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

**Reywas** · Apr-06-2021, 10:45am

My theory on this is that someone's recently departed grandma really loved painting mandolins.

**Jeff Mando** · Apr-06-2021, 9:57pm

Originally Posted by Reywas

My theory on this is that someone's recently departed grandma really loved painting mandolins.

Exactly!

When I worked a a vintage guitar shop, we had a local wannabee folk artist type who was buying all the cool cheapo vintage guitars to use as his canvases.
No, no, no, no these humble little instruments do not need any help, they are already cool......

**David L** · Apr-07-2021, 11:59am

Originally Posted by journeybear

The tip-off they were from the same source was the tuning pegs, so neatly aligned,

Isn't that how you know it's in tune?

**journeybear** · Apr-07-2021, 12:44pm

Originally Posted by David L

Isn't that how you know it's in tune?

Ah, if only it were that easy!

**David L** · Apr-08-2021, 11:55am

Lining up the tuning pegs makes tuning in a loud environment much easier.

**maxr** · Apr-08-2021, 1:46pm

The seller's listed as in Ukraine on Ebay.co.uk, more hand painted mandos and balalaikas, even one (so far) unpainted mandolin, and lots of objects d'art and paintings of Soviet worthies - Marx, Lenin, Uncle Joe, a complete rogue's gallery of them. I wonder how much he'd charge for a mandolin with Soviet cosmonaut Yurin Gagarin on the back? He's selling this...

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**journeybear** · Apr-08-2021, 4:49pm

I have this sneaky suspicion that he doesn't sell that much stuff that swiftly. His prices are not unreasonable, but the items' appearance ...

Well, perhaps there are markets in which these sorts of "objets d'art" are much sought-after. Not appealing to me, but who says my tastes are any arbiters of what the general public considers desirable?

So would he be open-minded concerning a commission? I'd be surprised if he weren't! Go for it!

**AaronWeinstein** · Apr-12-2021, 8:39am

Jay had an incredible collection of guitars. But I don't remember ever seeing his mando. He was a wonderful musician, devoted to Jazz with a particular fondness for Charlie Christian. He was terrific to work with!

Originally Posted by mrmando

Following this discussion I went ahead and bought the Geils/Beaudoin/Weinstein CD on Amazon... and instead the seller sent me the 4-DVD Lethal Weapon box set. Not even sure I knew there were four Lethal Weapon films...

**journeybear** · Apr-12-2021, 9:08am

Thanks for that! This thread or sidebar was a revelation for me, and I'll wager for others, as well. I never knew of these aspects of J. Geils' music until now. In fact, even though his name was on the band, he didn't command attention the way Peter Wolf and Magic Dick did. The reference to his mandolin playing came about thanks to NickR in Post #1101, in which he mentions a brief passage in one song. There's a link there to the associated youtube video - in case you're interested (and didn't know). I've no idea whether it was his mandolin he used, or someone else's - no way of knowing for us spectators. While we've got you, though, do you know anything more about his involvement with the mandolin? Such as, did he play it much? Did he play it on any other JGB songs? Anything you can think of. We've already veered this far off-topic; might as well see it through.

Thanks! And thanks for all the great mandolinning.

**Isaac Revard** · May-07-2021, 5:49am

Just incase someone is searching for Hee Haw memorabilia:

https://louisville.craigslist.org/ms...310663305.html

**slimt** · May-07-2021, 8:52am

Originally Posted by Isaac Revard

Just incase someone is searching for Hee Haw memorabilia:

https://louisville.craigslist.org/ms...310663305.html

Its on ebay as well.

**allenhopkins** · May-07-2021, 12:23pm

I'd pay a good price for Ramona Jones' mandolin:

**Jim Garber** · May-07-2021, 1:45pm

Originally Posted by Isaac Revard

Just incase someone is searching for Hee Haw memorabilia:

https://louisville.craigslist.org/ms...310663305.html

That one was for sale for more than 3 times the price last summer, mentioned on this post in this thread.

**Chris Gray** · May-07-2021, 2:50pm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37305903061...oAAOxy-NVSGreP

**Sue Rieter** · May-07-2021, 6:07pm

Originally Posted by Chris Gray

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37305903061...oAAOxy-NVSGreP

Why? Just why?

**Chris Gray** · May-07-2021, 6:24pm

Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

Why? Just why?

He is a little low on shipping....

**journeybear** · May-07-2021, 6:29pm

No idea. None whatsoever. One would think someone trying to get that much for an item would put more effort and info into the listing. You know? Such as writing up a description - and making it good and flowery. But nothing? Not at all helpful. But the shipping cost estimate is very reasonable, if that's incentive enough.

BTW, the listing has been revised twice. Not to include a description, mind you, but just so you know, the seller is making some kind of an effort. What exactly, I'm not sure. But neither revision included changing the price.

And we also know from this it's been up for nearly half a year. I'll wager that will continue for some time.

**Jeff Mando** · May-07-2021, 7:24pm

Originally Posted by Sue Rieter

Why? Just why?

Just guessing -- possible mafia money laundering scheme?

We'll have to watch "how many" they sell each month!

**NickR** · May-08-2021, 2:14am

When I was a kid, I think I saw one of these in an early Dr Who episode in the 1960s- when the world was invaded by Mandomen. The price is pretty reasonable for nominations to this thread and it will sell, I am sure, given time.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25496834628...gAAOSwOWlgkv8W

**journeybear** · May-08-2021, 2:33am

Originally Posted by Jeff Mando

Just guessing -- possible mafia money laundering scheme?

We'll have to watch "how many" they sell each month!

I don't think so, since it's been sitting there for half a year.

The seller has one other item for sale, a swimming pool ionizer for $1000. The thing is, it's used, and the same item can be purchased from Home Depot for $795, new. I'll grant the shipping for this is also low, $9.90. But I'll bet HD will ship theirs for free.

So I think we can add that to the list of items that won't get a bid or buyer, mandolin or not.

Both listings end in 11 days. We'll have to see what happens then. Perhaps the mandolin will reappear at a more reasonable price of $300, which may have been what he had meant to say in the first place.

**Jim Garber** · May-08-2021, 6:43am

Originally Posted by NickR

When I was a kid, I think I saw one of these in an early Dr Who episode in the 1960s- when the world was invaded by Mandomen. The price is pretty reasonable for nominations to this thread and it will sell, I am sure, given time.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25496834628...gAAOSwOWlgkv8W

That is cool and with known provenance! I had a long conversation with a prominent banjo collector years ago and we came to the conclusion that we collect stories as much as instruments. I have a feeling that the neck may have come from a busted mandolin. Certainly the fretboard.

It is my duty, as usual, to preserve the memory of this unique work by posting photos before it disappears into some treasured collection.

**Jim Garber** · May-08-2021, 10:06am

What is also interesting about this Sam Goldberg box mandolin above is the beveling of the sides noticed only from the back. It is possible that the maker found a perfect (?) size wooden serving tray and thought it would make a good sound board and applied a choice piece from his stash of barnwood to the top. Or maybe he decided a box would look more elegant and decided to spend more time putting it together himself.

I certainly hope that this step-grandson (the seller) has kept the bridge otherwise it might be very difficult to find an original Sam Goldberg mandolin bridge.

The seller has no illusions of this instrument, in terms of value and workmanship, unlike many other posts in this thread:

This is an amazing instrument. My Step Grandfather, Sam Goldberg was a renaissance man. He made several mandolins out of localbarn wood in New Jersey. This one was made around 1960. He would ride around the country and find an old barn and collect the wood. He felt it gave the instrument better sound. Sam played for everyone and was highly admired. He has one of his mandolins in a folk museum, but not sure where. This one has amazing sound. I took the strings off about 40 years ago, so the neck wouldn't warp. This one was a gift to me. I have taken very good care of it. I think a true mandolin lover will cherish this piece. It is beautiful folk art, it is primitive and it plays beautiful music and has much soul! Great provinance.

**journeybear** · May-08-2021, 11:51am

I have a hard time believing this sounds all that good, if the wood is as thick as barn wood usually is. He may have planed it into a thinner piece, though - who knows? But since it's deemed folk art, and not a musical instrument, that may not matter much. It looks rather clunky, but even so, one design feature appeals to me - the sound hole. Its octagonal shape echoes the octagonal shape of the body. I've no idea whether that was intentional, but there it is. The overall appearance is more angular than what we're used to seeing, especially the headstock. It does have a certain offbeat charm. Even with its worm-over gears.

**Charles E.** · May-08-2021, 2:03pm

A bit of wishful thinking on this Kay mandolin....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37312037181...sAAOSwvCtfFI3S

**NickR** · May-09-2021, 12:32pm

I have found a spouse for the Sam Goldberg mandolin- I think they go together well as a couple. She's more curvy as females tend to be and her hair is nicely waved- Sam's mandolin's hair is a bit outré:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12470755767...ndition=4%7C10