Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
This is a folky looking two-point in funky condition that the seller has IDed as a Regal. I highly doubt it. More than likely a homemade job by a decent amateur. It sort of resembles some two point flatbacked Regals but they are not a roughly made as this.
I like how the seller puts Washburn & Martin in the title.
And i the description below:
So, scrubbing and new strings—I think he forgot the huge crack in the top. "Good to go!" Maybe for half of the asking price it might be fun to glue it back together and might even "sound lush."Its got some cracking and heavy wear and tear. Still for such old (what 75+ years!) mando is good shape This Mandolin is a very beautiful looking and playing instrument. This was a attic find so I did not do extensive cleaning. That said it could use a good scrubbing, new strings and should be good to go. As is sound lush and loud.
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Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
All that is true, but that instrument sure has beautiful lines.
I have just received today a set of late 1930s guitar tuners from this seller- they had their original box as well and are probably unused- "Safe Ti String" tuners which were sold as accessories by Oahu and came with their guitars although I have them on my 1941 Kay made Wards retailed Louise Massey cowgirl guitar. The box mentions that you can avoid blood poisoning by using these tuners- the string end goes into a hole in the post and there is also a slot. A very clever idea- and you will not be puncturing your fingers and dying needlessly- the pre-antibiotic age! Anyway, I had a look at his other items and was somewhat amused by the Regal suggestion but I suppose it follows the rule that if you don't know exactly what it is, it might just be a Regal.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
My sentiments exactly, though the cracks may be the least of it. Who knows what is going on inside with bracing (if any) and whether the neck is set properly. It looks like it even has a slight radius in the fretboard which is unusual if it really was from the 1930s (I think). On the other hand, mandolins age rapidly in attic or basement conditions so it could easily be 1950 or 1960s.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
Those tuners look to be German- or very similar to one of the styles used by Levin. If you want to check out Safe Ti String Tuners Jim then this link shows them- you will have to download the pdf of the catalogue. There is a comment from Jake Wildwood and he says they were a Kluson product.
https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...s-catalog.html
We recently had a mandolin posted for identification with some of the traits of this instrument. I love the "Recording King" headstock shape.
In looking at the other one it was more the "double nut". The tuners were similar but not the same. No help there.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...range-Mandolin
Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Oct-02-2020 at 5:29am.
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them". These are the words of J. Garber.
Then there is this Suzuki bowlback.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kis...IAAOSw-ntfd1hN
Maybe they meant $325.oo![]()
Last edited by Charles E.; Oct-03-2020 at 4:14pm.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
Apparently, this mandolin has been a star out there in TV Land. It does not have a tailpiece cover, the headstock and an f hole have been doctored. I paid $40 for one with the cloud tailpiece cover. Another, slightly older, in perfect condition- unplayed, it seems, since about 1940 fetched a mere $82 recently.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Kraftsm...gAAOSw8Ntf3mGY
Well, hope springs eternal. Maybe it’s another errant decimal point?
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
But this has a "vintage sticker rock star case", so that's gotta mean something![]()
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HAN...Cclp%3A2334524
Interesting handmade 4 string electronic. NFI
Looks like something converted from something else.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
In the classifieds...
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/164372#164372
More than a tad ambitious I would think.
And another...
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/164657#164657
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Yes and the plain A I believe have either a non-original bridge or an original with a bone cap. I am not sure where the seller got that price. I can sort of understand the snakehead seller's thinking. Just look at A-4 snakeheads or A-2Zs but still.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
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
2008 Weber Gallatin F, 2018 Collings MT, 1989 Flatiron Performer A, 1929 Gibson A Jr., 2018 Eastman MDO-305
http://ericplatt.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
https://www.lauluaika.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Pl...4404553312723/
The first link still works, seller looking for 7K for a modest A1 snake head mandolin.
Bernunzio Music has a similar Gibson, condition wise, for under 1,500.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
How about this one.. was this a common practise to Copy F5s?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Gibson...IAAOSwmRlfgGVM
Yes, in the 1970's through the early 1990's it was common practice for many of the then small number of independent builders to build F-5 style instruments with "The Gibson" logo and replica Master Model labels. They were easily distinguishable from the instruments Gibson was building at that time. Generally speaking, many of those handmade instruments were better than anything that Gibson had built since before WWII.
And back then, nobody was complaining about the use of the Gibson logo and old style labels. If I remember correctly, Gibson first began to safeguard their rights to the Gibson name around the time that the C.E. Ward instrument was built [1994], and most of the independent builders immediately started to label their instruments with their own names. And no, that instrument was not made by Gibson.
Some of the builders who made instruments with the Gibson logo back then were Randy Wood, Gene Horner, and Tom Morgan. I think Roger Siminoff might also have made a few with the Gibson logo. I'm sure others can add to the list.
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