I found a 1940's gibson A model mandolin in my basement!

DRN-PWNS · #1 11-06-2009, 09:05 PM

Was on the couch with my girl i look up i say "hey ive never noticed that before. pull down the case is a Gibson mandolin. i checked the serial number and found that it was made sometime between 1940 and 1945! Everything was original it even had the owners manual in it! how much do you think its worth? I will have pics soon. PS its the top end A model mandolin!

1954bassman · #2 11-06-2009, 09:11 PM

I would check mandolincafe.com and ebay. A models are not as popular as F models, but there is a market. Elderly Instruments may have a few older Gibsons for price comparsion. My wife has a 1988 A5L that she would not take $3000 for. In bluegrass, Gibson is the mandolin for the masses.

Mark

Steve · #3 11-06-2009, 09:45 PM

Get the ef out!
You're pushing my leg right?

M0ses · #4 11-06-2009, 09:48 PM

Lucky little jerk.

DRN-PWNS · #5 11-06-2009, 10:35 PM

il have some cell phone pics up in about 5 minutes of the find!

scottice · #6 11-06-2009, 10:42 PM

Sweet!

DRN-PWNS · #7 11-06-2009, 10:47 PM

The paper is the original receipt =] dated october 7th /1945!

Valerus · #8 11-06-2009, 11:31 PM

how do you not notice this? haha, it must be a filled basement?

DRN-PWNS · #9 11-07-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

how do you not notice this? haha, it must be a filled basement?

it was in the hard case behind some old music books and it had another very old mandolin on top of it.

dmrogers · #10 11-07-2009, 08:37 AM

Man, that NEVER happens to me!
Great find. Take care of it.

JAUQO III-X · #11 11-07-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRN-PWNS

it had another very old mandolin on top of it.

How old is that one?

Steve · #12 11-07-2009, 10:46 AM

I just crawled under my house to look for something cool like that and all I found was that the vent hose for the dryer was detached and there's lint everywhere.

Some people have all the luck.

DRN-PWNS · #13 11-07-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

How old is that one?

No clue. THe other one is in far worse shape looks to be ALOT older then the gibby tho

espositod · #14 11-07-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

I just crawled under my house to look for something cool like that and all I found was that the vent hose for the dryer was detached and there's lint everywhere.

Some people have all the luck.

FREAKIN' HILARIOUS...ya beat me to it?!

To the OP: you have found a potential gold-mine...do NOT let this out of your sites until you do much more research. A guy that I work with (a bluegrass guitarist) was just telling me the other day how Ricky Scaggs had purchased his from an old man that found his in his old barn after several years. The mandolin was a 40's model and was in great shape. Mr. Scaggs considered it a deal for what he paid for it......$43k or so?!
I don't know what the current market has done to the values, but you should really consider the potential in your find...

J. Crawford · #15 11-07-2009, 11:04 AM

You could be getting a Fodera here in a few months.

Or 2, or 3, or 4.

jarrod cunningham · #16 11-07-2009, 11:15 AM

i wanna see pics of your basement , where you found it , and how the crap you or your family never noticed all this before .... also , put up some pics of the other mandolin .. dang im hooked ...

thebasssponge · #17 11-07-2009, 11:34 AM

searched basement and found things to do and fix but found no cool old musical equipment

Great Find, keep us informed and maybe some background into the basement and how it maybe got there

CrispyDelicious · #18 11-07-2009, 11:48 AM

Get it appraised! NAO!

Johnny Crab · #19 11-07-2009, 01:15 PM

We don't have basements here....only crawl spaces with dryer hoses and plumbing too.

Appraisal : http://www.gruhn.com/appraise.html
You may also want to contact these folks as well: http://www.elderly.com/vintage/UIL.htm
Their mandolins: http://elderly.com/vintage/cats/90U.html

Congrats on the find.

jarrod cunningham · #20 11-07-2009, 01:56 PM

but this does remind me that i have a mandolin project in my dads attic ... its weird , it has 8 tuners , but the bowl is like a banjo . no heads on it , neck is removed , but the hoops and retainers are there ... anyone have any idea what kind of banjo this is or where i need to look for info ??? also , sorry for the hijack ...