Antique Mandolin evaluation help, please....

[clay49]

Hi guys,

I have a friend who has asked me to sell his antique mandolin. He is not a player - it's an instrument that has been handed down over several generations in his family (he himself is just shy of 80 years old!).

I know nothing about mandolins, so I need to get some perspective from those here on the forum who are experts!!!

He did take it to a shop here in town that sells some vintage instruments and they told him three things: (1) that it is very old, (2) hand-made, (3) that they would sell it for no less than $500 if they owned it.

I can tell you this, although the strings look like they have been on the instrument for probably 3-4 decades, if not more, the sound is incredibly live, vibrant and resonant.

Let me know what you think I have here and if you have any idea of it's real value...thanks!

[nmiller]

Based on the bent top, the tuner cover and the general asthetics, I'd put its date of manufacture between 1915 and 1930. It's a pretty standard low-end mandolin from that time period except for the mahogany top, which is highly unusual in mandolins from any era. It's mostly likely by Lyon and Healy, Harmony, Regal or one of the 500 other Chicago-based instrument manufacturers that were doing big business in the '20s. It was absolutely not hand-made; at that time, companies advertised that their instruments were made by machine to ensure consistency - it was a major selling point.

Vintage flat-topped/flat-backed mandolins don't command much value except for high-end models by Martin and a handful of other brands with major name recognition. I sold a 1925 Washburn Style E recently - spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back/sides, fancier trim and cleaner than yours - for $500, and I feel that it was a reasonable price. I'd put yours around $200-350 depending on its playability; sadly, many cheaper mandolins of this age are not very playable due to the lack of truss rods.

Put some new strings on it and see how it sounds and plays. Many cheap old mandolins have a wonderful, bluesy sound, and I'll bet that all-mahogany construction gives it a great bassy thump.

[frquent flyer]

I'd agree with all the above. The lesser name mando value is much dependent on tone,condition ,neck and playability.Refer to Mandolin cafe classified for info and comparisons.

[zombywoof]

The headstock shape and that metal plate screwed to the back makes me think it might be a 1910s Rex (made by Gretsch).

As already noted, the value on one of these as with other mandos made by any number of the jobbers who supplied the mail order catalog companies and wholesalers is not great and tend to fall in the $300 to $500 range.

[clay49]

Guys...thanks for this. I just want to make sure I don't under-sell or put too high a price on it.

[clemduolian]

You'll get a pretty accurate read of what it is and its value by posting on the Mandolin Cafe. Very knowledgeable crowd for all things with 8 strings.

[clay49]

Originally Posted by clemduolian

You'll get a pretty accurate read of what it is and its value by posting on the Mandolin Cafe. Very knowledgeable crowd for all things with 8 strings.

Outstanding! I'll head over to the cafe and check it out...thanks!