f-holes, but this one with birds-eye maple and wooden binding was very nice.





Again, you can still buy the Kentucky KM-250S, but where can I get a chipboard case like this? This KM-250S was a great mandolin too!



And finally, the Ibanez 513



f-d

[Ron McMillan]

I'm quite content that my Mix A4, while still in production, is rather rare. Lends a bit of exclusivity to a great instrument that plays like a dream. Even in America I wouldn't bump into another one very often. Here in Thailand, not a chance.

[rb3868]

that Mix is carbon fibre? I would love an opportunity to hear one

now I know what I'm making for dinner - Kow Pad/ Khau Phat

[MikeEdgerton]

I don't know if it's true or not but I'm told that Gibson only made one mandolin that has the same serial number mine has. I like owning a rare mandolin.

[DerTiefster]

From what I understand of it, the only person who has really gone from having a rare mandolin to anywhere near the medium well stage is Frank Wakefield.

[JEStanek]

Look at James Condino's profile photo, that mandolin is WELL DONE!

Jamie

[JRcohan]

Thanks for the replies! Some beautiful instruments posted here.

I did not mean to overstate how rare my mandolins are, I should have simply said discontinued. And, (noted probably for a good reason). I also play a an Alvarez F3ANT which I was told was discontinued. I do not know this as a fact for the web is full of incorrect information. Here is a video of me playing my Alvarez.