MM - 00014 1929 Martin Style 20 Mandolin     VG+   Here's a first year of issue of this model. Crack free with well aged spruce top and flame maple back and sides. Ebony fingerboard with abalone dots inlaid. Nice engraved tailpiece, original tuning pegs, ebony bridge, replaced pickguard and brazilian rosewood peghead overlay. This one plays very easily, really sweet and beautiful tone. Non original hard shell case.
Price:   $2800.00 Now: $2450.00

NM - 0005 1930 National Triolian Mandolin     VG+   This is a rare little beast and it is one of the loudest mandolins I've ever heard. Plays good too. 15" scale length so it sounds real bluesey tuned down to F or E. (E sounds great but F is easier for transposing 'on the fly' in jams) It's got the rare early 8 grid coverplate with the usual worn pick area, some chipping on the sides, just a few nicks on the back. Original tuning pegs and the National Triolian Shield on the peghead. No case.
Price:   $2195.00 Now: $1850.00

GM - 00071 1919 Gibson F- 2     EXC-   Sn # 49891     A fine sounding and playing example of a late teens Gibson F model with the reddish sunburst top and red stain birch back and sides. This one has the nice carving on the rear scroll as well as the front one. Original engraved tail piece and replacement Schaller tuning pegs and adjustable bridge. Pearl angled "The Gibson" script inlayed on the headstock. There is some 'honest play wear' and a few nicks and scratches and one typical hairline coming up from the treble point and another teeny hard to see hairline across the back of the peghead which has been closely inspected, sealed and pronounced healthy. Nice original hard shell case with replaced handle.
Price:   $4350.00 Now: $3995.00

Gm - 00095 1915 Gibson F-2 Blackface Mandolin     EXC -   This one has the checking or crazing on the original top finish that some people (like me) really like. And it also has the binding that ends on the inside of the scroll which likewise appeals to some of us. It has one solidly repaired hairline crack next to the bass side of the fingerboard that is no biggie. It's got the desireable Handel tuning pegs with the inlaid buttons and its original tailpiece , pickguard and endpin and a Loar period replica adjustable bridge. Nicely figured slab cut birch back and sides. And the headstock does NOT have the typical repaired scroll crack neither big nor little. The label is in nice shape. It lives in a sturdy travelite style case.
Price:   $4350.00 Now: $3850.00

GM - 00087 1932 Gibson A-4     EXC -   This is an unusual variant of the A-4. It has a little player wear but no cracks anywhere and original tailpiece, bridge, tuning pegs, and finish which is nicely checked on the back. The top has the nice dark small sunburst with plain rosette. The "Gibson" inlay in the peghead is straight across. It has an elevated fingerboard. Good sounding and playing rare mandolin. Non original hard shell case.
Price:   $1995.00 Now: $1750.00

GM - 00104 1934 Gibson A-75     EXC   A rare model from Gibson and in beautiful condition with great sound and playability. Sunburst spruce crack free top and subtle sunburst mahogany back and sides with just one surface crack right where the neck block ends on the treble side. Note the elevated fingerboard. Curlicue vase on the headstock and original tuning pegs. Original adjustable bridge and tailpiece. TKL plush lined hard shell case.
Price:   $2495.00 Now: $2150.00

GM - 00097 1940 Gibson A-50     VG+   This is the wide body model with the Nick Lucas inlay in the fingerboard and a rare flowerpot inlay in the peghead. The maple back and sides are crack free and the sunburst spruce top has one hairline crack running up from the treble f-hole. Original tuning pegs with the cool amber buttons and original tailpiece, adjustable bridge and end pin. Missing pickguard. Way cool original "red line" case has one broken back hinge but still works ... even the ribbon hinges hold the top up.
Price:   $1495.00 Now: $1295.00

GM - 00084 1955 Gibson A-50 Blackface     VG   Here's a unique one in my experience. I've never seen a blackface from this era and this is original. It's got tons of play wear but no issues. There's one repaired crack going down from the bottom of the bass f-hole to the edge and that's it. Lots of finish checking on the top but the finish on the back has hardly a scratch. The tuning peg buttons have shrunken a little but still function fine. A previous owner used stick on letters to put an "R" under the Gibson script on the headstock and also to put "Basil" under the strings at the tailpiece. Such vanity. Beat up hardshell case.
Price:   $1750.00 Now:   $1550.00

GM - 00086 1955 Gibson EM- 150 Electric Mandolin     VG-   Well here's another warhorse for you. It's had several repairs to the sunburst top and some to the sides as well. The modestly flamed maple back, however, is crack free. No funny business around the heel or headstock and the original tuning pegs work fine. This mandolin has a well balanced acoustic sound with easy action and the pickup works great and the volume and tone control likewise with no scratchiness or crumpiness. And although it's beat, it is the original hard shell case.
Price:   $1150.00 Now:   $895.00

EM - 00011 1937 Epiphone Adelphi Mandolin     EXC -   This is a fine early example of this model from Epiphone. Carved spruce top with f-holes. Flamey maple back and sides. Nice mahogany neck. Heel cap is just lifting off of the heel a bit. All original adjustable bridge, tailpiece, cool pickguard, and tuning pegs. Epiphone script on the rosewood headstock. Fine playing and sounding mandolin. Gig bag.
Price:   $1395.00 Now: $1150.00

MC - 00014 1938 Epiphone De Luxe Mandocello Conversion     VG   Now here is a unique piece. A standard 1938 Epiphone De Luxe "Masterbilt" guitar serial # 12690 that has been converted to a way cool mandocello. Nut width is 1 1/2 inches and very comfortable. Bridge is adjusted all the way down but the action is fine and the thing is great fun to play. Scale length is 25 5/8 inches and it's got the big 17 1/4" lower bout for the big sound. Solid spruce sunburst top with the classy bound f- holes and "honest play wear" especially where the pickguard once resided but no cracks. Looks like it probably had a pickup glued on to it for awhile below the end of the pearl cloud inlayed fingerboard. Nice flamey maple sunburst back and five piece laminated flame maple neck the heel of which has been painted black after a repair which has left a tell tale line running through the screw hole left from a previous strap button. And there's the plugged 1/4" jack hole in the usual location on the lower side. Gorgeous inlaid asymetrical peghead and new 4 in a line gold tuning pegs. The conversion retained the original Frequensator tailpiece and uses ingenious little holders which make it relatively easy to re-string. And it still resides in its original Lifton (Built like a Fortress) pink plush lined hard shell case with the classic embossed "E" on the inner side of the lid. I suppose it's possible that there might have been a special order or two in 1938 for Epiphone De Luxe mandocellos but I sure haven't seen one. So I think this is the only game in town folks.
Price:   $3250.00 Now: $2950.00

GA - 00044 1980 Monteleone Grand Artist     EXC ++   This is #44 and signed and dated by John Monteleone. I'm lucky enough to hear a lot of great mandolins played by great mandolin players on a regular basis. This one has character and quality to equal any of them, whether they are worth 25 grand or a hundred grand. Gorgeous sunburst spruce top and intense flamed maple back and sides. The Grand Artist displays many of John Monteleones distinctive innovations such as the tailpiece which has since been copied ad infinitum and the headstock design. The custom bridge has bone insets for the treble strings. His unique scroll is a beautiful extrapolation of old Orville's from both front and back. Triple bound rosewood pickguard. Gold engraved tuning pegs. Deluxe arched plush lined hard shell Ameritage case.
Price:   $26,000.00 Now: $24,500.00

MF - 00062 1933 Martin OM- 18     VG   Man this is the real stuff here. One strum and it's 'Oh yeah, that's a pre war Martin alright'. Straight from the grandson of the original owner but he took it 'in for repair' and had the brand that grandpa had put on the top with a homemade branding iron sanded off and oversprayed by a 'luthier' before we got to it. Other than that it's original finish on the crack free top. The back had a few hairline cracks repaired by this same 'luthier' who oversprayed it as well as some of the bass side where a couple of hairlines were repaired. But the sides do look good as does the whole darn guitar, providing you like the look of 75 years of an original owner playing the heck out of a guitar and scratching it up a bit in the process. I figure Grandpa played a few cowboy tunes on this instrument and the hayrides just put a lot of scratches on it. I wish his old brand was still there. So it goes. The bass side is relatively scratch free but you can see the scratches on the treble shoulder and the treble side and back. The back of the neck has some play wear also but is original and feels good. Nut width is 1 3/4" or maybe a 64th under. Scale length is 25 1/4".   Original tuning pegs work fine. Original decal on the headstock is in nice shape. And the bridge and bridge plate and end pin all appear to be original. New saddle and nut and fresh professional neck set by Chris Berkov and original bar frets. This is one of very best sounding old Martins I've ever played. And ... the original soft shell case is a bit beat but nice to have. Serial #53533 .
Price:   $18,500 Now: $15000.00

GF - 00024 1939 Gibson J-55     EXC Restored   A rare model Gibson Jumbo with all the desireable features like the mustache bridge and the stairstep peghead and the "Original Gibson" tuning pegs. Mahogany back and sides. Replacement bridge. The entire guitar has been professionally refinished and the hairline crack repairs are hard to see. I've got large pictures for those who need them. The neck has been reset and one can see evidence of an older refinish at the heel. It is set up beautifully and sounds big and bright and clear. Nice comfortable action and plenty of saddle. Lower Bout = 16"   X- Braced   Scale Length = 25 1/2"   Nut Width = 1 3/4". The FON # appears to be   808 F ( or maybe 806 or 805 ... hard to read). There is a faint EA on the back of the peghead and also scrawled inside which would place its year of manufacture to 1939. Used non original hard shell case.
Price:   $15,000.00 Now: $13,500.00

GF - 00018 ca. 1932 Gibson HG -20     EXC   Restored. This is a very rare model and the only blonde one I've ever seen.The spruce top has one round sound hole and an additional four f-holes which preside over the inner chamber created by the internal walls inside the body that go down from the top to about an inch from the bottom. It's voice is unique and very useful and full and clear. Nut Width = 1 3/4" and Lower Bout = 14 3/4". Mahogany back and sides are finished black as per original. The whole guitar has been nicely refinished and the three little top cracks well repaired. The peghead is also unusual and this may have been a prototype or one off model as it has the elevated fingerboard of the HG-22 but other characteristics of the HG-20. Original 3 on a strip tuning pegs. This is a great fingerpicking guitar that does pretty darn well flat picked as well. New chip board case.
Price:   $3750.00 Now: $3000.00

TF - 0001 ca. 1890 Tiltons Improvement Guitar     EXC +   This is the best example of one of these that I've seen. It arrived in exquisite cosmetic condition but with the top severly sinking and needing a neck reset. Luthier John Knutson did a beautiful structural restoration and re-braced the top with a classic X-brace pattern. The result is by far and away the best sounding one of these I've ever played. And with it's new frets and great neck angle it plays like a dream. Spruce top with diagonal grain. Book matched Brazilian rosewood back and sides and peghead overlay. Crack free other than some teeny surface cracks on the sides near the heel. Beautiful original tuning pegs. The 'improvement' is a dowel running the length of the inside of the body on which is mounted a wooden disc (think Virzi) on which is secured a wonderful label. Surely this must be an improvement. And ... a fabulous original coffin case. Lower Bout Width = 12 1/8"     Nut Width = 1 7/8"     Scale Length = 24 3/4"     Thin mahogany neck with "V" profile and ebony fingerboard. A truly fine parlour guitar.
Price:   $2450.00 Now: $2000.00

VF - 0009 1928 ca. Vega Style 83 Guitar     EXC   13 9/16" Lower Bout and 1 7/8" Nut Width combine with outstanding volume and tone and a 25" scale length to make this guitar a great one for fingerpickers. Crack free spruce top with colorful marquetry binding and beautiful Brazilian rosewood crack free back and sides with a couple of teeny hairlines at the corner of the lower bass bout side that pose no threat. Ebony bridge with engraved mother of pearl inlays and bound ebony fingerboard with engraved mother of pearl inlays. Brazilian rosewood peghead overlay and orignal tuning pegs. Non original hard shell case in fair shape.
Price:   $2850.00 Now: $2400.00    ON HOLD

VG - 0008 1939 Vega Profundo Flat Top     EXC+   Here's Vega's "Dreadnought" model. It's a fine example, crack free with nicely aged spruce top and fine mahogany neck, sides and back with a colorful center stripe. Great Art Deco peghead and replaced tuning pegs. Non original chipboard case.
Price:   $1695.00 Now: $1395.00

BF - 0002 Joseph Bohmann ca. 1900 Parlour Guitar     EXC -   A great little fingerpicker all freshly set up with proper bridge, neck angle and compensated saddle. It plays and sounds terrific. Crack free all around with 100 year old spruce top and wild original sunburst back and sides. Plain peghead and rare original enclosed engraved tuning pegs. Beautifully intact label shows the many Gold medals Joseph garnered and states his challenge to all other makers. No case.
Price:   $1450.00 Now: $1250.00

AG - 00093 ca.1953 Vega Duotron Model E-300 NX     EXC   Vega guitars are always a great value. As well or better made than any Gibson, Gretsch or Guild often with higher quality woods and usually a lot less expensive. This one is a real gem. It's in gorgeous condition and it plays and sounds great both acoustically and plugged in. All original and crack free. Spruce top and highly flamed maple back and sides. Nothing but inlaid class on the peg head and original Klusen Deluxe tuning pegs and original electronics which work fine and include the fablulous Rhythm Switch as well as the standard Volume and Tone knobs. The original pickup floats off of the body attached to the end of the elevated fingerboard extension. Thus the entire top is free to vibrate un-impeded as on any standard acoustic archtop guitar. Compare this to an L-5 cutaway in similar condition and you get one heck of a deal. Older hard shell case is fair to OK.
Price:   $2850.00 NOW: $2500.00

AG - 00096 1925 Gibson L-5     EXC   Its low serial number of # 81339 puts it very early in 1925 and we have seen L-5's with higher serial numbers and Master Model labels. But this one has a "Guaranteed" style label and we suspect that if one were to somehow remove it that there might well be an older Master Model label underneath as we've seen that before also. The maple in the back is stunning and the sunburst top is the classic Loar coloring. The top has its original finish and one teeny weeny hairline crack above the bass f-hole. The neck, back and sides have been refinished. The back binding may be replaced. The guitar plays beautifully and the sound is right up there with the best of the best early L-5's around. Original end pin and tailpiece. Flowerpot inlay adorns the headstock and it has its original tuning pegs. It also still retains its original 'red line' case which is a bit tattered but still functional.
Price:   $23,500.00   Now:   $20,500.00

AG - 00078 1938 Gibson 16" L-5     Exc Restored   Yep, it's a 16" body with mid twenties style and appointments. And, it sounds like a mid to late twenties L-5 .... a real good one. Maybe this is one of those "floorsweep" models where they used up old parts because the serial number is #95498 and it sure appears to be a 1928 L-5. The professional restoration includes repairing two cracks and one jack hole on the top, a lower center seam repair on the back and a complete refinish. New gold Waverly's have been installed and the tailpiece appears original. Classic flowerpot 20's peghead. Newer hard shell case.
Price:   $5850.00   Now:   $5150.00

AG - 00071 1947 Gibson L-7     VG   What we've got here is a great player. And it just happens to have a nice sunburst crack free top with original finish in nice shape. The back, on the other hand, has one big ole repaired crack and a lot of flaking to the original finish. There's a little flaking in places on the sides as well as the headstock. And there's one other stable crack in the side near the heel. Original tuning pegs work fine though the buttons have aged. All else is original and in fine shape including the label. The neck is nice and straight, original frets are pretty good and it is great fun to play and has plenty of volume and punch plus good warmth to the tone. Sturdy newer hard shell case.
Price:   $2195.00   Now:   $1795.00

AG - 00085 1941 National New Yorker Spanish     EXC   Memphis Minnie fans alert ! This is the same model Memphis Minnie played but in a rare original blonde finish and it is a beauty and crack free. Triple bound spruce top with no f-holes. Original honking, humbucking (that's right there is no hum or buzz at all) 6 pole (two rows of three each) pickup sounds fantastic. The guitar practically plays itself .... like butter, yep. Gorgeous flame maple single bound back and maple sides.   15 1/2" Lower Bout;   25 1/4" Scale Length;   1 3/4" Nut Width.   All original including adjustable bridge, tailpiece, laminated pickguard,old style connector (adapters available at most electronics stores), National Shield on the headstock and the deco 'long cover' tuning pegs. Alas, no case.
Price:   $3250.00 Now: $2995.00

GB - 00039 1940 Gibson TB- 11 Tenor Banjo     EXC -   A fantastic example of Gibsons pearloid delight. These come in many shades of color but I really like the blue ones and this one is true blue from the headstock to the resonator. It is in fine condition with just a couple of scratches on the side of the resonator and one teeny surface crack in the side of the resonator at the heel. The hardware is in very nice shape and the coveted original one piece flange is a fine example as one can see from looking at it from both the bass side and the treble side as well as at the heel. Original Grover two tab tuning pegs. Interestingly this banjo was fitted with a guitar banjo tailpiece with 6 tangs. It's original hard shell case is in decent shape as well.
Price:   $4400.00 Now $3995.00

EB - 00001   Original 5 String Epiphone Banjo  ca. 1920   VG   This is a rare banjo for an Epiphone afficionado. It's got a great old timey sound and puts out a lot of volume. Take a look at the inside of the rim. Very straightforward. The banjo is all orignal including the pegs . The label on the back dates it to the days of "The House of Stathopoulo". There is very nice detail where the neck widens for the fifth peg. The resonator is pretty birds eye maple which shows up nicely even on the inside. A simple flange keeps it in place. The headstock has a simple but elegant veneer overlay. The banjo is in excellent condition with no problems. It has playing wear. The original double pocket, plush lined case is in quite good shape on the inside but worn on the outside. Two latches need to be replaced and it is not really structurally sound. It could be restored.  
Price Reduced:   $1995.00 Now $1350.00

TG - 00067 1942 Gibson ETG-150 Electric Archtop Tenor Guitar     EXC   This is a rare example of the early transitional pickup as Gibson improved on the large and cumbersome Charlie Christian blade pickup moving toward the P-90. This one has four adjustable screw/poles. We've got the classic Gibson sunburst top and maple back and sides, all crack free. Finish is original as are all parts including the Kluson Deluxe tuning pegs. Fat and funky pearl Gibson script inlaid in the headstock. Nice and clean with light normal wear even around the jack area. And ... great old original hard shell case that is a bit beat but worth a bundle these days as it is also appropriate for a 16" L-5 or a D-28 of similar vintage. This guitar plays and sounds fantastic and the neck is straight and the frets are good.
Price:   $3995.00 Now: $3250.00

TG - 00052 Late Thirties Gretsch Archtop Tenor Guitar     VG   This is a really fun playing good sounding tenor guitar. Very rich and sonorous for an f-hole model. Lower Bout = 15 7/8"   Sunburst spruce top has one big ole crack in it but it's solidly repaired. Sunburst sides and neck are crack free. Original Grover 'two tab' tuning pegs and classy Gretsch banner inlaid in the headstock complimented by the engraved "Gretsch" on the tailpiece. And a really nice original hard shell case whose back hinges need replacing.
Price:   $995.00 Now: $795.00

TG - 00049 1930's Vega Archtop Tenor Guitar     VG+   A full body (3 3/8" deep,   14 1/2" lower bout,   1 3/16" nut width) archtop tenor from the venerated folks in Boston Mass. Easy playing, strong sounding. Sunburst spruce top with sunburst mahogany back and sides. A bit of 'honest play wear' on the top and nice weather checking in the original finish all over. The only crack in the guitar is a well repaired one going down from the treble f-hole to the bottom. Fancy pearl inlay surrounds the Vega name on the headstock and it has it's original Grover tuning pegs. Nicely intact label too. Chipboard case.
Price:   $1095.00 Now: $950.00