This is the first one.
The first step into the Gibson Mando world.
Buying this mandocello brought back all the memories of that fateful day at the Porter Square iteration of the Music Emporium.
This mandocello was far from perfect (explaining the steep discount I got on it). Sheraton brown, with the distinctive 20s rosette, it had the most amazing and beautiful finish checking on the neck and back. The top, though, was a bit of a mess. It had repaired cracks on both sides of the neck traversing down to the sound hole. It had a worn, but original case.
Before I knew how to care for it properly, it fell subject to the disaster of 2014 where over humidification loosened the glue and allowed the neck block to slip, severely damaging the top. Fran Ledoux was able to get it back together for me, but within months his repair started to separate (and good soul that he is, he redid it, gratis) and the new lacquer crack. But the writing seemed on the wall even so.
I was in the room when the repair let go a second time. A whip-crack that I will not soon forget.
A mandocello player with L’Esperance is an amateur luthier, and offered to trade me a Gibson mandocello he repaired for the chance at making a new top for mine.
Done.
SN: 55927
Here is the original description:
this auction is for a c.1920 Gibson Sheraton Brown K1 model Monticello. Serial number is 55927 which has been hand written over. The sides, back and neck have been professionally refinished, and show almost no wear. The tuners have been replaced. The front of the headstock appears original, with the pearl script The Gibson being completely intact, and has yellowed nicely. The tuners hold a tune very well. The nut may have been replaced, but does show a small shim. The frets may be new, and show little or no wear. There is no wear to the rosewood fingerboard, and all of the pearl inlay position markers appear original. The grained binding on the neck and sides also appears original, with only a small bit of damage and repair near the treble side on the fingerboard extension area. There may have been some damage to the bass side of the side, but this was professionally repaired at the time of the refinish. There is also some wear near the treble side of the bridge. The tailpiece is original, and the adjustable bridge also appears to be original. The top shows some loss to the top arch under the bridge, which may be described as flat, rather than sunken. There are tow very stable and professionally repaired top cracks on either side of the neck, and the sound hole binding, which appears original is not effected. Someone in its past life installed a strap pin on the treble side of the neck heal. The action is low (3/16î on the bass side and 1/8î on the treble side +/-) and the instrument plays well and sounds great. The was once a pick up installed on the inside of the instrument (included), and the end pin jack has been removed. I suspect this may have been done at a time when the back had been removed to perform the professional repairs. The extensive repairs do not have any impact on the playability of the instrument, or effect the sound in any way. The bracing bars are tight to the top, and there is no rattling or breaking up of the sound when played hard. I have it strung with medium gauge flat wound strings, and it has great presence and sound. This is a great opportunity to purchase a wonderful and rare Gibson mandocello. It is not in any sense perfect cosmetic condition, but has an exceptional warm, dynamic and powerful sound, and plays well. The hard shell case provided appears original and is good condition, and appears to be the original case the instrument came with from the manufacturer.