toneseeker - Posted - 01/26/2015:  15:18:39

Howdy folks,

I'm considering trading an old project D-28 for a Hutto F5, and I'm having trouble finding any information and determining value of John's old instruments. Here are a few poor pictures. The mando has a Gibson logo and a Hutto label and has been expertly distressed to look like Monroe's old F5 by John Hutto.

I'm told it's a real paint peeler.

Love to hear your thoughts on what it might fetch.

Cheers

Ben Venuti - Posted - 01/27/2015:  11:03:45

Hard to say as to price --do you think that tail piece is original? I'd change that thing if it was mine--get a James maybe. Is it numbered? John Hutto reportedly made something like 180 mandolins. He was one of the pioneers of Gibson F5 replicas(some of his early ones had Gibson logos and labels) making an outstanding mandolin when there were hardly any to be had so consequently a lot of his mandolins ended up in the hands of very prominent players. John Hutto died 10 years or so ago so there will be no more. Dempsey Young's Hutto is probably the most famous Hutto and I remember when it came up on the market a few years ago it had a $90,000 price tag! I don't know if it sold at that. I have seen,but not lately, Hutto's listed for about $10,000. If you can document with real evidence that can travel with the mandolin that this Hutto is John's personal Hutto that might add some value on the back end. I can't see that any Hutto would be worth less than $8,000 to $10,000. If you can find some more recent sale prices ------ John Hutto is a pretty big name in bluegrass mandolin circles and there will always be real interest in that mandolin. Unless your Martin is some prewar cannon I'm thinking your getting the better deal!

Ben Venuti - Posted - 01/27/2015:  14:53:28

TI_USER - Posted - 01/28/2015:  18:36:14

Great info Ben.  John's mandolins are about the best I've heard anywhere, at any price.  Dempsey's was probably the best mandolin I've ever heard.  I've seen Dempsey play two times and both times he was playing a Dearstone, which in his hands sounded great, but nowhere near as good as his Hutto.  The one time I heard a Hutto live was in Scott Napier's hands when he was with JD Crowe.  I could not believe how powerful and rich it sounded.  He still plays it (Hutto #132) with Lost and Found (ironically, taking Dempsey's place in the band).

Anthony, if you're able to pull off that deal, do it!!!

toneseeker - Posted - 01/31/2015:  10:31:35

I did the trade - and both parties are delighted! I traded away a project 1946 D-28. The guitar was actually stolen 20 years ago, and it has now made it's way back to the original owner. I had no knowledge that it was stolen until I went to try to sell it on ebay.

I'll post some pictures of the mando here before long.

toneseeker - Posted - 02/01/2015:  18:59:49

Here's some good fresh pics. I think it looks awesome! Love to hear your thoughts, and comment on what you think it might be worth.

toneseeker - Posted - 02/01/2015:  19:01:37

and a few more...

 

Loarcutus - Posted - 02/01/2015:  21:58:05

Looks great!

How does she play and sound?

toneseeker - Posted - 02/02/2015:  09:21:02

It plays and sounds great! I'm a banjo and dobro picker primarily, only know a few mando licks. Hoping to get a mando picker pal over so we can record it before long.