GM - 00094 2006 Corrado Giacomel J-5 Mandolin     Near Mint   This stunning red sunburst "F" model has amazing tone power and projection. Corrado takes the classic Florentine design and gives it a modern Italian look and a 'turbo' sound to match. David Grisman has been using one onstage and in the studio for well over a year now. He likes what it gives him. Spruce top and flame maple back and sides. Striking scroll. Great peghead shape and inlay and Shaller tuning pegs. Tweed rectangular hard shell case. This mandolin has great low end and in the upper registers it develops a reverb that reminds you of a fine violin. Quite an instrument.
Price:   $11,500.00

MF - 00068 1946 Martin 000- 18     VG++   Well aged spruce top has lots of nicks and scratches but no cracks. Same thing goes for the mahogany back and the mahogany sides and around the end pin. Serial number 96289   puts it puts it in about the middle of 1946. The headstock is in nice shape and the replacement Grover tuning pegs work really well. It is set up great, plays easy and sounds fantastic like an old Martin should. Except for the tuning pegs, it appears all original. It's a good one. Chip Board case.
Price:   $7450.00

MF - 00067 1945 Martin 000-18     EXC-   Serial number 91912 puts this one in early 1945. It's got the stuff alright. Crack free top does have a couple of nicely patched volume and tone knob holes. Mahogany back is also crack free. A couple of cracks on the lower bout bass side have been well repaired. And there is the requisite plugged jack hole on the lower treble bass bout. Clean around the end pin and a few minor wear marks in the back of the neck near the heel. Two teeny holes (all these dang holes are no doubt from the same pickup installation) have been patched on either side of the sound hole. The headstock is in nice shape as are the original tuning pegs. Fresh neck set and setup and good action and saddle height. Loud, punchy and clear with original frets, freshly dressed. Mild play wear in general but all original. OK sixties or so hard shell case.
Price:   $7850.00 .

EB - 0007 Mid teens Clifford Essex 5 String Banjo     EXC   With its 11 inch rim spunover what looks like mahogany and a simple hoop tonering and nice skin head, this old feller gets a mighty sweet old timey sound. Scale Length is 26 3/4" and the nut width is 3/16 and the mahogany neck shows wear on the back and is very comfortable to play. Ebony fingerboard has lovely abalone and pearl inlays in it as does the headstock. The tuning pegs work fine. All parts appear original and match nicely and the 15a Grafton Street label proudly graces the dowel stick. Oversize chipboard case.
Price:   $1395.00

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

GM - 000092 1922 Gibson F-2 Mandolin     EXC -   Maybe it has something to do with the bone bridge top or maybe it's because this is a 'Loar period' instrument but this one has exceptional volume and punchiness like many A-2Z's and other Loar era models. Classic sunburst spruce top is crack free as is the flame maple back. Original tuning pegs and tailpiece and pickguard which shows a hairline where it has been repaired. The headstock sports "The Gibson" logo in lovely pearl and has been refinished. All other finish is original and there is a some wear on the back of the neck but it feels fine. This thing plays great by the way with a nice low action. You might even want to raise the action a tad. The original frets have medium wear but will last for awhile longer. The serial number is hard to read on the label but after much scrutiny it appears to be #72176. The original hard shell case is a bit beat up and needs a new handle but it's there and has protected the mandolin over 80 years. This is a fine players mandolin from the best period at Gibson.
Price:   $5950.00

TG - 00085 1931 Martin 1- 17 P Plectrum Guitar     EXC-   A rare Martin plectrum (only 272 made from 1928 through 1931) in really nice shape with the normal little dings but no cracks anywhere and great action and sound. The pickguard is lifting just a bit but it doesn't affect anything and could easily be glued back down if desired. Mahogany top as well as back and sides. The bridge is original but it appears as though it was glued back down at one point. Rosewood overlay on the headstock and original Grover tuning pegs. The serial number is 46921.   The Martin logo is stamped into the back of the peghead. Quite nice proper period semi hard case is a bit too large so some t-shirts pad it nicely.
Price:   $1895.00

TG - 00084 1940 Bacon & Day Senorita Tenor Guitar     EXC ++   A rare model in astounding condition with a realy strong sound and a fresh neckset so it plays like a dream. Currently strung G D A E an octave below a mandolin it has a wonderful full range and would sound great in C G D A as well. Sunburst spruce top is X - braced. Lower bout = 13 7/8"     Nut Width = 1 1/4"     Scale Length = 23 1/8".   Beautifully grained mahogany back and sides with a subtle sunburst on the back. Delicate heel and a nice ebony inset at the bottom. Very nice Grover tuning pegs and Groton Ct. plaque on the back of the peghead. All original right down to the cute chip board purple lined case.
Price:   $1695.00

DHM - 0003 ca. 1918 Dyer Symphony Harp Mandolin Style 25     EXC-   Great resonant sound out of this gem and it plays very easily. There's just a bit of wear on the crack free spruce top and the mahogany back and sides are also crack free with just a few little dings. A pretty darn clean machine for being 90 years old. Beautiful multi colored marquetry around the face and soundhole as well as the smaller 'arm' soundhole. I love the classic heel-less neck design of these Knutsens and Larsons. Some finish is worn off of the peghead below the pearl inlay. The tuning pegs are original and sport the handy strap (cord) attachment, there being another mate at the bottom. The label is nice and legible with Serial number 218 dating it to around 1917 - 1918.
And then there is the original hard shell case! With it's dual section compartment! Ya gotta love it.
Price:   $5750.00

BB - 00016 1927 Bacon Style B original 5 string Banjo     EXC +   A pre war original 5 string banjo with .... get this .... an orignal flathead tone ring ! Ok, it ain't no Gibson tone ring but it's a flathead nevertheless. The banjo sounds great for either bluegrass or old timey set up with a standard plastic head on it's mahogany rim. The resonator is a highly flamed gorgeous sunburst with the Groton Ct. label inside. The geared 5th peg is not original but sure works nice. The two tab Grovers are original. Pearl Bacon script on the headstock. Original 5 string tailpiece. Proper stampings on the dowel stick and the serial numbers match on rim and dowel. Ebony fingerboard with attractive pearl inlays and spikes at 7,9,10 and 12. And then there's ... the case. It's beautifully painted at the bottom with a fall harvest cornucopia and at the top with flowers and acorns. This was either done by or commissioned by the owner, Alec Somerville. If you are a banjo player named Alec Somerville this instrument is definitely for you. No matter what your name is, this is a great banjo in an eye catching case.
Price:   $3495.00

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