Although Flatiron was the "budget" line, 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.

 I see a lot of mandolins in a year and I've been doing this for a while. I've played some of the best of the 20s F5s and the modern builders as well. I'll tell you how much I like Chris's mandolins - I bought one for myself. Chris Stanley is a great picker and has owned several Loars and Ferns, so he knows tone. He's also an accomplished woodworker and luthier, so when he decided to build mandolins he already had a pretty good head start. His mandolins are impressive - the fit and hand rubbed varnish finish is great, the action is easy and the tone is already there. Back and sides are flamed hard maple and the top is is red spruce and is deliberately mismatched like most Loars you see. All the parts are high grade - ebony fingerboard and bridge, pearl logo, grained ivoriod binding, and silver or gold plated Grover or Waverly tuners. Now, there's two camps on mandolin sound. The Loar F5 was made to play in ensembles, so it has a good midrange as well as bass and treble. Many modern mandolins are looking for a deep woody woof on the bottom, sometimes decent trebles, but usually lack in the mids. These mandolins are firmly in the Loar camp. They are very well balanced across the strings, with strong even response. Yes you have the chop but you also have the rest of the notes as well. But don't just take my word for it - read what Steve Stone, a well-known writer in several music publications, had to say about his new Stanley. Click here for a copy of the article published in Vintage Guitar magazine. You really should check these mandolins out.

 New Chris Stanley F5 Mandolin
(Serial Number: 36) As-new with limited warranty, excellent condition. I'll tell you how much I like Chris's mandolins - I bought one for myself. This one sounds nearly as strong as mine - and it has only started to open up. Chris Stanley is a great picker and has owned several Loars and Ferns, so he knows tone. He's also and accomplished woodworker and luthier, so when he decided to build mandolins he already had a pretty good head start. This mandolin is impressive - the fit and hand rubbed varnish finish is great, the action is easy and the tone is already there. Look at that side and back wood - its a one piece back of spectacular quilted and flamed maple. Its also an unusual one-piece top of Anirondak red spruce, the same top wood as the original Loar F5s. All high grade parts - radiused ebony fingerboard and bridge, 1 1/8 inch nut, pearl logo, silver plated hardware, and grained ivoriod binding. The binding is sidebound like the one on Monroes mandolin. Finish color is the lighter 1923 sunburst. Shows a few nicks and dings as this mandolin was played a lot - thats probably why it sounds so good. The frets were just dressed and the mandolin was set up. This is a used mandolin but Chris has agreed to extend a structural warranty to the new owner. That covers the major issues but does not cover the cosmetic stuff.

Now, there's two camps on mandolin sound. The Loar F5 was made to play in ensembles, so it has a good midrange as well as bass and treble. Many modern mandolins are looking for a deep woody woof on the bottom, sometimes decent trebles, but usually lack in the mids. This mandolin is firmly in the Loar camp. Its a very well balanced mandolin across the strings, with strong even response. Yes you have the chop but you also have the rest of the notes as well. Comes with a shaped hardshell case. Even as a newer mandolin you can hear the old tones and volume in this one....USD $7650

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 1999 Dearstone D-1A Mandolin
(Serial # 005) F5 style mandolin in excellent condition with a few nicks and dings from playing. Ray Dearstone of Dearstone Mandolin Works is a respected small builder of hand carved mandolins from Blountsville, TN. The top is solid Adirondack red spruce with tone bar bracing and the back and sides are solid maple. Also has a 1 1/8 inch nut on the flat ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge and nickel hardware, including a cast Allen tailpiece. Top bound only. Minor finish checking on the top. Nice low action. Has great power and projection, a complex warm tone, and a good bluegrass chop. Comes with a shaped hardshell case.......USD $2650

 1999 Dearstone F5M Mandolin
(Serial No. 90RM) Excellent plus condition, traditional sunburst lacquer finish. Ray Dearstone is a respected small shop builder of handcarved mandolins from Blountsville, TN. Many pros use his mandolins such as Shawn Lane of Blue Highway. Ray takes a different approach to building, as his mandolins use a solid carved redwood top with tone bar bracing. This still gives the cut and chop of a spruce top mandolin with a bit more warmth in the tone. The neck, back and sides are solid flamed maple. Also has a flat ebony fingerboard which is abbreviated to eliminate pick click, a 1-18" nut, ebony bridge and nickle hardware. Neck profile is slim like a Loar. Fully bound. Nice low action. Shows some very minor playing wear as would be expected on a good bluegrass mandolin. Frets are fine, neck is straight. This mandolin projects well and will drive your music. Comes with a tweed rectangular hardshell case.......USD $4000

 New Mix A5 Carbon Fiber Mandolin
(Serial No. 24) New with warranty. This is cutting edge technology that sounds great. Peter Mix formerly of Rigel mandolins is now building carbon fiber mandolins. Its a loud mandolin with a good chop for bluegrass, cuts well, but its a versatile sound. Has a ebony fingerboard and bridge for a conventional feel and playability. Fitted with a Schertler CDyn pickup with an endpin jack. There are plenty of pickups on the market, but none that can compete with this contact mic. Gives a clean warm accurate sound and seems to eliminate feedback. The body looks gold in the pictures but that is the sunlight reflection. The instrument is black and silver. The body and neck are built of carbon fiber with a Kevlar overlay - its virtually indestructable. It will not be affected by temperature or humidty changes. Cracks, splits or damage from dropping it are now history. If you drop it, you might bend a tuner or chip the finish - but you cannot harm the mandolin itself. Comes with a new tweed hard case to keep the dust off and give you a handle to carry it with...USD $3450

 2001 Laura Ratcliff A5 Mandolin
(Serial No. 30) Ken's wife Laura is now building a superb A-5 style mandolin. As expected, it exhibits the same high quality construction as Ken's Silver Angel F style mandolins. Excellent condition showing almost no playing wear. It has the long neck, f-holes, elevated bound ebony fretboard with scooped extension and dot inlays. It features heavily flamed maple back, sides, neck, and peghead face, a solid hand-carved spruce top, and a bound headstock. The pearl logo is "LC" which are Laura's initials. The radiused fretboard and the deep V neck profile makes this a breeze to play. Nut width is just over 1 1/18 inch, close to 1 3/16 inch. The mandolin has the deep bark, good woody tone and plenty of volume we've come to expect in a Ratcliff mandolin. These are hand crafted in USA and are an excellent value for the money. Comes with a hardshell case....USD $1500

 2006 Richard Beard Bouzouki
(Serial #025) New with warranty. This is the fourteenth 'zook I have received from Richard and I think he just gets better and better with each one he builds. These are professional grade instruments. Tremendous resonance and response in this one. It has a strong and powerful percussive sound with a deep rich bass. The back and sides are figured Hawaiian Koa wood which I think is a superior tone wood for long scale double course instruments. The fingerboard and bridge are ebony, and the solid Sitka spruce top is x-braced with herringbone top trim. The neck has an adjustable truss rod and the ebony fingerboard has slotted diamond inlays. Solid one piece tailpiece eliminates buzzing and loose covers. Fit and finish is first class professional work - as good as those famous guitar makers. Scale length is 25 inches. The x-braced top gives it plenty of punch on rhythm. Nice low action plays effortlessly with a great neck. Its currently tuned GDAE as an octave mandolin but any zook tuning like ADAD or GDAD would work as well. Handmade in North Carolina and comes with a custom fitted hardshell case...List price is USD $2500, but call me if you are interested, we can work something out to put it in your hands...SOLD...another expected in March 2008

 1997 Gary Price F5 Deluxe Mandolin
(Serial No. 951206) Excellent plus condition. Gary Price is probably best know for his innovative one piece tailpieces like the one on this instrument, but he's a great banjo and mandolin builder as well. This is classic F5 style mandolin with the traditional dark sunburst lacquer finish. It features nicely flamed maple neck, sides and one-piece back, a hand-carved spruce top, a bound headstock with fancy pearl inlay and pearl logo, and ebony bridge and bound slighly radiused ebony fingerboard. Gold hardware. The fretboard is abbreviated rather than scooped to eliminate pick click. Great bluegrass bark, excellent volume and tone with a nice low action. Comes with a hardshell case. Garys sells the Deluxe model now for over $7500, and the waiting list is 2 years. You can get this beautiful condition mandolin right now for...USD $4600

 2000 Phoenix Ultra Mandolin
(Serial No. 214) Near mint condition, top of the line for this noted mandolin luthier. Rolfe Gerhardt has been building mandolins since 1971, first under the Unicorn name and now as Phoenix mandolins. He's figured out how to get the sound out of them. The Ultra was designed for the ultimate in mandolin sound artistic expression. These are only available by special order. Sunburst finish with the finest flamed maple back, sides and neck, solid spruce top, and ebony fingerboard and bridge. Has black and gold Schaller tuners and a black Price one piece tailpiece. Recently fitted with a new Cumberland Acoustic bridge and the original bridge is in the case. The tone bar bracing is laminated with a thin strip of carbon fiber to give strength with a thinner more responsive bracing. Nut is the traditional 1 1/8 inch, and the unbound ebony fingerboard is radiused and scooped to eliminate pick click. The Phoenix peghead and fingerboard inlay are hand fitted in colored abalone. Very loud and well balanced sound and very responsive to changes in playing style and pick angle. Action is low and comfortable. Fitted with a solid ebony pickguard. Comes with the original custom built hardshell case. If you can get Rolfe to build a new one for you there is a long wait and the price is $10,500. This nearly mint condition mandolin can be yours right now for...USD $6500

  2002 Summit F-100S F5 Mandolin
(Serial No. 237) Excellent condition showing minor playing wear. I bought this one from a gigging musician and you can hear that it has been played enough to have opened up nicely. Paul Schneider is considered one of the best of the modern mandolin builders, and instruments like this one is why that reputation is well deserved. Here's one thats just a great mandolin. F5 style mandolin with lacquer finish, a dark 30s style tight sunburst, flat ebony fretboard with 1 1/8 inch nut and unfretted extension, solid spruce top, top bound only, flamed maple back, sides and neck, pearl logo and peghead inlay, and chrome Schaller tuners. Set up professionally for low easy action. Has a few minor nicks and dings but nothing major. No repairs noted. Well played in with good volume and even tone across all the strings. Comes with a nice hardshell case...USD $2250

  New Old Wave Oval A Mandolin
(Serial No. 423) New with warranty. Bill Bussman has been building mandolins for some time, and has a good reputation. This is a excellent interpretation of the teens Gibson A models with very clean lines and an uncluttered look. Spectacular flamed Conneticut maple in the one piece back as well as the sides and neck, and a hand carved Idaho Engelmann spruce top are finished with a golden lacquer over shellac finish. The snakehead style peghead has the understated abalone Old Wave logo. Carbon graphite truss rod in the neck, which will never need adjustment and unlike steel it weighes the same as wood so the balance of the mandolin does not change. Also has a chrome tailpiece and Grover tuners with pearl buttons, and a rosewood bridge and slightly radiused fretboard with a 1 1/8 inch buffalo bone nut. The fretboard is abbreviated rather than scooped to eliminate pick click. The single soundhole ring in abalone and the dark binding add to the clean look. The sound, however, is anything but spare. Nice full rich round tone like a good teens Gibson A model with good bass and clean trebles. Perfect setup so it plays like silk. Comes with a shaped hardshell case. ...USD $2400

 1919 Martin Style B Mandolin
(Serial No. 7140) Excellent condition with some playing wear on the top. This is the early style cutout peghead with the Martin stamp embossed on the back and no decal on the front. Spectacular grained dark chocolate colored Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, herringbone rosette and back strip, and an ebony fingerboard with slotted diamond inlays. Good neck and frets, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Nice tortoiseshell binding and pickguard. Original tuners and engraved tailpiece. Comes with an original hard case.....USD $1500

 1921 Martin BK Mandolin
(Serial No. 9376) Very rare model of the Martin flat back mandolin - only 57 of these were made, less than the total for the Style E. This is the early style peghead with the Martin stamp embossed on the back and no decal on the front. Top, back and sides are beautiful Hawaiian koa wood. Nice tortoiseshell binding and pickguard. Original tuners and tailpiece. Koa is prone to cracks and there's a slight dryness hairline separation on the center seam joint down the face of the mandolin on the top - very difficult to see. Its not going anywhere as the main brace is right under it. There is also some minor repair above the cutout in the peghead. Good neck and frets, plays nice with a low action but still has plenty of volume. Shows some normal playing wear, the usual shirt button scratches and pick wear on the top. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Comes with an original hard case.....USD $1150

 1953 Martin 2-15 Mandolin
(Serial No. 21268) Excellent condition. Has a carved solid spruce top and solid figured maple back and sides. This was Martins answer to the Gibson carved top mandolins. These carved top Martins are often used in mandolin orchestras or for recording, as they have a sweet delicate sound but are not particularly loud or punchy. Its not a bluegrass mandolin. Tuners are orignal with one bent shaft but it still works fine . Bridge and tailpiece cover are replacements and the guard is missing. Straight neck, good frets, and a nice low action. As the bridge saddle is high I suspect it had a neck set in the past. No structural repairs or top issues but is missing a couple of dot inlays in the ebony fingerboard. Comes with a newer non-original hardshell case. ....USD $950

 1920 Vega Model 202 Cylinderback Mandolin
(Serial No. 38824) Excellent plus condition, somewhat uncommon sunburst finish. Clean mandolin with only minor playing wear. Has the curved mahogany back and sides, solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard, fancy soundhole ring, and an inlaid pickguard. Finish and hardware are original with no repairs. Has the usual nicks and dings of a well loved teens mandolin, but nothing major. Has a beautiful sweet sound and plays like silk. Excellent for classical and Celtic music. Comes with an old possibly original hardshell case......USD $1650

 1922 Martin Style A Mandola
((Serial No. 9849) Excellent condition showing almost no wear. I see very few Martin mandolas - they are just not common. This one has no cracks and plays and sounds great. Tuned like a tenor guitar CGDA low to high. Scale length of 15 1/2 inches is slightly longer and the body is slightly larger than a mandolin. This is the earlier style solid peghead with the Martin stamp on the back of the peghead and inside on the back strip. Has mahogany back and sides, and neck, spruce top, tortoiseshell pickguard and tortoiseshell binding top and back. Bridge is original as is the tailpiece cover. It has the impression of some other tuners on the back of the peghead but these look to be the original type and they work well. Plays nicely with a low action but still has plenty of volume and tone. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Comes with a gig bag unless I can find a case to fit....USD $1750 ON HOLD for Luke in SC

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MANDOLAS, OCTAVE MANDOLINS, MANDOCELLOS, CITTERNS, AND BOUZOUKIS

  1916 Gibson H1 Mandola
(Serial No. 31653) Excellent minus condition, natural finish top aged to pumpkin. The mandola is tuned CGDA, a fifth down from the mandolin. Many players like the mandola for its rich deep sound while having the little bit wider fingerboard and slightly longer scale length over the mandolin. The H1 has a bound top and fingerboard and "The Gibson" as the pearl logo inlaid in the peghead. Finish is original. Tuners and tailpiece are original and the bridge is a Dan Smith Loar replica. Pickguard is missing. Huge resonant sound. It was just set up professionally so it plays like butter. Neck and frets are perfect. There's a bit more top sinkage than I'd like to see, but it appears to be stable. Comes with a gig bag...USD $2450

  1918 Gibson H1 Mandola
(Serial # 41898) Excellent condition. The mandola is tuned CGDA, a fifth down from the mandolin. Many players like the mandola for its rich deep sound while having the little bit wider fingerboard and slightly longer scale length over the mandolin. The H1 has a bound top and fingerboard and "The Gibson" as the pearl logo inlaid in the peghead. If you are looking for a good sounding players mandola without the old instrument issues this is the one for you. The original top was cracked beyond repair so it was professionally replaced by luthier Harry Eibert and finished in the correct pumpkin color for an aged finish. Harry even reused the original sound hole rosette. The backs, sides and neck finish is original. All hardware is original but the pickguard is missing. Huge sound. Harry set it up as well so it plays like silk. Neck and frets are perfect. Comes with a gig bag or soft case...USD $2950

 1922 Martin Style A Mandola
((Serial No. 9849) Excellent condition showing almost no wear. I see very few Martin mandolas - they are just not common. This one has no cracks and plays and sounds great. Tuned like a tenor guitar CGDA low to high. Scale length of 15 1/2 inches is slightly longer and the body is slightly larger than a mandolin. This is the earlier style solid peghead with the Martin stamp on the back of the peghead and inside on the back strip. Has mahogany back and sides, and neck, spruce top, tortoiseshell pickguard and tortoiseshell binding top and back. Bridge is original as is the tailpiece cover. It has the impression of some other tuners on the back of the peghead but these look to be the original type and they work well. Plays nicely with a low action but still has plenty of volume and tone. Great for old-time, Celtic, or jazz. Comes with a gig bag unless I can find a case to fit....USD $1750

ELECTRIC MANDOLINS

For a brief discussion of Tiny Moore, Johnny Gimble and the Gibson EM-150 mandolin click here!

  1956 Gibson Florentine / EM-200 Electric Mandolin
(Serial number: none) Clean original condition showing slight playing wear. I've always thought the 8 string sold body mandolins sounded better than the 4 or 5 string ones. The doubled strings give that "shimmer" thats lacking in a single course instrument. Its like a small double cut Les Paul with a solid mahogany body, F5 style headstock, gold 50's Gibson knobs, gold hardware and the worlds hottest P90 pickup. Action is right down on the frets like an electric guitar - no surprise there. Completely original even though there is no serial number on the back of the peghead. The pots date to the 22nd week of 1955, so its a safe bet this one was made in 1956. Comes with a clean original brown Gibson hardshell case....USD $2500

MARTIN ACOUSTIC GUITARS

 1965 Martin 0-18 Guitar
(Serial No. 202413) Near mint condition. While not rare, small body Martins from the 1960s are uncommon. These guitars are great for blues or fingerstyle. Mahogany back and sides, spruce top, standard 1-11/16 nut with a comfortable neck contour. The body is 13.5 inchs wide at the lower bout, scale length is 24.9 inchs. Has the tortoise binding and pickguard. All hardware and finish is original, and there are no repairs evident. I think it has had a neck set, as the action is nice with a tall saddle at the bridge. Neck is straight, frets are good. Its a great travel or sitting on the couch guitar. Excellent tone and its louder than you would think given the small size. Comes with a newer hardshell case...USD $2850

 1968 Martin 0-18 Guitar
(Serial No. 237159) Very clean guitar in near mint condition. While not rare, small body Martins from the 1960s are uncommon. These guitars are great for blues or fingerstyle. Mahogany back and sides, spruce top, standard 1 11/16 nut with a comfortable neck contour. The body is 13.5 inchs wide at the lower bout, scale length is 24.9 inchs. All hardware and finish is original, and there are no repairs evident. Neck is straight, frets are good, the guitar plays well now but the saddle is low. Its a great travel or sitting on the couch guitar. Excellent tone and its louder than you would think given the small size. Comes with the original cardboard case...USD $2550

 1953 Martin 00-18 Guitar
(Serial No. 129543) Very good plus condition on cosmetics, excellent structural condition. Nicely aged spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Martin is supposed to have used Andirondack spruce for the tops until the early 50's, but no one can really tell by looking at it. Rosewood peghead overlay with gold Martin script. Nice big open woody sound with strong volume. It has a wonderful even tone - would be a great recording guitar. Plays extremely well with low action as the neck was just reset. Lots of player wear and the finish has been touched up on the treble side of the top. There are three long scrapes on the back as seen in the pics. Has the usual nicks, dings and pickwear and the top has turned a nice orange. Neck is straight, frets were just dressed and crowned. No repairs evident, and there are no top cracks - not even a guard crack. Comes with a hardshell case...USD $3450

 1966 Martin D-18 Guitar
(Serial No. 226518) Excellent condition. Late 66 so it has the black pickguard and binding. This is the classic Martin D-18 - solid mahogany back and sides and a solid spruce top. Tuners are the correct Grovers marked Patent Applied For. Has a few nicks and dings but overall a clean guitar. Neck is straight, recent neck set has it playing fine. Has a short repaired back crack but thats it. 1966 models still have the small maple bridge plate. This one has that solid Martin "boom" you need in a good bluegrass guitar. Plays very easy with a nice low action. This is an excellent sounding D-18. Comes with a newer hardshell case...USD $3650

 1970 Martin D-18 Guitar
(Serial No. 256434) Excellent plus condition. This is the classic Martin D-18 - solid mahogany back and sides and a solid spruce top. Original finish shows some honest playing wear and nicks and dings, but no major repairs or issues. Neck is straight, neck set is good and the frets are fine. This guitar has that solid Martin "boom" you need in a good bluegrass guitar. Plays very easy with a nice low action. Fitted with a undersaddle pickup and endpin jack, so you can plug in if you need to. This is a excellent sounding well played and nicely aged D-18. Comes with an original blue molded Martin hardshell case...USD $1950 ON HOLD for Tom in NC

 2005 Martin DC Aura Guitar
(Serial No. 1103963) Near mint condition. This is an elegant and refined flattop with all the sound and the rich appointments you want in a high end guitar. Full gloss finish with Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top with scalloped braces and a cutaway to give you access to the upper frets. Has an ebony bridge, tuner buttons, fingerboard and peghead overlay. Nicely trimmed with Style 45 pearl rosette and top edge trim, abalone hexagon outline inlays in the fingerboard and bridge and a pearl Martin logo. Gold hardware. Its also fitted at Martin with the the acclaimed Fishman AURA Acoustic Imaging Blender pickup system. Has a satin finish neck for easy playing with a rounded profile and a 1-11/16 inch nut. Plays like silk with low action and light guage strings. Sounds great either acoustically or plugged in. Comes with the original Martin hardshell case...USD $2350

 1988 Martin D-16A Guitar
(Serial No. 480036) Near mint condition. Striking ash back and sides in this early limited run guitar. This guitar is clean - anything you see in the pictures that looks like a blemish is a reflection. It has a beautiful Sitka spruce top with advanced scalloped traditional X bracing like the prewar guitars, dovetail neck joint, a highly figured ash back and sides, sidebound tortoise binding with a black pickguard, a standard 1-11/16' nut, compensated saddle, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Its fitted with an undersaddle pickup and endpin jack. Strap button added at the heel. Action is low and its plays very well. Sounds a lot to my ears like a good koa guitar. Think singer songwriter guitar. Its got a nice big open warm woody sound with good volume and a good balance from string to string, but its not a bluegrass whomper. Some very minor fret wear shows that it was in fact played but nothing major enough to show in a photo. No repairs - the diagonal line on the back of the peghead is a natural grain line. Comes with the original molded Martin hardshell case...USD $1250 ON HOLD for Tom in NC

 1957 Martin 000-21 Guitar
(Serial No. 157606) Excellent minus condition. Nicely aged spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Has the standard 1 11/16 inch nut and a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Rosewood peghead overlay with gold Martin script. Nice big open woody sound with strong volume. This guitar must have had a pro neck set and setup as it plays beautifully. All hardware and finish is original. Someone screwed the bridge down in the past but it has been repaired and this is the original bridge. Bridge plate is replaced with a oversized maple plate which does not seem to affect the sound, as this guitar has the warm tone, string to string balance and volume you expect from these rosewood 000 size guitars. There are no structural repairs but lots of finish checking, pickwear, and the usual nicks and dings of a well loved and much played guitar. Comes with a newer Martin Geib hardshell case...USD $6950

 1947 Martin D-28 Guitar
(Serial No. 101225) Excellent condition. Powerful bluegrass guitar - this is what you are looking for in a Martin. Old growth straight grain Brazilian back and sides and a nicely yellowed spruce top. Top has the usual B string crack and the expected finish checking but is otherwise perfect. All finish is original. The bridge was replaced with original Martin stock, the neck was reset, a few top braces were reglued and the frets were dressed. The guitar came with 50s tuners on it but the originals were in the case so these were reinstalled. All work was done by Dave Musslewhite, the former head of repair for Martin. Shows some minor buckle wear and the usual nicks and dings of a well loved 60 year old guitar. Plays and sounds great, just what you would expect from a 40s rosewood Martin. Has the deep bass and cutting trebles as well as nice low action. Comes with what I think is the original hardshell case....USD $17500 ON HOLD

 1994 Martin HD-35 Guitar
(Serial No. 3536105) Excellent condition. This is the herringbone version of the D-35. Back and sides are solid Indian rosewood and the top is solid spruce with beautiful silking. Has the advanced hand-scalloped 1/2" bracing and the soft V profile neck with a bound fingerboard. Comes from Martin with the Sperzil tuners, which let you change strings very quickly on stage. John Pearse armrest added to prevent wear on the top. These are supposed to be removable but this one looks like it is glued on. These do not affect the sound and it makes the guitar much more comfortable to play. Excellent action and a great big sound will make you heard over those banjos. Comes with the original molded Martin hardshell case....USD $1950

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GIBSON AND EPIPHONE ACOUSTIC GUITARS

 1938 Gibson L-C Century of Progress Guitar
(Serial No. none) Excellent condition, sunburst finish. Named after the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. Nice guitar with all original finish showing extensive checking but only minor playing wear and a few nicks and dings. Has the L-00 body size, curly maple back and sides, x-braced spruce top, triple binding, white pearloid fingerboard and peghead overlay, and fancy fingerboard inlays. Has the larger 1 3/4 nut on the chunky neck, firestripe pickguard, and the small straight bridge. Absolutely no top issues, no bellying, no cracks and no repairs. Just set up so it plays like silk. Frets are good and the neck is straight. Its sounds much larger than a small body guitar. Perfect for ragtime and fingerstyle playing. It's in excellent playing condition - all it needs is your fingers on the strings! Comes with the original softshell case...USD $4950

 1955 Gibson LG2 3/4 Guitar
(Serial No. W1275) Excellent condition. Gibson's original travel guitar. Body is 12 3/4 inches wide with a 22 3/4 inch scale. Spruce top with straight across ladder bracing and an ice tea sunburst finish and natural finished mahogany back and sides. Also has a teardrop guard, small rectangle bridge, triple bound top and single bound back, and gold Gibson peghead logo. Has a nice low action, as the neck was just reset by luthier David Sheppard. Typical ladder braced Gibson sound. Completely solid and a great playing and sounding guitar. Comes with the original softshell case.....USD $2250

 1956 Gibson LG-3 Guitar
(Serial No. V7693-3) Excellent condition early example of Gibson's premier small body flat-top guitar model from the '40's and '50's. This is a most comfortable guitar for just sitting around and playing. The LG-3 is the same as the LG-2 with a nicer woods and a natural finish top. Some finish checking and pickwear is evident, but nothing major. Has the original tortoise pattern pickguard, small rectangle bridge, X braced solid spruce top with triple binding on the top and single binding on the back, block Gibson logo and original tuners with new buttons. Original finish in nice condition. The X bracng gives it power and full sound like the larger dreadnaughts. Great sounding guitar with a nice low action. There is a filled jack hole near the endpin but no other repairs are evident. Strap button added at the heel. Has some normal pickwear, which would be expected on a good sounding guitar thats 50 years old. Newer hardshell case...USD $2550

 1955 Gibson J45 Guitar
(Serial No. W999) Excellent condition example of Gibson's most popular dreadnaught guitar. This was bought from the original owner. Has the original sunburst top finish and dark back and sides. Mahogany back and sides and a x-braced spruce top, larger upper point pickguard, upper belly fixed saddle bridge, bound top and back, decal Gibson logo in the peghead. The tuners are original. Great sounding guitar with a nice low action, good neck set and frets. No cracks. Its a nice guitar but it does show the usual checking for an older instrument and some of the typical playing wear, especially around the soundhole and near the pickguard. Completely solid and a great playing and sounding guitar. Comes with a clean excellent condition original softshell case.....USD $5100

 1958 Gibson J50 Guitar
(Serial No. t7816-39) Excellent minus or very good plus condition showing some minor picking wear. I think the slope shoulder Gibsons are about the best around for backing up fiddle tunes. I guess others think so too, as they are hard to find and hard to keep in stock. Have you ever wondered why Gibson has a reputation for great guitars in spite of the firewood they made in the 70's and 80's? Guitars like this one are why Gibson has their reputation. The sound is very full and rich, well balanced, with a great low end bass response. The neck is very playable with a nice low action. Mahogany back and sides and spruce top. First year for the larger pickguard. Its an early 1958 so it still has the desirable fixed saddle bridge. Neck is straight, set is good and the frets are in good shape. Has the original tuners, bridge and pickguard. Has the desirable thin braces of the 50's Gibsons. Excellent minus overall cosmetic condition showing some pick wear on the top and the usual nicks and dings of a well played instrument. Custom Fretted Instruments in Sparta, TN did a barely noticable repair to the center seam below the soundhole. The repair has no effect on the sound, just lowers the price. Comes with a newer hardshell case.....USD $3875

 1951 Gibson Southern Jumbo Guitar
(Serial No. 9117 23) Excellent condition. I told myself when I bought this one that it was going in my personal stash. I may still change my mind. Its a clean, straight one owner guitar with no issues and very little pla