Tidajo - Posted - 03/28/2012:  19:21:16

I picked this up last week at a garage sale in Clearwater, Florida, while on vacation. I am not a player or collector, but couldn't pass on what looked like a deal.

Gibson Mandolin, Serial number : 22504

I'm doing some research, trying to determine some backround on the instrument, and soliciting some advice on how to proceed. I've been told that it looks like a 1917, with an older bridge.

How bad is the damage?  What kind of a price range would a repair/restoration be? I'm trying to find out what the value may be before/after repair/restoration.(How much should I put into it?)

I may resell it, or hold on to it for the fun of owning one. Maybe an investment for the kids, if it has the value.

How can I determine who is a good luthier? I don't want to send it out for estimates to people just because they have fancy websites, you know what I mean?

Any advice or comments would be appreciated!

thanks!

dale

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 03/28/2012:  20:54:20

The serial number would be consistent with 1911 not 1917. That mandolin has had a pretty hard life. The top looks good from the pictures,the bridge looks old but it's not the original to the instrument. It would take a fair amount of work to restore that one and completed would be unlikely to be worth much more than a grand in today's market, if that.. The finish looks (particularly on the back ) maybe beyond restoring and might require refinishing. I think that is not a bad thing myself but it really brings the resale value down on a vintage instrument . The back can probably be repaired or it can be replaced. The instrument is a player not a collector and as an investment?-- fix it and send your kid(s) to get lessons, that's a great investment!. You'll have several hundred dollars into that before your done. A period original tailpiece cover might cost you $150 -$200. Finding a luthier isn't hard, where are you?
I'd love to stumble on to that at a yard sale. Florida has the best yard sales. All them Yankees that move down there to retire and bring their best old stuff with them. I used to love to look for woodworking tools in Florida. The old carpenters from Massachusetts or wherever of course took there tools with them to Florida only to discover that they don't make anything out of wood in Florida.

jgarber - Posted - 04/06/2012:  21:03:00

The back does look bad but I think replacing it would cost a lot more than fixing the existing back and a good luthier could do that. My iother concern would be top sinkage which would be even more costly to repair. In any case I would have a skilled luthier check out the instrument esp to see if the braces were solidly attached. ASs Ben noted, even after restoration it would not be worth much more than $1000. Personally, if you want to sell it a refinish would not increase the value either so you would just be sinking more money into it.



I am also in the Hudson Valley, NY. One luthier I recommend is Lyn Hardy in Woodstock. She can give you an idea what it might need and what it would cost to restore it.

Jim Yates - Posted - 04/06/2012:  21:25:31

Is that the same Lyn Hardy who used to be married to and sing with Jay Unger?  A wonderful performer.

Tidajo - Posted - 04/07/2012:  14:24:02

Thanks for the information!

I decided to sell it outright, as any profit post restoration would be about the same selling as-is to an educated buyer.

thanks again!
dale

Ben Venuti - Posted - 04/07/2012:  19:43:26

I'm glad to have helped discourage you -----So how much?

Tidajo - Posted - 04/14/2012:  15:01:43

I let her go for $300.

The buyer has experience in restoration, and is doing it himself. He already possessed the bridge and tailpiece cover.
Upon receiving it, he says that he is opting for refinishing the instrument.

I may have squeezed out more, but since I picked it up for $19 , I can sleep at night.

Thanks again, and I now i go hunting a little more educated!!

Dale

Ben Venuti - Posted - 04/15/2012:  00:57:54

I don't know --I think anytime you make 15 times your investment you did pretty good! There is no chance that the buyer is going to be able to turn that over for $4500.

jgarber - Posted - 04/27/2012:  18:33:11

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim Yates

Is that the same Lyn Hardy who used to be married to and sing with Jay Unger?  A wonderful performer.

---

Yes!

vhughes2000 - Posted - 05/13/2012:  06:17:28

I bought it..and fixed it..

 

Jim Yates - Posted - 05/13/2012:  07:52:02

Looks really nice Mr. Hughes!  I hope you'll post some more photos of your work on your page.

TSSN - Posted - 05/14/2012:  04:05:27

That is an astounding transformation.

Beanzy - Posted - 05/21/2012:  06:44:56

That mandolin couldn't have found a better sanctuary. really nice to see it get a new lease of life like that.

TSSN - Posted - 05/25/2012:  04:18:25

So, is it for sale, or.....