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The following is the current "for sale or trade" list. Click on the instrument name to see pictures of the instrument. Click directly on any picture to load a very large image. Additional digital photos are available for any item listed. I'm open to trades - what ya got? I'm especially interested in a good Martin guitar or a fine Gibson mandolin; will trade up, down, or sideways for these! As always, you have a 48 hour trial period on mail order sales of used or vintage instruments.
See the details under "ordering". All instruments listed below are available for sale unless marked "on hold" in the description. Click here for a description of our "on hold" policy.
There are more in the shop, this is a partial list......
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World Headquarters...and Guitars!
1923 Gibson A Mandolin
(Serial # 71793 FON 11757) Excellent condition. Snakeheads are considered the best sounding of Gibson oval hole mandolins, as they ring out and punch well. Black top finish and a brownish back and sides. Original Gibson label inside. The date on this one is a bit of a mystery, as the serial number appears to be 74156, but the factory order number rubber stamped inside is 11021 which crosses in the Spann book to a 1924 build date. In any case, this is an excellent sounding and playing mandolin. It was originally built as a "A" model with no logo, top bound only. Finsih and hardware are original but missing the pickguard. Just set up by my luthier. Frets are fine and neck set is good. Its a nice loud mandolin in excellent condition, with excellent tone. Plays easy with a nice low action. Shows a little picking and case wear. Excellent for Celtic, old time and jazz. Comes with the original hardshell case. ..........USD $2950
1919 Gibson A2 Mandolin
(Serial No. 52335) Excellent minus condition showing some pick wear on the top. Original Sheraton brown finish. Nice playing and sounding mandolin just set up by my luthier Marty Beeson. No breaks or cracks, neck is straight, frets are fine, original tuners, tailpiece and bridge, and missing the pickguard. Shows a little pick wear on the top in the area usually covered by the pickguard and the usual nicks and dings of a mandolin used to make music for over 90 years. Big open woody round hole sound. Comes with a newer hardshell case.........USD $2550
1920s Gibson A3 Mandolin
1907 Gibson A4 Mandolin
(Serial Number 59949) Bought from the family of the original owner. Excellent structural condition, with the white top finish. Norman Blake has a video out where he uses one. Plays very easy and has strong volume with a very balanced sound - this would be a good session instrument. Excellent for Celtic, jazz, classical, or old-time music. These oval hole mandolins are my favorite for sitting around and picking fiddle tunes. Neck is straight, neck set is good, and the frets are fine. The body finish is original. Shows the typical wear of an 100 year old instrument used the make music, espcially on the top edge where your arm comes over, and wear under the pickguard. I suspect the pickguard was left off when it was played, and just reinstalled when it was sold. Although the camera flash shows the top as white, it has aged to a beautiful ivory color. All hardware is original incluing the hard to find original white pickguard. No repairs noted. Nice low action as the mandolin was just set up. Comes with a nice original hardshell case.......USD $2950
(Serial No. 6351) Excellent condition. Nice sounding and playing session mandolin. Black top finish and a darker reddish brown back and sides. Has the fleur-di-lise peghead inlay as well as The Gibson logo, both in pearl. It has the original Gibson label inside. Hardware is original including the inlaid pickguard and the Handel tuners. Bridge and fretboard are ebony. Has a flat fretboard with the typical 1 1/8 paddle peghead nut width. Shows typical playing wear and a few small nicks and dings. No repairs noted. Big open woody round hole sound. Just set up by luthier Marty Beeson. Comes with a hardshell case.....USD $2900
1914 Gibson A4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 16217 FON 1936) Excellent plus condition. The A4 was the top of the line A style mandolin for Gibson. Very clean mandolin, only showing a little playing wear where the arm comes over the top, and on the back of the neck. Original finish with black top and a reddish back and sides, all solid woods with a two piece birch back and sides, spruce top, pearl logo and fleur di lise in the peghead, original hardware including the inlaid Handel tuners, bound top and back, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension. Fitted with 1920s era adustable Gibson bridge, which was a common upgrade. Nice big woody sound from this mandolin with good bass! Neck is straight, neck angle and frets are good. No structural repairs and only a few of the usual nicks and dings. Excellent for Celtic or old time or jazz or classical. Comes with a nice original hardshell case......USD $3150
1914 Gibson A4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 17511 FON 2044) Excellent condition. The A4 was the top of the line A style mandolin for Gibson. This one is really clean. Original finish with black top and a reddish back and sides, all solid woods with a two piece birch back and sides, spruce top, pearl logo and fleur di lise in the peghead, original hardware including the inlaid Handel tuners, bound top and back, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension. Fitted with a new Richie Dotson replica Loar adjustable bridge. Frets were just dressed and the mandolin set up by luthier Marty Beeson. Nice big woody sound from this mandolin with good bass! Neck is straight, neck angle and frets are good. No structural repairs and only a few of the usual nicks and dings. Excellent for Celtic or old time or jazz or classical. Comes with the original hardshell case.....USD $3150
1917 Gibson A4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 32557 FON 3269) Excellent condition. The A-4 was the top of the line A style mandolin for Gibson in 1917. It has a dark red sunburst top finish and reddish back and sides, pearl peghead inlay and logo, bound top and back, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension. The hardware and finish are original but missing the pickguard. Nice big woody sound from this mandolin with good bass! Neck is straight, neck angle is good and the frets show very little wear. Shows the usual nicks and dings of an instrument used to make music for a hundred years. Action is low and playable and it has a good ringing sound. Here is a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont. Excellent for Celtic or old-time music. Original hardshell case included. ....USD $2950
1918 Gibson A4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 40590 FON 11030) Excellent restored condition. The A-4 was the top of the line A style mandolin for Gibson in 1919. It has a dark red sunburst top finish and reddish back and sides, pearl peghead inlay and logo, bound top and back, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension. Nice one piece back. The hardware and finish are original but missing the pickguard. Nice big woody sound from this mandolin with good bass! Neck is straight, neck angle is good and the frets show very little wear. There is a long top crack that has beed glued and cleated, and should not be a problem. However, it does lower the price. Shows the usual nicks and dings of an instrument used to make music for a hundred years. Action is low and playable and it has a good ringing sound. Excellent for Celtic or old-time music. Original hardshell case included.......USD $2950
1936 Kalamazoo KM21 Mandolin
(FON: 539 B 44) Excellent condition. Kalamazoo was the budget or student line for Gibson. Note that the instruments were made by Gibson in house. This mandolin has mahogany back and sides, an Adirondack (red) spruce top, and a flat rosewood fretboard with a 1 1/8 inch nut and a 13 7/8 inch scale. The neck is straight and in set, and the frets were just dressed and still have plenty of life left. It is top bound only. It has a woody and pretty tone with strength through the upper midrange and fat treble string response. Rounded V neck profile, 100% original, including finish, frets, nut, tuners, bridge, and tailpiece. Here is a link to a video clip of this mandolin as played by Joe Donahue of Wesley Chapel, FL and another link to a video clip by Nathan Beaumont of Brandon. Comes with a case......USD $1350
1937 Gibson A50 Mandolin
(Serial No. 1992F-21) Nice original wide body mandolin. Has an original sunburst finish, highly flamed maple back, sides and neck, ebony fingerboard with Lucas style inlays and the "thick" pearl peghead Gibson logo and fleur-di-lise. Has the original tailpiece cover but is missing the pickguard, however the pickguard mounting hardware is in the case. Tuners are correct type Klusons but are a little later wartime era with riveted gears. Looks like it might have had Grover tuners on it at one time. At 14 1/2 inches, these are the longest scale mandolins ever made by Gibson. Frets and neck set are good and the mandolin was and set up by my luthier. Plays like silk and has a good chop. Here is a video clip of this mandolin as played by Joe Donahue. These mandolins were used extensively in bluegrass as they were more affordable than the F5 but still pretty fancy. Comes with a newer hardshell case that fits well....USD $2150
1939 Gibson A1 Mandolin
(Serial No. EG-4397) Very clean mandolin bought from the family of the original owner. Original sunburst finish and hardware, Adirondack
spruce top with F holes, dark stained nicely figured maple back, sides and neck, white script silkscreened "Gibson" peghead logo, clamshell tailpiece cover. Ebony bridge and tailpiece. It does not have a back brace, so according to book it is an A1. These were used a lot in bluegrass as not everyone could afford a F5.
Nice playing and sounding instrument with no issues. Just set up by my luthier. Frets are fine, neck is straight. Good strong bluegrass sound with a woody chop. For a short video clip of this mandolin played by Nathan Beaumont click here.Very loud mandolin - excellent volume. Comes with a nice clean original soft case.....USD $2150
1940 Gibson A50 Mandolin
(FON 246 27) Original sunburst finish and hardware, Adirondack spruce top with F holes, dark stained nicely flamed maple back, sides and neck, white script silkscreened "Gibson" peghead logo, clamshell tailpiece cover. Very cool translucent amber plastic tuner buttons. These were used a lot in bluegrass as not everyone could afford a F5. Nice playing and sounding instrument with no issues. Frets are fine, neck is straight. You can see just a little bit of crazing beginning in the original pickguard, but this has been stablized to prevent spreading. Good strong bluegrass sound with good tone and volume and a nice woody chop. Comes with a hard shell case......USD $2150
1947 Gibson A50 Mandolin
(FON 4443 2) Original sunburst finish and hardware, dark stained nicely flamed maple back, sides and neck, spruce top with F holes, early post war decal "Gibson" peghead logo, clamshell tailpiece cover. These were used a lot in bluegrass as not everyone could afford a F5. Nice playing and sounding instrument with no issues. Tuners are original and they work fine. Note that the buttons are slightly shrunk, which is common on these instruments. Frets are fine, neck is straight. A modern pickguard has been fitted. Good strong bluegrass sound with good tone and volume and a nice woody chop. Comes with a hard shell case........USD $2150
1917 Gibson F2 Mandolin
(Serial Number: 36888 FON 9173) Excellent condition. This 1917 Gibson F2 apparently went back to Gibson in the 1930's. The serial number and factory order number date the mandolin to a build date of 1917. Back then, if you needed work done on your instrument (refret, for example) you sent it back to the factory. Gibson replaced the peghead veneer with one with a straight logo, an adjustable bridge was fitted, a truss rod was added, and a new label with the old serial number and the model name rubber stamped on the label (Gibson used a rubber stamp for the model name on the label in the 1930s onward), and a shaped hardshell case with a pink interior was added. I suppose Gibson could have just replaced the neck on the mandolin, but if they did so it cannot be seen. This is an excellent mandolin upgraded by Gibson to have all of the Loar improvements. The F2 was the next to the top of the line mandolin for Gibson. It has a true red sunburst, spectacular flamy woods on the sides and back, pearl logo, bound top, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension, truss rod in the neck, and an original adjustable bridge. The differences in a F2 and a F4 are cosmetic - the F2 has an unbound back, fingerboard and peghead, and simpler peghead inlay. The build is the same and it has the same sound - just less cosmetic trim. The action is good and the sound is excellent. BIG tone and volume! Nice woody sound from this mandolin with good bass. Neck is straight, neck angle is good and the frets show very little wear. There is some picking wear evident on the mandolin but no structural repairs. Finish and hardware are original Gibson. For a short video clip of this mandolin played by Nathan Beaumont click here. Gibson scroll mandolins are hot right now and getting very hard to find, and prices are continuing to rise every year. Comes with the hardshell case....USD $5950
1923 Gibson F2 Mandolin
(Serial Number: 73275 FON 11784) Excellent minus condition. This is one of the best oval hole mandolins ever made by Gibson - a Loar era truss rod F2. The F2 was the next to the top of the line mandolin for Gibson. It has a true red sunburst, spectacular flamy woods on the sides and back, pearl logo, bound top, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension, truss rod in the neck, and the original adjustable bridge. The differences in a F2 and a F4 are cosmetic - the F2 usually has an unbound back, fingerboard and peghead, and simpler peghead inlay. The build is the same and it has the same sound - just less cosmetic trim. The action is good and the sound is excellent. BIG tone and volume! Nice woody sound from this mandolin with good bass. Neck is straight, neck angle is good and the frets show very little wear. There is some picking wear evident on the mandolin but no structural repairs. Finish and hardware are original. I note that there is tortoise plastic back binding on this instrument. I have had about 7 mandolins over the years with the tortoise back binding added, and they were all 1923 models. I suspect this was a short-lived attempt by the Gibson factory to compensate for the back shrinkage common on these mandolins. Loar era scroll mandolins are hot right now and getting very hard to find, and prices are continuing to rise every year. Comes with the original green lined hardshell case......USD $6950
1923 Gibson F2 Mandolin
(Serial Number: 74819 FON 11903) Excellent minus condition. This is one of the best oval hole mandolins ever made by Gibson - a Loar era truss rod F2. The F2 was the next to the top of the line mandolin for Gibson. It has a true red sunburst, spectacular flamy woods on the sides and back, pearl logo, bound top, and a bound ebony fingerboard with treble extension, truss rod in the neck, and the original adjustable bridge. The differences in a F2 and a F4 are cosmetic - the F2 has an unbound back, fingerboard and peghead, and simpler peghead inlay. The build is the same and it has the same sound - just less cosmetic trim. The action is good and the sound is excellent. BIG tone and volume! Nice woody sound from this mandolin with good bass. Neck is straight, neck angle is good and the frets show very little wear. There is some picking wear evident on the mandolin but no structural repairs. Finish and hardware are original. For a short video clip of this mandolin played by Nathan Beaumont click here. Loar era scroll mandolins are hot right now and getting very hard to find, and prices are continuing to rise every year. Comes with the original green lined hardshell case.....USD $6950
1920 Gibson F4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 62127 FON 11366) Excellent condition. True red sunburst finish. This mandolin was loved - the first owner sent it back to Gibson around 1922 to have a truss rod installed. Gibson also fitted the new 2 piece bridge and provided a new green lined hard shell case. Back then, when your instrument needed work, you sent it back to the factory. The local luthier as we know them today did not exist except possibly in the big cities. Gibson installed the truss rod right through the existing peghead inlay. This was common practice at Gibson for refits. The hardware and finish are original as seen by the Waverly tuners and the clamp mounted pickguard. The nice thing is you get the best of both - the slightly wider neck of the non-truss rodded instrument, but with all of the Loar era improvments. When I bought it, the rear seam behind the tailpiece was starting to open up. Master luthier Gail Hester perfectly reglued the seam and set up the mandolin. You cannot tell the work was done. The nice woods compliment the sound. This is a exceptionally good sounding F4 with that wonderful woody round hole Gibson tone, and it plays beautifully. Excellent for Celtic, jazz, classical, or old-time music. As mentioned earlier, it comes with an original early 20s Gibson green lined hard shell case.....USD $7250
1940 Gibson F4 Mandolin
(Serial No. 96390 fon 565F) Gibson F style mandolins from the 1930s and 40s are extremely rare. By then, the mando craze from the teens and early 20s had faded away, and the F4 was only built as a special order. This particular mandolin features a straight across pearl Gibson logo in the unbound peghead and F7 style Nick Lucas inlays in the bound fingerboard, squared at the bottom. Has a sunburst top, chocolate brown stained maple back and sides, and a checkerboard pattern soundhole rosette. The fingerboard is elevated off the top like the F5. The condition is overall excellent. No repairs, crack or other structural issues noted. It retains all of it's original hardware except the missing pickguard. The tuners, bridge, tailpiece and cover are all correct. The best thing about this mandolin is the sound!! It is a really great sounding mandolin. It has a very deep throaty bass response. The playability is great. As a general rule, the F4/F2s from this era are consistently good sounding. Here is a short video clip of this instrument played by James Hurlburt of Plant City, FL. I have had several of these 40s mandolins and they are real sleepers on the market. Comes in the original hardshell case.......USD $5250
1965 Gibson F12 Mandolin
(Serial No. 326223) Excellent condition, cherry sunburst finish. The F12 was intended to be the plainer version of the F5, but this one is still the classic Gibson scroll mandolin. It has all the good stuff - long neck, f-holes, elevated fingerboard, flamed maple back and sides, solid spruce top, bound rosewood fingerboard, gold hardware, and the pearl Gibson logo. Frets are fine, neck is straight and the neck set is good. The only difference from the F5 of the period is the unbound peghead, single ply body binding, a simpler peghead logo, no treble extension, and the neck is mahogany instead of maple. That's it - and the price, of course. Action is great - easy and low. Original finish and hardware. Shows some expected finish checking and the usual small nicks and dings of mandolin used to make music for over 50 years. Click here for a video clip and click again here for a second video clip of this mandolin. Comes with the original Gibson rectangular case......USD $3950
1962 Gibson A5 Mandolin
(Serial No. 42877) Excellent condition, a clean original mandolin. Gibson has used A5 as a designation for numerous styles of mandolins. This is the style known as a Two Point. This is the same style mandolin as played by the great Jethro Burns. Has an original cherry sunburst finish, highly flamed maple back, sides and neck, ebony fingerboard dot inlays and the pearl peghead Gibson logo and crown. Has the original tailpiece cover and pickguard. Tuners are correct Klusons. Frets and neck set are good and the mandolin was and set up by my luthier. Plays like silk and has a good chop. Here is a short video clip of this instrument played by Nathan Beaumont. Comes with a newer hardshell case.......USD $2950 ON HOLD for JB
1974 Gibson A12 Mandolin
(Serial No. 962933) Excellent condition. Original hardware and finish. This cool and unique A12 features the famous lump scroll that makes this mandolin an odd cross between an F and A model. All solid woods. This mandolin has an arched maple back and mahogany sides, a spruce top, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge. Has a 1 1/8 inch nut with a flat fretboard with the treble extension. Frets are fine, neck set is good and the neck is straight. Body is top bound only with multi-ply white binding. No issues and no repairs. Here is a video clip of this mandocello as played by Nathan Beaumont. Comes with a hardshell case.....USD $1500
2001 Gibson F5 Fern Mandolin
(Serial No. 11213030) Excellent plus condition. Sunburst laccquer finish. This is the classic Gibson scroll mandolin - long neck, f-holes, elevated fingerboard, heavily flamed maple sides and one piece back, solid Sitka spruce top, bound ebony fingerboard, gold plated hardware, and the Fern peghead inlay. This mandolin was made in Nashville, and was signed by luthier Danny Roberts. Shows almost no playing wear or finish checking. The frets were dressed and the mandolin has just been set up by my luthier. Action is great - easy and low. This mandolin sounds great with a strong chop and bark. Comes with the original TKL rectangular hardshell case. This is a really good mandolin......USD $8950
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None at this time
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Flatiron was started by Steve Carlson as "Back Porch Productions" in Bozeman, Montana in 1979. Bruce Weber was an early employee and built many of the mandolins. Their first mandolins were copies of the teens Gibson "Army-Navy" pancake mandolins. They later branched out into carved top instruments, and were building a superior mandolin to Gibson by the mid to late 1980s. In May of 1987 Gibson bought Flatiron and moved all mandolin production from Nashville to Bozeman. Mandolins were built in Bozeman until 1998, when Gibson moved all production back to Nashville. In 2000 Gibson discontinued the Flatiron line, and later revived the name to use for cheap souvenir mandolins at the Opry Mills Store in Nashville. Current Flatiron mandolins are low quality Chinese imports.
Although Flatiron was the "budget" line, since 1987 Gibson and Flatiron mandolins were built side by side in the plant by the same luthiers. Both are the same high build quality. There were some models of each that were identical and the only difference was the color of the finish and the name on the peghead. There are some basic differences in the upper end models. The top of the line Gibsons were always tone bar braced, used traditional size fret wire and had the classic fingerboard extension. The Flatiron top of the line Master and Artist mandolins were X braced, which many pickers think gives a more percussive chop. They also had abbreviated fingerboard extensions, had a radiused fretboard and used larger fret wire. The pre-Gibson carved top Flatirons are considered some of the best post war mandolins made. The Bozeman era Gibson and Flatiron mandolins are excellent bluegrass instruments. |
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Audey Ratliff runs a one-man shop making mandolins in east Tennessee. At one time he had a small production shop with assistants, but he found that the way to insure high quality workmanship and good sound was just to do it himself. He has now concentrated his efforts on building the finest F5 style bluegrass mandolin available. The mandolins sound better than ever...the bad news is that they're getting harder and harder to get. Audey just may make the best bluegrass mandolin on the planet for under $5000...we invite you to be the judge. |
NEW Ratliff R5 Mandolin
(Serial No. 1265) New with lifetime warranty to the original owner, medium red brown sunburst finish. Audey only build about 18 mandolins a year. Getting a new one to sell is tough - every dealer out there wants one, as they are excellent mandolins. Ratliff builds a fine looking and fine sounding mandolin. Build quality is top notch, as good as it gets. This is the Country Boy model R5 from Audey. The Country Boy is built the same as the top of the line R5 from Ratliff, with a satin finish, less trim, with a single bound top and unbound back and headstock. It still has all the design features that give Ratliffs their tone and power. This is the classic F5 style mandolin with the long neck, f holes, and the elevated ebony fretboard with dot inlays. Nut width is 1 1/8 inch. It features a beautiful maple back and sides, and a maple neck. It also features a hand-carved Adirondack red spruce top. Tradional flat fretboard thats slightly shortened to eliminate pick click in the sweet spot. Decal logo. Fit and finish is as good as the big builders, and the sound is there. Even though its a new mandolin, it has that woody bluegrass bark and the excellent volume and tone that is typical of these mandolins. Here is a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of Brandon, FL. Comes with a new shaped hardshell case.........USD $3750 list price. Call for your internet price.
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2002 BRW F5 Mandolin
(Serial # 9) Excellent condition. I originally bought this mandolin from Jack Lawrence of Doc Watson fame, sold it, and I just bought it back. This is an early mandolin from one of the better small shop builders out there today. Ben Wilcox builds a fine mandolin, and this one shows he had the sound dialed in from the beginning. Traditional F5 body style mandolin with an Adirondack spruce top, heavily flamed maple back, sides and neck, fully bound including the neck and peghead, ebony peghead overlay with a pearl inlay and "BRW" logo, ebony bridge, nickle Schaller tuners with pearl buttons, one piece Montleone style cast tailpiece. Tradition sunburst finish in lacquer. The flat ebony fingerboard has a 1 1/8 inch nut, banjo frets, a round neck profile, and is scooped to eliminate pick click. Recently set up professionally for low easy action. Good loud bluegrass mandolin with a good woody chop and sweet trebles. Shows some very minor nicks and dings from years of playing music, but no major issues or repairs. Fitted with an internal pickup and an endpin jack. Click here for a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont, and click here for a video clip of this mandolin as played by Herb Manila of the band Herb and Hanson. Comes with a nice hardshell case......USD $3950
2008 Collings MF Mandolin
(Serial No. 934) Excellent plus/near mint condition, sunburst satin lacquer finish, built in Austin,Texas. Collings mandolins are built to the same high quality standards as their guitars. Plays nice with good low action and sounds pretty good, too. This mandolin has a big, rich voice with great projection and a powerful chop - everything you'd expect from a Collings. Nice clean mandolin with an Adirondack spruce top and heavily flamed Eastern maple back and sides. Gold Gotah original tuners and one-piece Collings tailpiece. Top is bound in tortoise. Has a 1 3/16 inch nut and jumbo frets on the radiused ebony fretboard, which is shortened by Collings to eliminate pick click. Has a soft V profile neck which has the finish removed from the back of the neck. This is called a speed neck, common in the South, where the finish is removed to allow your hand to slide easily up and down the neck in the hot humid Southern summers. It works well in cooler climates, too. Fitted with the Collings one piece tailpiece. No repairs or other issues noted. Comes with a Collings shaped hardshell case.......USD $5250
1971 Goya Model 158 Mandolin
(Serial No. 1143) Excellent condition. Original hardware and finish. Good mandolins are made everywhere. This is a Goya Model 158, made in Sweden by Levin. Levin is an old and well respected musical instrument maker. This mandolin has a mahogany back and sides, a spruce top, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge. Has a 1 1/8 inch nut with a flat fretboard. Frets are fine, neck set is good and the neck is straight. Body is top bound only with multi-ply white binding. No pickguard as made. Very good sounding mandolin with good response all across the strings and up and down the neck. The instrument has a flat top and back. Its not surprising that it reminds me of the Flatiron pancake mandolins, as this one also has a loud and direct sound. Click here for a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont. Comes with the original soft case....USD $1050
1921 Lyon and Healy Style A Professional Model Mandolin
(Serial No.1560) Excellent condition. This instrument is not just gorgeous, but it also sounds it, too. If you've never played a top-flight Lyon & Healy mandolin from this period, they're simply a few evolutionary steps ahead of the competition at the time. These elaborate and beautifully made mandolins were the only really serious competition Gibson ever faced in the high-end carved top 8-string market. Using the finest materials and a thoroughly original design, Lyon & Healy created a timeless classic in the Style A. The violin scroll headstock is immediately distinctive, but the 2-point body, shaped pickguard, and clamp tailpiece cover are all signature features. The sound of these instruments is more delicate and lighter than most Gibsons, with a nicely rounded top end and less "bark". They have been considered since the 1920's to be the best instruments ever made for classical mandolin playing. I am always impressed by both the sound and craftsmanship of the Lyon & Healy mandolins, and the top of the line Style A is an extremely fine instrument worthy of any player's or collector's attention. This one was made around 1921 in Chicago and has the Lyon and Healy label inside. This mandolin features an assymetrical 2 point body shape, birdseye maple for the back and sides, solid Adirondack spruce top, a 13 inch scale, radiused fretboard, clamp tailpiece with the most amazing cover ever, vulvcanized fibre headstock faceplate and removable floating pickguard, and the most beautiful violin style carved headstock. Frets are good, neck set is good, finish and parts are original. Click here for a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont of the Duck Wallow Band, Brandon FL. Like 99% of these mandolins, it has a repaired peghead crack. This is a known weak point in the design of the mandolin. It was skillfully repaired by luthier Richie Dotson in Virginia. Comes with the original hard shell case.....USD $4950
1928 Martin Style A Mandolin
(Serial No. 13844) Excellent structural condition showing some playing wear. Nice early flat back Martin mandolin with mahogany back and sides, Adirondack spruce top, and an ebony fingerboard and bridge, tortoise binding and the inlaid tortoise pickguard. Original 9" wide body. Original finish and hardware. Good straight neck, original ebony nut, original bar frets, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. The Martin stamp is on the back of the peghead and also stamped on the inside. No cracks or repairs noted. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Comes with a hardshell case. Comes with a case......USD $1100
1963 Martin Style A Mandolin
(Serial No. 24062) Excellent structural condition showing some playing wear. Nice early flat back Martin mandolin with mahogany back and sides, Sitka spruce top, and an ebony fingerboard and bridge, tortoise binding and the inlaid tortoise pickguard. Original 9" wide body. Original finish and hardware. Good straight neck, original ebony nut, original bar frets, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. The Martin stamp is on the back of the peghead and also stamped on the inside. No cracks or repairs noted. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Comes with a hardshell case.....USD $1100
1921 Martin Style AK Mandolin
(Serial No. 9093) Mandolin has been played but is in excellent condition. This is the early style peghead with the Martin stamp embossed on the back of the peghead and inside on the back strip but no decal on the front. Front, back and sides are figured Hawaiian Koa wood. Original ebony fingerboard with small dot inlays and ebony bridge. Good neck set and original bar frets, neck is straight, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. No cracks or repairs, but does have some minor scratches and dings here and there. Good strong volume with a nice tone. Koa seems to give more mid-range cut vs. woody/tubbiness and the trebles are smoothed off a bit. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Nice original rosewood binding and inlaid celluloid tortoiseshell pickguard. Original tuners and tailpiece cover. Comes with an original hardshell case.......USD $2250
1932 Martin Style C Mandolin
(Serial No. D-15376) Excellent condition with minor playing wear. Martin made 5 grades of flatback mandolins, from A to E. The Style A and Style B mandolins are easily found, but the higher grades are more difficult to locate, with Style C being the middle grade. Its a early Style C with the colored wood marquetry top binding, Adirondack spruce top with beautifully grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a bound ebony fingerboard with slotted diamond inlays, and an abalone pearl soundhole rosette. Good neck and frets, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. No cracks or repairs. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Nice tortoiseshell pickguard. All original finish and hardware, with inset tuners and no tuner bushings as made. Martin stamp and serial number on the back strip inside the mandolin. Interesting that this body was originally planned to be a Style D, but was finished out as a Style C. Original tuners and engraved tailpiece cover. Click here for a video clip of this mandolin as played by Nathan Beaumont of the Duck Wallow Band, Brandon FL. Comes with a older but probably not original hardshell case.....USD $2450
1930s National Style 0 Mandolin
(Serial No. 302) Early Style 0 mandolin with triangular body, single resonator and 12 frets clear of the body. Has a round neck with a bound rosewood fretboard. Shows some playing wear on the cover plate and a few nicks and dents, but nothing major. Original hardware and finish. Typical with Nationals, the neck has some bow in it and would need a reset to play up the neck in standard. But that not what you want this for - its very cool just like it is for slide work, especially slide blues. Think Sam Bush. Sam plays slide mandolin - check out his sound to see all the possibilities. Very loud with a unique sound. Comes with a slide and a Travelite style foam hard case. Consigned. ..USD $1500
1980s Stefan Sobell Mandolin
(Serial # none) Excellent condition. Stefan Sobell builds the finest instrument for Celtic music in the world. This is the sound you hear on all the Irish and Celtic recordings. This is an earlier mandolin for him as it has the rosewood back and sides and a cedar top. This 12-1/2 inch wide mandolin also has a mahogany neck, herringbone top trim, fully bound body, gold tuners, brass Sobell one piece tailpiece, and an ebony fingerboard. The fingerboard is slightly wider than a Gibson at 1 7/16 inch to allow quick rolls and triplets. Scale length is a bit longer than a Gibson at 14 3/8", which gives amazing sustain. Neck is straight, neck angle is good, frets are fine. The bridge is original and is fit well to the top. There is a Mcintyre pickup on the underside of the top and the mandolin is fitted with an endpin jack. Action is low and comfortable. Very loud instrument that will cut through sessions with ease. Deep woody round tone and very clear notes. Comes with the original blue fiberglass Jack Clark hardshell case...USD $6000ON HOLD for RB in NC
1920s Stahl Flatback Mandolin
(Serial No. 027323) Excellent condition. Made by Larsen Brothers. This mandolin is identical to the Mauer Style 30 flatback style shown in the 1932 catalog (with the exception of a Stahl label). Back and sides are Brazilian rosewood, top is Adirondack, ebony fretboard and bridge. Has a pearl trimmed soundhole rosette, fancy marquetry top binding, pearl peghead inlay and fretboard position markers, engraved tailpiece cover and tuners backplate. For a short video clip of this mandolin played by James Hurlburt of Lakeland FL click here. Just set up so it plays nicely. Comes with the original very cool case missing the handle.. ....USD $2050
1940-50s Kay Strad-O-Lin Mandolin
(No serial number) Good entry level vintage instrument. I think this is 1940s wartime production (or just before wartime) based on the logo and the type of tuners, and no bushings. Structually fine with a maple back and spruce top. Has the original see through plastic pickguard and tailpiece cover. The reset of the hardware and finish also look original. Frets are good and the mandolin has just been set up so it plays nicely. Has a modern case..... ....USD $750
2011 Weber Gallatin F5 Mandolin
(Serial #3155004) Very good condition. Gloss solid brown finish, solid spruce top, unbound body with flamed maple back and sides, factory shortened ebony fretboard to eliminate pick click, pearl logo and slotted diamond inlays, Weber one piece tailpiece. This is a F5 style mandolin that's great for bluegrass, or if you just want a good mandolin to have around to pick. Its a clean mandolin showing almost no picking wear. There is some finish flaking on the top edge of the peghead, but it canot be seen fron the front. Good chop and a deep woofy woody tone, just set up so it plays nice and easy. Bruce Weber built a lot of Gibsons and Flatirons there in Montana. He opened his own shop and was turning out high quality instruments. This instrument is ready to go. It needs nothing but your fingers on the strings! Comes with a hardshell case...... ....USD $2750
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For a brief discussion of Tiny Moore, Johnny Gimble and the Gibson EM-150 mandolin click here!
1970 Martin 016NY Guitar
(Serial No. 268112) The Martin 016NY is as close as the 1960s Martin company got to making a 1920s guitar. The folk boom of the late 50s made the old style 12 fret Martins fashionable among discerning traditional players, and several so-called New York models were officially added to the line from 1962-1965. These were named to honor both the Martin company's original roots in that city and the strength and influence of the contemporary Greenwich Village folk scene. The blank fingerboard, satin lacquer finish, smaller rectangular bridge, and lack of a pickguard certainly gives it a more vintage vibe, but rest assured these models were intended for steel strings and work well with light gauge bronze. That doesn't mean this one wouldn't sound good with silk & steel strings, however, which would make for even easier string action, and it's very easy with the light gauge steel strings that are on it now. Original tuners, nut, bridge (reglued) and bridge pins and the satin finish is all original. 1 7/8 inch nut, bar frets, top bound only with black/white 5 ply binding, mahogany back and sides with a Sitka spruce top. Has the desirable small maple bridge plate. one minor repair on the bass side, but no cracks. Cosmetically, there are several nicks /dings and some finish checking, common to vintage instruments. It does show some playing wear, with some fretboard divots in the positions near the nut and some pick wear at the edge of the soundhole. Excellent neck set. Nice low action well suited to fingerstyle playing. Here is a short video clip of this instrument played by Nathan Beaumont. It has a bigger sound than is typical of a 0-16, with a lot more bass response. Comes with a newer nice hardshell case that fits well....USD $2950
1970 Martin 018 Guitar
(Serial No.: 264680) Excellent plus condition. These small body Martins have a volume much larger and all out of proportion to their body size, and they are super comfortable for just sitting on the couch and playing. This guitar was purchased from the original owner whose parents bought it for her new. The guitar features mahogany back and sides, a solid Sitka spruce top, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge. Frets are good and the neck was recently reset by luthier Jack Dillen in Ashville. The guitar plays like butter with a nice low action. If you look closly you can determine the guitar is not mint, but there are no repairs or noticible nicks or flaws. The original black pickguard is starting to curl up very slightly at the edges. Thats all I see. Good volume and tone from this 53 year old Martin. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of the Duck Wallow Band, Brandon FL. Comes with the original molded blue Martin hardshell case.....USD $3450ON HOLD for SL in CA
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1935 Recording King Carson J Robison Guitar
(No serial number) Built by Gibson, this guitar was issued to capitalize on the fame of Robinson, who was the first Singing Cowboy. It is in excellent condition with a couple of repairs. The body is identical to a Kalamazoo KG11, also built by Gibson. Based on the Gruhn book, this guitar was only built from fall 1939 until fall 1940. Excellent condition. Has the larger 1-3/4 nut on the chunky neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and small straight bridge, sunburst top, mahogany back and sides with a Adirondack spruce top, top binding only, and original firestripe pickguard. The body is slightly shorter than the Gibson L00. This is a remarkably original guitar. Black button tuners are original. Original ladder bracing gives that authentic Delta blues and old time sound. The action is very low and playable. It sounds much larger than a small body guitar. This is an excellent guitar for ragtime or fingerstyle blues. Two top cracks from the edges of the bridge on each side have been glued and cleated and should present no future issue. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of the Duck Wallow Band, Brandon FL. Comes with a newer soft case......USD $2950
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Mossman guitars are considered to be some of the better handcrafted instruments from the 70s and 80s. In direct competition with other high-end brands, Stuart Mossman's guitars could be rightfully compared to Michael Gurian who was also active around the time time period. In fact, it is our opinion that Gurians are to fingerpicking what Mossmans are to flatpicking. Mossman combined high-quality workmanship with great attention to detail to create some of the finest guitars of his era and helped to pioneer the small factory guitar. |
1977 Mossman Flint Hills Guitar
(Serial No. 77-4950) My first "real" guitar was a Mossman. Back during the "dark days" of Gibson and Martin in the mid-70s, Mossman was consistently making high quality hand built guitars. The pride of craftsmanship shows, as each employee who worked on the guitar signed their initials on the label. They have stood the test of time and are still considered outstanding guitars. Excellent condition with straight grain two piece Indian rosewood back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, ebony fingerboard with pearl dots, nickel hardware and an ebony bridge. Strap button added at the heel. Built in the original Winfield, KS shop. Finish and hardware is all original with no repairs noted. Shows the typical finish checking for Mossmans of this era. Good action and playability. Here is a video clip of this guitar as played by Ed Wright of Brandon, FL. The action is perfect.This is an excellent vintage hand built US made bluegrass guitar with lots of volume and tone. Comes with a hardshell case........USD $2950
2000 Mossman Blackland Custom Vintage Guitar
(Serial No. 0018018) Excellent condition. Built in Texas, this guitar upholds the reputation of the Kansas built guitars. Top wood was reclaimed from the old pecan trees that were harvested from the grounds in front of the State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. It has flamed Santos mahogany sides, and a three piece back of Santos mahogany and black walnut. Nut is 1 11/16 inch. Neck is straight and in set, frets are fine. The action is low and comfortable, with room to lower the saddle if desired. Fretboard and bridge are rosewood. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of Brandon, FL. This is an outstanding hand built US made bluegrass guitar with lots of volume and tone....USD $2750
2021 Furch Vintage 2 OMSR Guitar
(Serial No. 98264) Excellent plus/near mint condition. The Furch Vintage 2 OM-SR guitar has a time-worn vintage look and is built with modern construction methods in the Czech Republic. The guitar is hand buffed, which gives a patina reminding you of a fine aged vintage instrument. It looks old but plays and sounds like a modern guitar. Excellent volume and tone, and the action is nice and low if you play fingerstyle. Frets are good, neck is straight. The guitar is built as an OM, which has a smaller OOO size body with a dreadnaught scale length neck at 25 9/16 inch. All solid woods with a Sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, 1 3/4 inch nut, ebony fretboard and bridge, pearl peghead logo and pearl diamond position markers on the fretboard. Has a abalone soundhole rosette with herringbone top trim with grained ivoriod binding. Fitted with gold Gotah tuners and an undersaddle pickup with an endpin jack. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of Brandon, FL. Comes with a nice hardshell case....USD $2000ON HOLD for GH in NC
1991 Goodall Koa Standard Guitar
(Serial No. KS 435) Excellent condition with a little pickwear on the top. Jean Goodall indicated that this guitar was a custom order and was built by James himself. It has beautifully figured flamed Koa back and sides, a Sitka top with a abalone soundhole rosette, ebony fretboard and bridge with pearl diamond inlays, a Koa peghead face with the logo in pearl, gold Gotah tuners, and the body binding is Acacia wood. Nut is 1.75 inch and the scale is 25.5 inches. James Goodall has taken the iconic shape and elevated it tonally to more rarified air with the Standard model. It's curves look familiar, but the voice is just as well suited to fingerstyle as flatpicking -- I love the bass response of this guitar, and the balance is superb all the way up the neck and across the strings. The sound is bold and moves free. It's warm, yet focused and bright. The neck fits my hand like a glove. There's something about the feel of this guitar that is just so pleasantly round.It show a little pickwear on the top right under the clear pickguard, but thats about it. The guitar is fitted with a K&K internal pickup and endpin jack. Its a pretty clean, good sounding, and nice playing guitar. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Nathan Beaumont of the Duck Wallow Band, Brandon FL. Comes with a nice hardshell case. Its a pretty clean, good sounding, and nice playing guitar. Comes with a nice hardshell case....USD $6200
1966 Guild Bluegrass F47 Guitar
(Serial No. AK168) Excellent condition. Heres one you do not see everyday, just out of a private collection. This is a 16 inch dreadnaught guitar with a narrow waist, solid mahogany back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, and a rosewood fretboard with large pearl blocks. The bridge is rosewood as well. The peghead sports both the pearl Guild logo and the Chesterfield inlay used on their higher end guitars. Nut is 1 11/16 inch and scale is 25 1/2 inch. This is a very nice sounding and playing guitar with strong tone and an easy action. It also has the coolest tuners (Kolb Masterclass) I have seen on a guitar, and these are original. Click here for a video clip of this guitar as played by Ed Wright of Brandon FL. Comes with a well-fitting (original?) hard shell case.....USD $3800
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1939 Gibson ETG-150 Tenor Guitar
(Serial No. EGE 2336) This instrument has been beautifully preserved over the years, and it is all original. It is currently set up for low g tuning like an octave mandolin. When you plug it in, this guitar sings with a deep, wooly low-end presence you won't expect from a tenor guitar. Add a little reverb or delay, and it's easy to get inspired and lost in the wide-open tenor sound. This guitar is an incredible piece of prewar Gibson craftsmanship, but it's also a playable tenor with inspiring tone. The tenor ETG-150 is almost identical to the six string ES-150, except it has a four string neck and appropriate 23 inch scale. It features the same 16-1/4 inch wide body, constructed with a carved spruce top that is x-braced and a flat maple back. It has the same slender f-holes, thick pearl logo, the same sunburst top and single-ply binding appointments. It also has the same curious tailpiece mounted input jack and of course the famous Charlie Christian blade pickup. In many ways, the eye-catching Charlie Christian pickup is perhaps what makes the ETG-150 most famous, and the rich, deep tones it produces set the standard for the electric archtop sound. Click here for an audio clip of this model guitar as played by Tiny Grimes of the Rocking Highlanders in 1950. Comes with a newer hardshell case....USD $IN THE SHOP
1934 Martin T-17 Tiple
(Serial #56985) Think of a tiple as an ukelele with 10 steel strings and is tuned A-D-F#-B. The first and fourth strings are double, like a mandolin, while the second and third are triple with the center string tuned an octave below the outer strings in each group. The firsts are tuned in unison. In this standard tuning you can play harmonies to everybody elses guitar and make a major contribution to the ensemble. If you have never heard swing jazz on a tiple you are missing a treat! Natural lacquer finish, all mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, original ebony nut. It has the Martin decal on the peghead as well as stamped inside. While not well remembered now, numerous small African-American string-swing ensembles of the 1930's and '40's made extensive use of these small but loud instruments for fast melody work and rhythmic strumming. Two of the best known were the Spirits Of Rhythm (featuring guitarist Teddy Bunn) and Cats and the Fiddle, where Tiny Grimes got his professional start. Overall length is 27 1/2 inches, and the nut is 1 1/2 inches. Has the typical nicks and dings of a well played instrument with some finish checking. No repairs noted. Neck is straight, frets are fine. Plays well with a nice low action as it was just set up by luthier Marty Beeson. Has the cool jangly sound you are looking for. Comes with a recent hard shell tenor uke case that fits well.....USD $1750
1930 National Style 1 Mandolin
(Serial No. 302) Early Style 1 with triangular body, single resonator and 12 frets clear of the body. Has a round neck with a bound rosewood fretboard. Shows some playing wear on the cover plate and a few nicks and dents, but nothing major. Original hardware and finish. Typical with Nationals, the neck has some bow in it and would need to be addressed to play up the neck in standard. But that not what you want this for - its very cool just like it is for slide work, especially slide blues. Think Sam Bush. Sam plays slide mandolin - check out his sound to see all the possibilities. Very loud with a unique sound. Comes with a slide and a Travelite style foam hard case. Consigned. ..USD $1500
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Are you searching the flea markets and antique stores every weekend for looking for old or cool instruments? Are you looking for something decent to fix up and play? On a tight budget and don't mind a little sweat equity? Keep reading for great deals! I get a lot of instruments in. Some need work or have significant wear or finish issues. Many are projects that I just do not have the time to get started, let alone complete. A few I've just had for too long and they need to go on down the road. Some are just cool wall hangers. These instruments are sold as-is. There is no approval period. I might look at a trade if its not another project. I'm not interested in low ball offers on these, as most are priced at my cost. Assume that they need work to make them right. You do get a good deal on the price!
1950s-60s Gretsch 17 Inch Guitar Case
This looks like a Gretsch guitar case but there is no badge on the case. It has an arched top and back and is completely solid. It fits 17 inch (lower bout) guitars like Gibson L5 and L7, Gretsch White Falcons or similar, or a jumbo flattop. All of the latches and hinges work perfectly and hinges. Has the maroon crushed velvet interior. It is perfectly usable for gigs and it looks cool. Case has some dust and exterior scuffs but should clean up nicely. The interior is nice, with no stains or odd smells. No key......$USD $750
All prices subject to change, up or down, without notice. All instruments are subject to prior sale. All instruments are sold as-is, with an approval period of 48 hours after receipt. For details click on "How to order" information above.
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I'm looking for O, OO, and OOO size Martins and Gibsons, also Gibson mandolins and mandolin parts. Please let me know what you have for sale. Cash or fair trades offered. Thanks! Keep in touch!