This weeks mandolin that won't get a bid or buyer

[Jim Garber]

Ferrarri bowl on eBay UK, not only has the bowl been wrecked by ill-advised "restoration", but the action looks to be about 3/4":



Ouch!

3/4" action with the bridge located about 3/4" below the cant! Still he got 15 bids already. Maybe the bidders thought it was an Italian sports car.

[plinkey]

Not especially!

John, naturally, I was just kidding.......however, people do most bizarre "repairs" sometimes........remember that Stridente we had several months ago with aluminium plate headstock ?

[mrmando]

There's an idea for a new Mel Bay title: "Italian Favorites That Can Be Played Only on Open Strings and (Maybe) the First Fret".

Well, the mandocello parts for some of them might qualify ...

[Tavy]

John, naturally, I was just kidding.......however, people do most bizarre "repairs" sometimes........remember that Stridente we had several months ago with aluminium plate headstock ?

How can I forget?

[CES]

"Honey, I just don't understand why my Stradolin isn't selling...it's been listed for weeks...honest..."

[Ray(T)]

This one at least as an interesting story to it. No where does the seller even call it a Gibson. It says it has Bill Monroe signature, Didn't Ibanez make a signatures series Ibanez for him?

It does actually look like a '70s Ibanez but I'm not sure whether they ever had Monroe's signature inside. The one I bought in 1976 had neither label nor serial number.

I do, however, have a '14 Gibson which used to have Monroe's signature on the front - http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/23871 Fortunately it was removed before I bought it.

[kkmm]

Is this mandolin really worth the asking price >
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-USA-M...IAAOSwpLNX8Mlb

[Jim Garber]

Is this mandolin really worth the asking price >
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-USA-M...IAAOSwpLNX8Mlb

Probably not as a playing instrument but likely that is the retail price for a 1957 collectable Fender instrument being sold in Japan (where the seller is located). I would think tho that the general retail price would be a few thousand less. Actually, you can see what the asking prices on Reverb are lately.

If you think that price is outrageous, check out the price of a '57 Strat these days.

[fentonjames]

That thing is sweet!

[kkmm]

If you think that price is outrageous, check out the price of a '57 Strat these days.

I admit I am very ignorant about these special collectible mandolins.

[gtani7]

Is this mandolin really worth the asking price >
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-USA-M...IAAOSwpLNX8Mlb

with solidbody electrics of that vintage, sellers are usually asked to take pix of the neck heel to authenticate. Fender techs usually wrote messages and put recognizable stickers on them. Also pictures of the control cavity, to see what kind of pots/caps are in there.

[Jeff Mando]

with solidbody electrics of that vintage, sellers are usually asked to take pix of the neck heel to authenticate. Fender techs usually wrote messages and put recognizable stickers on them. Also pictures of the control cavity, to see what kind of pots/caps are in there.

Agreed, necessary for authentication, but annoying to see an old instrument taken apart in the interest of commerce. I've worked at vintage guitar shows where I saw the same guitar taken apart three times in one day! Not really good for the wood in the screw holes as some is removed each time, obviously. I've also seen sellers refuse to take a guitar apart, stating something to the effect of "I have owned this since 1956, I know it is all original." Sometimes a seller will take it apart once, take photos, then display the photos.

[mrmando]

"Has Small Crack."

uh ... it's a heel crack and I wouldn't call it small. Whatever you think this mando is worth, the heel crack should cut that value about in half. http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Gibson-A...sAAOSw2xRYYxlV

[Timbofood]

Reminds me of
"Nice little town you've got here, mayor Daley" (or any major city you wish)

[Ray(T)]

"Has Small Crack."

uh ... it's a heel crack and I wouldn't call it small. Whatever you think this mando is worth, the heel crack should cut that value about in half. http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Gibson-A...sAAOSw2xRYYxlV

Plus a disappearing pick-guard clamp!

[Jeff Mando]

Plus a disappearing pick-guard clamp!

I believe that mandolin without the pickguard clamp is another mandolin that he is showing for a price comparison. I think this mandolin has the clamp. The case for this mandolin has purple lining and the mandolin without the clamp has a red-lined case. Very confusing.

[mrmando]

Correct. The mando being shown for comparison has problems of its own: it's also overpriced, and someone solved the missing clamp problem by drilling a hole in the pickguard and then driving a screw through said hole and directly into the top of the mandolin.

[Ray(T)]

Ah! I get it now. The final image is simply meant to encourage higher bids. It doesn't actually make that clear.

[Jim Garber]

Quick! Run, don't walk to bid on this beauty. You can buy it now for $400: mandolin home made.

[Mark Gunter]

Hmm. Now that's a bold modification to the scroll look. The fingerboard extension really balances out the overworked scroll. This guy's an innovator.

[Mark Gunter]

From the description: "looks good hanging"

[HonketyHank]

Buyer beware. That fourth point will not be friendly if you have even a moderate belly. The third one looks relatively benign, but it is still perplexing.

[Kris N]

Buyer beware. That fourth point will not be friendly if you have even a moderate belly.

Ha ha! I was just about to say that. Definitely an interesting piece.

[mrmando]

From the description: "looks good hanging"

People said that about William Wallace, too ...

[HonketyHank]

People said that about William Wallace, too ...

Uhh - did he play bagpipes?