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

[peterk]

The seller of this Washburn (wow, a super precious Wasburn) mandolin says "what a wonderful instrument to listen to and play". I wonder, how do they know that, based on the instrument from the pictures they've posted ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wash...item2a3a3d32e2
Either way, I guess the starting bid of $275 reflects a solid investment value of the said mandolin.

[Jim Garber]

Hey! You have three strings and no bridge! What do you want?? Sheesh! That is a very strange Washburn. I don't recall seeing a Washburn bowlback with a side pickguard like that one. It looks like it belongs on a Martin flatback.

[brunello97]

Maybe a re-top on the Washburn? The fretboard ends in a strange location relative to the soundhole. Also looks like some infill / patching around the top of the SH? No binding trim around the top? Sketchioso.

Mick

[peterk]

Hey! You have three strings and no bridge! What do you want?? Sheesh! .

Not a problem at all.......eBay has it all: here's a nice hand carved bridge dirt cheap:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mandolin-b...item19ead8c7a9

[Bertram Henze]

here's a nice hand carved bridge dirt cheap

Final proof that Fred Flintstone played the mandolin. Now I'd like to see the flint pick that goes with it...

[mrmando]

Here's an ad offering a "Gibson 1922 Lloyd Loar mandolin" for $10K:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...405702253.html

No photos or other info in the ad. Turns out it's an F4.

[peterk]

Not a mandolin, but just a tuning machines cover plate which IMO may be nicely engraved, but it's a loooong way from becoming anything useful. The BIN price is $444, and no lower offers accepted.

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antiq...item1e89ba72eb

[mrmando]

Put a slide on the back of that and it could be a nice bolo tie.

[peterk]

Put a slide on the back of that and it could be a nice bolo tie.

A good idea, however, I'd rather turn it into a western belt buckle.

[mrmando]

A good idea, however, I'd rather turn it into a western belt buckle.

Get a pair of 'em and make a matching set.

[Jim Garber]

Not a mandolin, but just a tuning machines cover plate which IMO may be nicely engraved, but it's a loooong way from becoming anything useful. The BIN price is $444, and no lower offers accepted.

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-ornate-Mandoling-headstock-plate-tuner-cover-Unknown-manufacturer-/131159716587?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e89ba 72eb

Same seller has these pickguards for (surprise!) the same price.

BTW I corrected your link above, Peter.

[Petrus]

I have inherited these items from my Father who inherited them from his father. they have been sitting in a box since 1980 and likely my grandfather had been sitting on them for many years before that.

Gross.

[mrmando]

I dunno, some sucker might bid on this, but they really shouldn't:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mand...item3cdf83e13d

Seller's looking at the FON, which dates to 1914, but thinks it is the SN. Birch back but the seller thinks it's maple. Seller acknowledges a neck repair (replacement), but judging from how shiny it is and the way the finish has cracked around the soundhole, it looks as though someone's put a coat of lacquer over the original pumpkin.

Fleur-de-lis inlay is a bit of a puzzler: an A1 shouldn't have it. It's possible that somebody put an A4 neck on an A1 body. (The Gibson fleur-de-lis changed shape several times; the closest match for this one I can find in a quick search is the one on the 1923 Loar A5.)

[peterk]

A large number of eBay sellers seem to be semioticians or diverse linguists when it comes to defining a simple wood crack in the mandolins they are auctioning .
Some deny the very existence of "cracks" based on certain philosophical considerations, or perhaps they see it as a "grain dilatation", "fissure", "separation" etc., but NOT a "crack".

Here we have a mandolin by Poppi which according to the seller "non presenta nessuna crepa è perfettamente sano." (No cracks and perfectly sound). Well, while the BIN price of Euro 1,000 is "sound" for sure, I seem to detect some kind of a crack which is shown on the picture below. Am I imagining things ? You be the judge.
http://www.ebay.it/itm/mandolino-man...item3a8ea24878

[Charles E.]

And then we have this.......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HYDE...item258ce1c83e

It could be a nice sounding instrument but the price is laughable.

[Jim Garber]

And then we have this.......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HYDE...item258ce1c83e

It could be a nice sounding instrument but the price is laughable.

That is Mr. Hyde who makes and sells some interesting instruments. One Cafe denizen bought one of his resonator mandolins for less than the Nationals and says that it was a great instrument and beat out the National. Maybe it is Dr. Jeckyl who sells the other instruments for a reasonable price.

My guess is that he but that for himself and uses this listing to call attention to himself and promote his biz. I think he is one shrewd cookie in that sense.

[Petrus]

A large number of eBay sellers seem to be semioticians or diverse linguists when it comes to defining a simple wood crack in the mandolins they are auctioning . Some deny the very existence of "cracks" based on certain philosophical considerations, or perhaps they see it as a "grain dilatation", "fissure", "separation" etc., but NOT a "crack".

Organic structural sound augmentation phenomenon.

[Petrus]

My guess is that he but that for himself and uses this listing to call attention to himself and promote his biz. I think he is one shrewd cookie in that sense.

I'm going to use the "Make Offer" button and offer $50, just to be a d*ck.

[EdHanrahan]

My guess is that he but that for himself ...

At first, I figured that the Chevrolet "bow tie" logo on the tailpiece was just an "accidental" design artifact. THEN I saw my dad's '49 Chevy fastback on the headstock - VERY nicely done. But for 32K I'd more likely buy the car!

[houseworker]

That's one gorgeous mandolin, a lot of skilled work involved there. I'd have liked a close up picture of the tuners with their ornate shafts.

[Jim Garber]

And then we have this.......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HYDE...item258ce1c83e

It could be a nice sounding instrument but the price is laughable.

Actually I forgot to mention that he has been listing this one for a year or two. I think he has gotten some folks interested in his work. You can take a look on his site. You will note that he does not have that overpriced mandolin listed for sale. he does not want to sell it. I actually like the look of his resonators.

[tkdboyd]

Off topic, but really cool for those who bike!

[Charles E.]

Looking at his web site, he appears to be a very busy fellow. Kudos to him.

[Petrus]

Not a mandolin, but just a tuning machines cover plate which IMO may be nicely engraved, but it's a loooong way from becoming anything useful. The BIN price is $444, and no lower offers accepted.

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antiq...item1e89ba72eb

It doesn't indicate the material (afaik.) If it is silver plate or silver, the price would be understandable. Otherwise not. Maybe $100.

[Petrus]

Well, the $32K Mando guy turned down my $50 offer as expected (but without any invective, thankfully.) I guess he hasn't figured out the option on eBay where you can have the system automatically decline bids below a set amount and/or automatically accept bids above a set amount.