Earlier this week, I was tasked with helping my mother box up a bunch of her collectibles and other nonsense to take to an auction being held at the convention center at Raritan Center this weekend.
As we are loading up, I see what I think is a beat up old violin case. Knowing my sister and I never touched an instrument, I asked what it was. My mother said it was an old mandolin that she got after my dad's mother died years ago. She thinks my great grandfather used to play it on the farm in Indiana.
No one really knows much about the man. I heard some stories from my dad and my grandparents about him. He was usually drunk, cheated at cards, and was banned from most of the bars in Beech Grove, which was the suburb of Indy that the farm was in. He used to let people dump trash at the back of the farm for a small fee and then my dad had to light a gasoline-soaked fire while my drunk great grandfather would shoot the rats that ran out of the garbage piles. You know, high society type.
I open the case and I found a Gibson Model A2 or A2Z mandolin in really nice shape. I tell mom she should hold on to it because it could be worth some decent coin. She balks but I tell her I do the research for her for a finder's fee.
Here are a few shots:
After reading a bit online, I am able to determine:
1) It is a Gibson Mandolin A2 or A2Z model, commonly referred to as a "snakehead" model from the "Loar" era
2) It was manufactured sometime between 1923-1929. Which year can greatly effect the value
3) The original case is absolutely desirable and increases the value if it's in good condition
4) The snakehead models are some of the most desirable models because of the sound they produce
5) Values have skyrocketed in the last 30 years as they are harder to find in good condition
6) Retail values seem to start at about $800 for an unplayable, worn mandolin with no case
7) The rarest mandolins in outstanding condition with a matching case can be as much as $5500
8) I'll do some more research and see if I can find a reputable Gibson dealer that can help us out and maybe restring and tune it
I think my mom will want to sell it regardless. I'm ok with that but I wish I knew the history of it a little better.
Watch this video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/se...ppraisals/1924-a2z-gibson-mandolin--201407T14
As we are loading up, I see what I think is a beat up old violin case. Knowing my sister and I never touched an instrument, I asked what it was. My mother said it was an old mandolin that she got after my dad's mother died years ago. She thinks my great grandfather used to play it on the farm in Indiana.
No one really knows much about the man. I heard some stories from my dad and my grandparents about him. He was usually drunk, cheated at cards, and was banned from most of the bars in Beech Grove, which was the suburb of Indy that the farm was in. He used to let people dump trash at the back of the farm for a small fee and then my dad had to light a gasoline-soaked fire while my drunk great grandfather would shoot the rats that ran out of the garbage piles. You know, high society type.
I open the case and I found a Gibson Model A2 or A2Z mandolin in really nice shape. I tell mom she should hold on to it because it could be worth some decent coin. She balks but I tell her I do the research for her for a finder's fee.
Here are a few shots:
After reading a bit online, I am able to determine:
1) It is a Gibson Mandolin A2 or A2Z model, commonly referred to as a "snakehead" model from the "Loar" era
2) It was manufactured sometime between 1923-1929. Which year can greatly effect the value
3) The original case is absolutely desirable and increases the value if it's in good condition
4) The snakehead models are some of the most desirable models because of the sound they produce
5) Values have skyrocketed in the last 30 years as they are harder to find in good condition
6) Retail values seem to start at about $800 for an unplayable, worn mandolin with no case
7) The rarest mandolins in outstanding condition with a matching case can be as much as $5500
8) I'll do some more research and see if I can find a reputable Gibson dealer that can help us out and maybe restring and tune it
I think my mom will want to sell it regardless. I'm ok with that but I wish I knew the history of it a little better.
Watch this video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/se...ppraisals/1924-a2z-gibson-mandolin--201407T14
