This is a very sad looking mandolin. Do you think it has been in a fire?
This is a very sad looking mandolin. Do you think it has been in a fire?
It sure looks like it's been through ... something. I was thinking it could have undergone some internal combustion caused by a short or something, like when someone installed that pickup. But that wouldn't explain the tuning knob on the eighth string, which looks like it's melted. Something out of the ordinary happened, for sure. But someone might yet buy it. Stranger things have sold ...
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Looks to me that it was originally a dark colour (or dirt?), somebody decided to paint it in an orange colour and this, along with some of the original colour, has partly worn away.
Seems to be the same model Harmony as discussed in this thread. The damage is in the same places as one would expect from playing wear -- where the player's arm rests on the rim, where the pick may strike the top, and on the neck where the player's hand generally touches.
I like Ray's suggestion, that a later overspray of finish wore away, exposing first the darker original finish, then the bare wood. The pickup is a retrofit, with one of the f-holes used to accommodate the tone and volume knobs. Fairly sad example of "shade-tree luthiery," or as Mandolin Brothers used to call it, "reptile dentistry."
An inexpensive instrument to start with, not made any more valuable by subsequent "improvements." Still, someone probably got a lot of playing out of it, judging by the wear.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Do you have a link?
"it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters
The word "This" in Sue's post is the link.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
We are discussing serious repairs for another Harmony mandolin in the Monterey family right now.
I saw this mandolin a while back- which has Kluson tuners that are not riveted making it about 1940 -42 in terms of age, and posted it on the Harmony website. I did this because that Gibson pick up (probably a P13) may have been of interest to some of the members, as Harmony used this pick up on a number of its guitars in the late 40s to early 50s. However, it has lost its polepieces which makes it far less of interest. I did see an old Stradolin with the same pick up and posted that up and it was bought for its pick up but I don't think the mandolin has been mended.
"Still solid considering minor damage"
1920s Stella. Not such a bargain! Looks more like a Sovereign- I wonder if the wrong label was pasted in? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185013631...ndition=4%7C10
Just a tad over priced me thinks.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/32470545971...kAAOSwonVg5ThH
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
"Came in contact with a small flood"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20359000450...4AAOSwooJgiqPx
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Well, yes, I, too, get such offers, and I'm driving a 1994 Chevy Astro Van. Whatever warranty once existed has long since expired. These are cold call scam outfits with zero actual expertise in automotive anything. My usual response is to ask what information they have on my vehicle. After all, they called me, and surely they are contacting people whose vehicles are on a list which delineates all pertinent data, right? Right? RIGHT?
But in the case of this vastly overpriced mandolin, I daresay any warranty it may have come with at the original point of sale has long since expired in the nearly 100 years since. Hence my point.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Here we go again.
1] The bridge is not original to the mandolin.
2] While the mandolin does bear some Larson characteristics, the shape is atypical for a Larson, I have not heard of Larson building for Wurlitzer, etc. etc. . . .
3] While it's a nice looking piece, it's overpriced no matter who made it, especially if that bridge has been glued down.
4] If you want a Larson that is definitely a Larson, Carter's has one for $1500, and I know the mandolin and can vouch for its authenticity and tone.
5] And Mandolin World Headquarters has a fancy one, also bona fide, for $2050, which is the highest price that I've seen for that model.
Last edited by rcc56; Sep-03-2021 at 12:04am.
That bridge is thick! It resembles a guitar bridge.
Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
I was kind of wondering if the whole ad could be a scam because the seller offers no info at all, really. Then I saw the other listings he has and they are all way over priced. IMO
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Yup, very high prices. My only thought on the first one listed is that he states "please give us a message before purchase". Am not even sure that one could be brought back to the US at this point. So very possibly his audience is not here.
Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Flatiron 1N, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Right, Jim. But the real Larson mandolins are good instruments. The one at Carter's is strong enough to make a good Martin flat back slink away with its tail between its legs. I'm a little tempted to get it for myself, but I have taken the pledge and managed to stick to it. Also, I need a new roof.
I own a Maurer bowlback and I agree it is in the same league as all quality vintage American bowlbacks. Just the market is much hotter for Larson guitars vs. mandolins. I suppose it is mostly that they didn’t make F-5 copies and if they measured up to Gibsons maybe they would be up there in price. OTOH they are priced similar to the best of Martins and other high quality flattop mandolins.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
An old student of mine has a Maurer style 15 flat back, which is also a good strong mandolin. The Larsons knew what they were doing.
Recently I've acquired two Larson-built Stahl instruments, a mandola and a mando-bass. The mandola, which has had a lot of work done on it but is eminently playable, is my fave instrument of the past 18 months; I'm playing it a lot more than my mandolins.
The mando-bass is a mando-bass. 'Nuff said.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
More ridiclousness from Japan, a Harmony tenor guitar this time......
https://www.ebay.com/itm/22459875484...gAAOSwwYthNTmL
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
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