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

[journeybear]

If I may quote Barat, "Wa wa wee wa!" I feel compelled to do so because I do believe "spuir" is name in glorious language of magnificent Republic of Kazakhstan for "spruce."

[MikeEdgerton]

In the Scottish Gaelic dialect Google says it means spur. Google is not fluent in typo.

[journeybear]

"fluent in typo" - now there is a fine locution. Over time, a great many people have become at least somewhat more that, given how many times we have had to interpret what was written in order to discern what was meant. Even spell check systems have improved to suggest possible intended spellings that include the proximity of keys in the keyboard or keypad, irrespective of language. That's an improvement. And it surpasses the lack of improvement in sellers' proofreading. That may be perpetually lagging behind all other advancements in the area.

[Richard500]

If you click on his other ads, the spelling is almost consistent, as is the degree of primitive. Somehow, I think that this person does not deserve to be mocked.
That said, as a thoroughly over-educated yankee, I do admit to sometimes making light of Southern literacy, or even the sad display in my local Craig’s List.

[journeybear]

While I agree with you to some extent, as I believe in being kind and fair and considerate of others, I also believe that thus I must be fair to my mandolin brothers hereabouts, who know what a true wonder a fine mandolin can be - and can tell the difference between that and this. That said, it does seem at least some attempt at constructing a playable instrument has been made. The neck and tuners look to be consistent with that. But not a whole lot else. The scrolls in particular could have earned this entry to a certain other thread. The headstock decoration and - varnish? - are in a class by themselves. As to spelling ... in his other offerings, he is consistent in misspelling "papper" [sic] on all his drawings. And on this, I wonder whether this is a custom made instrument or the name of the builder is "Costom." We may never know.

From a personal standpoint, though, I admit to a bit of disappointment. I thought at first this might be a missing example of Gibbs' work. It seems not, as the frets and tuners seem at least close to standard. Also, the body doesn't appear to have Gibbs' distinctive incredible heft. Plus the headstock scroll doesn't have the signature disk. I thought I might have stumbled on another piece of his unique brand of folk art. If it had been, with the ability to make an offer, I might have been able to snap this up for far less than the askng price. Oh well. The search continues, ever on ...

[Sue Rieter]

... I do admit to sometimes making light of Southern literacy, or even the sad display in my local Craig’s List.

eg. a "rod iron" fence (seen relatively often on CL NH)

[journeybear]

'Tis true, and the South doesn't have a monopoly on such goofiness. Just seems that way. Spelling things misheard phonetically can be very humorous. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people write "could of" (and its variants) in all seriousness. I don't want to go off on a rant here, but ...

[maxr]

A much older printed phoneticism - One of the revered old 'Soodlum's Irish Session Tunes' books has a tune which the book entitles 'Verse of Vienna'. The related dance, which was popular in the 19thC, is of Polish origin, and everywhere else it's called 'Varsoviana'. Now, imagine someone saying that in a strong Irish accent...

[journeybear]

Well, it did get a buyer. And for full price. How about that? To every rule there is an exception.

I wouldn't say any of the alternatives they offer are "similar items."

[Timbofood]

'Tis true, and the South doesn't have a monopoly on such goofiness. Just seems that way. Spelling things misheard phonetically can be very humorous. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people write "could of" (and its variants) in all seriousness. I don't want to go off on a rant here, but ...

Aah, excellent observation of “Regional Affectation and Mannerisms”
Name me three states that don’t have some sort of local idioms. There are a ton in the Pittsburgh area alone, it’s what language does. Spellcheck has no concept of syntax either. I really love “fluent in typo”! I will be filching that one Mike!
I’m reminded of the parade ground scene in one of the great John Wayne cavalry movies:
Sgt. (Victor McGlaghan)- “There are ladies in camp so WATCH THEM WORDS, WATCH THEM WORDS!”
From off camera “ Watch them grammar!”

[journeybear]

Bumped right into this the other day. Peter Wolf, lead singer for J. Geils Band, turned 75 Sunday, and much internet chatter ensued. Some grammar wonks raised the expected hue and cry when someone posted a video of them performing "Must Of Got Lost." They asserted it should of - whoops! - should have been spelled "Must Have Got Lost." Someone averred it was actually "Musta Got Lost." So I looked it up, and the actual title is "Must Of Got Lost." That's how it's spelled on the album and single cover. I had to tell people this, which caused some eye rolling, I'm sure: 'Take it up with the band. It's misspelled on the album cover, single cover, and I'll bet the label. As "Must Of."'

So wikipedia is forced to spell it thus in the track listing. When I looked it up, I was stunned to see the band misspelled it - repeatedly and consistently. That means everyone is torn between referring to it correctly with the error, or erroneously correcting it. Those bastids!

[Jim Garber]

Actually the grammar wonks would have said it, “Must Have Gotten Lost.” Dontcha think?

[Timbofood]

“It’s the vernacular” Nyuk Nyuk Curly Q Link.

[journeybear]

Actually the grammar wonks would have said it, “Must Have Gotten Lost.” Dontcha think?

Yes, yes I do. And they'd be right. (I think ... my sureness has surely become less assured due to all this surliness and discomfiture.) I think "got" is still acceptable, though.

The filename for the photo in the wiki is "Must've Got Lost." That is not only grammatically correct, but fits the meter and pronunciation. Even though it's not how the song is officially spelled, it meets those criteria. Whoever devised that gets my hat tip and mandosmiley.

[Northwest Steve]

Looks like a nice mandolin but I would like to know their appraisal folks if I every need to file an insurance claim -

https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/...291518902.html

[Peter Barnett]

Looks like a nice mandolin but I would like to know their appraisal folks if I every need to file an insurance claim -

https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/...291518902.html

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[MikeEdgerton]

Looks like a nice mandolin but I would like to know their appraisal folks if I every need to file an insurance claim -

https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/...291518902.html

If you are sirius...

I think I'm more XM. The sad thing about this is that even if you drop a zero off the price he's still in Hollywood with that price.

[rcc56]

I think I'm more XM. The sad thing about this is that even if you drop a zero off the price he's still in Hollywood with that price.

Well, it looks quite clean, so it might bring $1500 on a really good day.
[In case the link goes away, it's a 1940's Gibson A-50 with an implied price of 15 to 20k]

[mrmando]

Gotta love this one: a "Fender acoustic/electric mandolin" at a price no Fender acoustic/electric has to my knowledge ever attained, with one photo of ... a shipping box. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-ACOU...oAAOSw35dgWXmS

[Jim Garber]

The prices of Fender boxes are going way up these days.

[journeybear]

I dunno. I mean, it looks really clean. Not a scratch or dent. Talk about mint condition! Yet no one's bid on it yet. Maybe if there were more photos from different angles.

[mrmando]

Aaaaaand ... it turns out to be an FM-52E, the cheapest Fender e-mando of them all. No idea what made the seller think it was so precious, or that someone would buy it based on a photo of the box.

[journeybear]

So I guess he put up the picture of the box to have something in the listing, until he could put up photos of the actual item? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why not put your whole listing together and then upload? Whatever!



Thanks to the expert for identifying it - which is more than the seller does. The model number is not in the description. BTW, looking around the interweb, I'm seeing it's mostly unavailable. Has it been discontinued? I did see it being offered at a couple of sites for $400 and less - considerably less than his BIN of $2000. Sometimes lack of supply may drive up demand and, correspondingly, price. I don't think that's the case here. Not by 500%.

[mrmando]

I think the FM-52E may finally have been discontinued. I have been trying to sell one at far less than $2K for some time now, but no nibbles yet.

[mrmando]

Fender FM-52E relisted as a Buy It Now at $2500, with copy claiming that it's the last "new in the box" mandolin of its kind, as if (a) the seller had any way of knowing that, and (b) it mattered. Besides, it isn't strictly true, since I got him to remove it from the box long enough to shoot a couple of photos.